The sky-piercing Canton Tower is maybe the most famous Guangzhou attraction. Standing 600-metres above the city, the panoramic views from the observation deck are even more impressive than its striking exterior. Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Guangzhou Opera House, designed to resemble two pebbles smoothed by water erosion, sits in perfect harmony with the Pearl River, and a final modern cultural landmark worth visiting is the Guangdong museum: designed as an ‘Objet d’Art’ and built to house them.

Guangzhou is the unofficial capital of China’s world-famous Cantonese cuisine, making the city a must-visit for any foodie. Naturally, sampling authentic Cantonese cuisine is one of the top things to do in Guangzhou for anyone who visits. Try delicacies such as Siu Mei, Char Siu and Siu Laap, and for a real local experience, enjoy morning tea (Yum Cha) at one of the many eateries in the city.

The most famous architecture of Qing dynasty in the Guangdong Province is the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, which today houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum. Another landmark worth visiting on your Guangzhou holiday is Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, built in memory of the first president of China, and the city’s unique temples – Guanxiao, Six Baiyun Trees, Nansha Tian Hau and Dafo – are also worth a visit.

Beside Guangzhou’s imposing skyscrapers lies Shamian, a small sandbank island lined with British and French colonial buildings. Established during the Second Opium War, this small island is one of the more popular Guangzhou attractions, and has some of the best preserved 19th century colonial architecture in Asia. Cross the bridge over the Pearl River to enjoy this unique experience.

Guangzhou is known as the City of Flowers due to its wealth in flower varieties and reputation as China’s main flower production base. Explore the many gardens of the city, such as Liang Yuan, Baomo, Yu Yin, and South China Botanical Gardens, which boast enchanting, traditional Chinese architecture alongside unique, vibrant flora.

A trip up Baiyun mountain, also known as White Cloud Mountain, is one of the top things to do in Guangzhou. The 427m-peak in the north of the city makes for a scenic start to the day – even more so if you can manage the early wakeup call to catch the sun rise behind the city. Spanning roughly 22 square kilometres, there’s no shortage of trails to complete in this scenic walking area.

This well-known river might not be much to marvel at during the day, but it’s another story once the sun goes down. Lit up by the skyscrapers that surround it, a night time cruise down the river is the perfect way to admire the surrounding cityscape. Or, if you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, take a leisurely stroll down the river walkway and enjoy the skyline by foot.

A hidden gem in the Guangdong Province, the fortified diaolou residences of Kaiping were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. Built by immigrants returning from America, Canada, Hong Kong and Malaysia, the villages of multi-storey towers showcase a fun and flamboyant fusion of Western and Chinese architectural forms and techniques throughout history.

Zhujiang New Town is the central business district of Guangzhou, located in the Tianhe District. It lies south of Huangpu Avenue and ends at the banks of the Pearl River. Within the area you’ll find some of Guangzhou’s top attractions, such as Canton Tower, Guangzhou Library, and Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. Covering just 6.44 square kilometres, it’s easy to explore at a leisurely pace.

In the Yuexiu district of Guangzhou lies Dongshankou, a core area of old Dongshan . Historically, it was known for its quality education and wealthy families. Today, people visit this area to admire the interesting, American-style buildings – including the Dongshankou mansions. While Guangzhou is now a modern city, a well-preserved sense of history remains in this charming area of the city.