In February, during the winter vacation, my son and I took a five-day trip to Guangzhou. We visited the famous Chimelong Safari Park, where we saw lots of adorable animals, experienced the unique customs of the Spring Festival, and enjoyed delicious local food. It was truly a wonderful trip.

11 Feb. Wed.

I was so excited to get a great discount on our flight to Guangzhou—it was even cheaper than a high-speed train ticket! The only catch was that we had to get up at 4:00 in the morning. Haha~ Luckily, we caught a beautiful sunrise from the plane and arrived in Guangzhou right on time (around 9:00 a.m.). That turned out to be our most relaxing day of the trip. After a 1.5-hour subway ride, we checked into our hotel, which was just 10 to 15 minutes away from Chimelong.

We enjoyed tasty roasted squab for lunch and later watched the impressive Chimelong International Circus.

Roasted squab in Guangzhou is famous for its crispy skin, tender meat, and juicy inside. It is best eaten hot, right after it is cooked. People usually eat it with their hands—tearing it apart to enjoy every bite. It's a must-try food for anyone visiting Guangzhou!

Chimelong International Circus is a must-see show in Guangzhou. It features amazing performances such as acrobatics, horse riding, and funny clowns, all by talented artists from around the world. The huge stage and colorful lights create a magical atmosphere. It is fun for both kids and adults, and the show keeps getting better with new surprises. No wonder over 50 million people have visited over the past 20 years!

12 Feb. Thu.

It was a big day for my son. We were heading to Chimelong Safari Park. He loves animals very much and was really excited. After watching the amazing Chimelong International Circus last night, he could not bear to stay in the hotel for even a minute. However, it was also a very crowded day, since most kids were on winter vacation and their parents were taking them out to various attractions. Chimelong Safari Park is always one of the most popular spots. I checked many guides on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) and decided we would enter through the South Gate after 10:00 a.m. I also bought the Quick Pass to avoid waiting in long lines.

Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou is one of China’s largest and most renowned wildlife parks, home to over 20,000 rare animals from around the world. It offers immersive experiences like safari train tours, cableway rides, and walk-through exhibits. The park's star animals include the world’s only surviving giant panda triplets—Meng Meng, Shuai Shuai, and Ku Ku—as well as one of the largest populations of white tigers globally, famous for their spectacular diving shows. Other highlights include the second-largest koala colony outside Australia and the golden takin, one of China’s iconic animal species.

13 Feb. Fri.

When I was little, I watched a movie that left a strong impression on me. It showed the bustling Spring Festival Flower Market in Guangzhou on New Year’s Eve—crowds of people admiring beautiful flowers, many holding peach blossoms and windmills they had just bought, wishing for good luck in the new year. The lively scene, happy faces, colorful flowers, and windmills spinning in the wind really amazed me. Growing up in northern China, I always dreamed of visiting this traditional flower market in person. It reminds me of the temple fairs back home during Spring Festival, but it has its own special charm.

Our top choice for today was undoubtedly the Yuexiu Flower Market. Yuexiu Flower Market is one of the oldest and most popular flower markets in Guangzhou. It is traditionally held on Jiaoyu Road and Wenming Road in Yuexiu District, right next to Beijing Road Pedestrian Street.

The market is famous for its lively atmosphere, vibrant flower displays, and traditional New Year decorations such as peach blossoms and windmills. It is a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists to experience the festive spirit of the Spring Festival in Guangzhou.

We entered the flower market from the entrance on Jiaoyu Road. Following the crowd, we walked toward Wenming Road and, after about a ten-minute walk, arrived at the Lu Xun Memorial. Then we took a bus to visit one of the most beautiful universities: Sun Yat-sen University (South Campus).

For Chinese parents, travel isn’t just about relaxing—we also want our kids to learn new things, set goals for school, and dream big. Haha~ so famous local universities, museums, and memorial halls are always on our must-visit list. To be honest, when I walked into Sun Yat-sen University, I felt a little regretful—if only I had known about such a beautiful campus back then, maybe my school years would have been even more meaningful.

