Guangzhou’s Lychee Bay: More than Just Pretty Sights

Guangzhou’s Lychee Bay: More than Just Pretty Sights

Guangzhou’s sub-tropical climate allows it to produce a wide range of interesting fruits and vegetables. From dragon fruit to durian, the Cantonese capital has it all. Lychees however, are particularly popular in the area, so popular in fact that a popular tourist area of the city – Lychee Bay (荔枝湾) – was named after the delicious sweet fruit. Well, almost named after more like; the name is actually a play on words, with Guangzhou’s central Liwan District (荔湾区) providing the inspiration for the name. That doesn’t mean however that the area isn’t awash with natural beauty and fancy fauna for visitors to gape over. The area features various bridges joining parks and walkways that are peppered with pavilions and Guangzhou’s trademark banyan trees, which make Lychee Bay a great place to visit any time of the year. The parade of traditional shops selling anything from medicine to Buddha statues also makes the experience more worthwhile, and if you’re hungry, you can try some traditional Cantonese food at some of the nearby restaurants.

1) Liwan Lake ParkView In Map
The Liwan Lake Park (荔湾湖公园) is a pretty spot to spend a lazy afternoon soaking up the surrounding nature. Unsurprisingly, the park is made up of various lakes which are all worth a quick gander. The area is also full of facilities to meet your every need, such as food stalls, a sports center, and of course there’s the chance to rent a boat to paddle onto the lake. There’s also a designated area for drinking tea over by the Xiaocui Lake (小翠湖), where you can relax with a good cuppa and have a look at the nearby art and calligraphy work.

Add: 155 Longjin Xilu, Liwan District, Guangzhou
地址:广州市荔湾区龙津西路155号(近荔枝湾)
Tel: 020 8181 3626
Opening hours: All day
Price: Free
Getting there: take bus 33 (夜), 37 (夜), 69 (夜), 71, 82, 123, 176, 208, 209, 236, 270, 275, or 538 to Liwan Lake Park West Gate Station (荔湾湖公园西门站)

2) Museum of the Former Residence of Jiang Guangnai View In Map
Jiang Guangnai was a general who was initially a bodyguard of Sun Yat-sen before later being appointed by Chairman Mao as the head of the Ministry of Textiles in 1950. The Museum of the Former Residence of Jiang Guangnai (蒋光鼐故居博物馆) features elegant Western architecture and covers a space of around 1,551 square meters, and is a typical example of the design trends at the time. The residence was formerly an exhibition hall, which featured many photos and information on Jiang’s life. Now, there are many lychees growing around the house as well as longans and yulan trees.      

Add: 87 Fengyuan Jie, Liwan District, Guangzhou
地址:广州市荔湾区逢源北街87号(近荔枝湾涌)
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Price: 10 RMB/person
Getting there: take bus 2, 25, 55, or 74 to Duobao Lukou Station (多宝路口站)

3) Wenjin Antique CityView In Map
If you’re a fan of all things ancient, then it’s definitely worth checking out Wenjin Antique City (文津古玩城.) The area features over 360 shops selling a whole range of weird and wonderful goods such as furniture, porcelain and jade. Wenjin Antique City also features a special collector’s zone as well as an arts and crafts zone, so you’ll be sure not to go home empty handed! The fifth floor is also reserved for special antique exhibitions and auctions, for those interested in antiques and ancient Chinese culture in general to really get their teeth stuck in.  

AddL 94, Longjin Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou
地址:广州市荔湾区龙津西路94号
Tel: 020 8137 9887
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00
Website: http://www.wenjinguwan.com/
Getting there: take bus 2 or 66 to Pantangzong Station (泮塘总站)

4) Panxi Restaurant View In Map
No trip to Guangzhou is complete without the mass consumption of copious amounts of food, and the Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家) is the perfect choice to indulge in some traditional Cantonese delights. The restaurant has countless tables so you’re almost guaranteed a seat, though is usually full of locals around mid-morning or mid-afternoon enjoying a good old cup of tea. You can fill up on a whole host of snacks from their dim sum selection, and can also head out for a breath of fresh air at the nearby lakeside viewpoint.         

Add: 151 Longjin Xilu, Liwan District, Guangzhou
地址:广州市荔湾区龙津西路151号(近荔枝湾)
Tel: 020 8172 1328/8172 2788
Opening hours: 7:00-21:30
Getting there: take bus 2 or 66 to Pantangzong Station (泮塘总站)

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Keywords: Lychee Bay Liwan District Jiang Guangnai

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