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Exploring Guangzhou's history and culture

Updated:2018-09-13

Guangzhou is the home to over 322 Cultural Relic Protection Sites, including the Masoleum of the Nanyue King, Guangxiao Temple and the Zhenhai Tower.

The Mausoleum of the Nanyue King in Guangzhou is the largest and most unique stone-chamber tomb from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 BC), with colored decorations in the area. See more about the museum here

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The Guangzhou Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall started construction in 1928 and was completed in 1931. It covers an area of 62,000 square meters and is 52 meters high outside the lobby. The main building area (including the platform around the lobby) is 12,000 square meters and is the largest hall memorializing Sun Yat-sen in the world.

Designed by the famous Chinese architect Lu Yanzhi, the building is an important node on Guangzhou's traditional central axis and is an iconic building in the city. See more here

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Shamian has served as an area of mercantile importance since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). From the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) onwards, its importance doubled as a strategic point of defense during the second Opium Wars (1856-1860). In 1859, the island's territory was gobbled up by Western imperialism, as it was split into concessions for the French and the United Kingdom (four fifths of the territory went to the British, with the remaining one fifth going to the French).

The territory today features architecture that befits its cosmopolitan history, with the mansions on the island being some of the best preserved Western European style buildings in the country. More than 40 buildings have been counted to be amongst the most exotic ones in Guangzhou, exhibiting traits of Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture.  click here for more. 

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Canton Tower, located at the intersection of Guangzhou New City Central Axis and the southern bank of the Pearl River, faces Haixinsha Island, the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 16th Asian Games.

The tower boasts a total height of 600 meters, with the body of the tower reaching 450 meters and a 150 meter long antenna. The tower boasts a total construction area of 120,000 square meters, and is currently the highest tower in China and the third highest in the world. View more about Canton Tower here

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Regarded as "Guangzhou's parlor", Huacheng Square is in the new central shaft line of Guangzhou and is the largest square built for civilian purpose in Guangzhou. The square opened on Oct 25, 2010. 

Huacheng Square is surrounded by 39 buildings, including the Guangzhou No.2 Children's Palace, the Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou Library, Guangdong Museum and the West Tower (Guangzhou International Financial Center (GZIFC)). In the square, there is a man-made lake and landscape area as well as large-scale fountains, a lamplight piazza, a system for formation of cold fog, over 600 trees and 5 flower islands. See more here

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