The Lu Xun Memorial in Guangzhou, established in 1957 on Wenming Road, is located at the former site of Sun Yat-sen University, where Lu Xun taught in 1927. It features the “Lu Xun and Guangdong” exhibition, showcasing his life and contributions through manuscripts and artifacts.

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1924, is a leading comprehensive university directly under the Ministry of Education of China and a national “Double First-Class” institution. Its main South Campus, known as “Kangleyuan” (Happy Garden), is regarded as one of the three most beautiful university campuses in China, featuring a stunning collection of historic buildings from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period. With a multi-campus system across Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, SYSU excels in a wide range of disciplines including humanities, sciences, medicine, and engineering.

After visiting Sun Yat-sen University, we left the campus through the North Gate. I think I found one of the best spots to take photos with the Canton Tower. There’s a walking path along the river that starts right at the North Gate and goes all the way to the tower. It’s a pleasant 30-to-40-minute walk of about 3 kilometers along the scenic Zhujiang Riverside Promenade.

The Canton Tower is one of Guangzhou’s most famous landmarks, and it looks especially beautiful when lit up at night. Many people take the elevator up to ride the Ferris wheel for a bird’s-eye view of the city. However, I found it too crowded, so I chose to take a night cruise instead—enjoying the gentle breeze on the river while taking in the sparkling night view on both banks. It was totally worth it. Of course, if you prefer not to take a boat, you can also go to Haixinsha Park or Huacheng Square to enjoy the stunning night view with the Canton Tower and surrounding buildings. There are plenty of ways to experience it—just make sure you come and see it for yourself.

14 Feb. Sat.

After nearly 20,000 steps yesterday, my legs felt like they weren’t even mine anymore—so we got a bit of a late start today. Here’s our plan: visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, go for a bike ride along Yanjiang West Road, stop by the Sacred Heart Cathedral, explore the Great Buddha Temple, and end the day on Beijing Road.

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum, is renowned for its exquisite and intricate traditional Lingnan architecture. Its most striking feature is the breathtaking ornamentation covering nearly every surface, including wood, stone, and brick carvings, as well as clay and porcelain figures. It stands as a masterpiece of decorative art and a testament to Guangdong's rich cultural heritage.

With the help of shared bikes, cycling along Yanjiang West Road was smooth and easy, though walking slowly and enjoying the scenery would also be lovely. From the Aiqun Building, biking via Jinghai Road and Yide Road to the Sacred Heart Cathedral takes about 10–15 minutes—though unfortunately, the cathedral was closed to visitors during the Spring Festival. However, the Great Buddha Temple on Beijing Road offered a special mix of city life and peaceful spirituality.

15 Feb. Sun.

Today was our last day in Guangzhou. Before heading to the train station, we took a walk to Yuexiu Park, climbed the Ming Dynasty City Wall, and saw Zhenhai Tower. In my mind, I pictured ancient soldiers bravely fighting against the enemy on a smoky battlefield. Yet before my eyes were ordinary people—families with children and the elderly—strolling leisurely through the park. It made me truly value the peace we have today and long for a world without war.

After lunch, we took a 5.5-hour high-speed train back to Zhengzhou—and it was snowing. Yet in Guangzhou, over 1,500 kilometers away, the sun was still shining bright, as warm and vibrant as early summer.

Guangzhou is truly a city full of delicious food—and my lovely son fell in love with the city. Before we even left, he was already asking when we could come back. And I’m looking forward to the next time too—because of the lively flower market, the beautiful campus, and the century-old kapok blossoms at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall that we didn’t get to see this time.

One thing to sum it up: most of Guangzhou's must-visit places are free—but the one thing that will break your budget? Definitely the food. Haha! You should come and try it for yourself!

Yours Truly

Rita Ju - Charmission Travel