Good morning Readers! Firstly, a heads up, this is a super over due post! one year #throwback!! I can’t even remember most of the things but i still wana to make notes on my trip so that one day when I’m old, i have something to look back.
Disclaimer: I probably wouldn’t go through my whole itinerary like how i did in previous travel post but i promise i will give you recommendation!!
This is my very first work trip and i had it combined with my year end vacation! I am totally head over toes over this trip! Being my first work trip.. a winter trip.. my year end vacation trip.. my vacation with mama..! it can’t get any better! You don’t get to enjoy very much of “FIRST” as you age! LOL!!
The moment we touched down, we checked in to the hotel, parked our bags and head straight to Haidilao! Yes i made a reservation at 3pm (i remember this clearly because the staff said they will call me prior the reservation but because i do not have a local number, they said i need tobe there 15 min earlier instead!)
I guess i do not need to give further elaboration on haidilao service. They’re so well known for their good service and good food! Plus they have blood curd here in Guangzhou!! omg… I’m definitely coming again if i had another trip to Guangzhou!
During our vacation, we stayed in Airbnb apartment! it’s relatively cheaper then hotel and you get to experience the neighbourhood!
This apartment we booked is in Heng Bao Guang Chang! With train service just at the basement and it’s linked to a mall, I’m totally impressed with myself for finding such good place! However, maybe we were new to the surrounding, we were kinda feeling insecure at night. It was hard to fall asleep, i had to make myself really tired in order to fell asleep. If you were let me choose again, i will probably stick to hotel. Because, you get to have your TAOBAO purchase shipped to the hotel concierge!! how amazing!!! Yes, i did most shopping online and have them shipped to hotel concierge while i was still staying in the “work-trip” hotel!!
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While i was at work, a lot of my colleague actually recommend me to go Guangzhou Tower (Canton Tower), so i decided to come by!
We chose to come here at late afternoon so that we can get to see the day and night in one visit! As the time pass, you see more people coming and the tower light up. It’s very beautiful. With the cold weather, it’s totally my kinda vacation!
We bought the ticket that allow us to go on the ferris wheel and i must give my mama credit! It was her first time taking ferris wheel at such TALLLL Height! Even I myself was kinda shaky at the beginning.
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Another place we went to is Shamian Island. Shamian is a sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. The island’s name literally means “sandy surface” in Chinese. The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing government in the 19th Century.
The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs.
We actually walked from our apartment to Shamian Island via Shang Xia Jiu Pedestrian Street. YES it is very walkable in winter weather!! No hurry no agenda, we just walk and chill..
There is nothing much to buy (IMO) in Shamian Island except starbucks, but it’s mad crowded! If you have time to spare, sure, add this into your itinerary too.
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You know, my mama and me, we are not those into history hence took us some time to decide to come here – Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall or Chen Clan Academy is an academic temple in Guangzhou, China, built by the 72 Chen clans for their juniors’ accommodation and preparation for the imperial examinations in 1894 in Qing Dynasty. Later it was changed to be the Chen Clan’s Industry College, and then middle schools afterward. Now it houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum.
Located at Zhongshan 7th Road, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is a symmetric complex consist of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards. Facing south, the complex forms around a north-south axis. A large collection of southern China art pieces, for example, wood carvings and pottery, can be found in the structure. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall complex exemplifies traditional Chinese architecture and decoration style, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments worldwide. It was added in the list of “Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State” in 1988.
So much for place of interest, how about a FOOD of interest now??
LU DING JI – You can check out the review from tripadvisor HERE!
The mala dry pot is a MUST try!! We had the dry pot with bull frog and shrimp. the BOWL is damn BIG but we still finished everything!!
Mama who don’t eat mala (before this) fell in love immediately and keep jioing me for mala for the next few days! She finally found the joy in eating Mala!
Other than Lu Ding Ji, we tried local stall, street food. They are all tasty but not for the weak stomach!
To be one honest, i feel that the food in Guangzhou are really my liking!! Savory and spicy!! ❤ it! Importantly they are not as pricey!
Tempted To Love 