Guangzhou On The Go

History and the future make a potent mix in this Chinese center of global trade and travel.

The 2000-foot Canton Tower rises over the waters of the sprawling Pearl River Delta in the heart of present-day Guangzhou. Perhaps no other image so embodies the soaring aspirations of this city standing as a centerpiece of China’s newfound economic might. But this striking structure, the second-tallest such tower in the world, is more than a monument to modernity; its location on the river and indeed its very name reflects both the past and the future of Guangzhou’s historic role as a global trading center.

In fact, Guangzhou – Canton as it was known in the past – has been one of the key stopovers along the world’s trade routes since ancient times. As a consequence, when a visitor looks past the dazzling modern façade, Guangzhou holds a wealth of experiences for both business travelers with a weekend to spare and vacationers seeking to reconnect with the past and the present.

The city’s magnificent parks and public gardens were created over the centuries beginning at the height of Canton’s early trade with the West. One of the largest, Yuexiu Park and the surrounding area also feature a number of historical sites as well. Just below the park, the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, completed in 1931, was commissioned to honor Guangzhou’s favorite son, the Founder of Modern China.