Xiguan is the ancient Guangzhou town and is located in the Liwan district. Today it is a historic and a very important location memorizing and highlighting the important history of the country. It is known mainly for the well preserved traditional architecture and ancient styles of houses.
Today’s Litchi Bay is exuding renewed vitality and elegance on the back of its rich cultural heritage and local people’s hard work. It’s a symbol of the millennia-old Xiguan culture, having borne witness to Xiguan culture and history and the evolution of ecology and civilization.
The history of litchi planting in the Litchi Bay dates back to 196 BC. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, litchi fruits produced here were tributes to the emperor and gifts for foreign diplomats, hence the name “Litchi Bay” or “Litchi Shoals” for this fertile land.

Xiguan preserves lots of traditional architectures of ancient styles. Xiguan Mansion is one of the representations. The facade of a Xiguan Mansion was generally built with grey bricks, and the main wooden door is accompanied by a Tanglong (horizontal wooden bars) and a pair of ‘café style’ outer doors at the entrance. The interior is very symmetrically structured; from the front to the back of the house there are as follows: the portal, the hallway, the main hall, the first room, the second hall and the back room. There is also a patio and garden inside. Hardwood furniture, carved wooden ornaments, stained glass Manchuia windows, and many other Cantonese features come together to create an old Guangzhou style house. In the past, only the well-to-do families of businessmen or officials could live in these grand and magnificent places.

Canton Fair has been successfully held for 15 times in the Pazhou complex. Basically, The fair is organized by Guangzhou Municipal People’ Government and China Foreign Trade Center. In 2007 Guangzhou Fair with 3,000 booths and more than 13 countries & 40 provinces attended has accomplished great progress; there were 385 cooperation projects dealt and the total trade value approached RMB 155,409,000,000.
The main design principle of Pazhou Complex is to extend the image of “flowing” of Pearl River. The wave like rooftop just likes the river flowing by. It integrates with surrounding environment elegantly. This design principle is unparalleled in all of the exhibition centres in the world.
The Canton Fair provides interpreters of different languages including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Arabic. For interpretation service, you need to contact the Interpretation Service Center in advance.
Taking a metro is the best way to get to Pazhou Complex. Businessmen can take the Metro Line2 and get off at the Pazhou Station, which is located at southwest and close to Pazhou Complex. If you are taking Metro Line 1, you can change to Metro Line 2 at Gongyuan Qian Station, while if you are taking the Metro Line 3, you can switch to Metro line 2 at Kecun Station.

Guangzhou Sourcing Centres

As the host of China Import and Export Fair, Guangzhou is rich in sourcing centers in and nearby the city. For example, Guangzhou Metropolis Shoes City, the largest one-stop footwear wholesale market; Baima Garment Market, fashionable wholesale center of middle and high-class garments; Zhonggang Toy Products Wholesale Center, a large-scale toy products wholesale plaza; and so on.

Guangzhou Cloth Market

Guangzhou Baima clothing wholesale market is the largest market with the best decoration, matching the most complete and the best managed clothes market in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Fangcun Flower Market is the biggest flower market in Guangzhou which covers over 600,000 square meters and has put on sale 700,000 potted plants.

Guangzhou Diet

As the old saying “Eat in Guangzhou”, wealthy cuisines constitute a class of light Cantonese flavor and make Guangzhou’s name for gourmet’s heaven. As a matter of course, it’s the best choice for those who aren’t catered to the spicy food.

Cantonese Food and Dim Sum. Photo from internet.

Guangzhou Attractions

The wealthy attractions of Guangzhou also cope with its fame. There are varied places to fit different kinds travelers. If you are appealed by modern hotspots, Tianhe District, Canton Tower, Beijing Road and Pearl River Skyline will be in the favorable list. If you long for natural places, Yuexiu Park and Baiyun Mountain could be the best choice. If you yearn for historical and cultural experience, Chen Clan Academy, Liurong Temple, Zhenhai Tower and Cantonese Opera are recommended. If you come with your family, just dip your toe in Xiangjiang Safari Park and Chimelong Paradise. There are so many attractions, just go and explore out!!

Guangzhou Guangxiao Temple. With its typical magnificent architecture features, the academy is honored as the representation of Cantonese architectures and folk arts.

Guangzhou Pearl River Skyline