Guangzhou, known in the West as Canton, is the capital city of the huge province of Guangdong China.

There is a colonial side to Guangzhou that has a relaxed and laid back feeling to it. Many of the buildings and churches on Shamian Island are well maintained and rather pretty, especially compared to the high rises and granite buildings on the other side of the river.

Guangzhou is one of the best places for eating in China. The Chinese saying "Born in Suzhou, eat in Guangzhou and die in Liuzhou" is a fitting way to describe the wealth of great food available here. (Apparently if you are born in Suzhou you have a beautiful mother, and if you die in Liuzhou you will be buried in the finest coffins!) Eating is certainly the main pleasure for the local residents of Guangzhou and there are literally hundreds of good restaurants serving up authentic Cantonese cuisine. The atmosphere in many of places of Guangzhou is great and not unlike the city itself- lively, friendly and very very noisy!