European Romance Hidden in Guangzhou｜Shamian Island

Shamian Island in Guangzhou is located in the southwest of the city center, beside the Pearl River’s Bai’e Tan. It is a small island covering 0.3 km². After 1859, it became the British and French concession, with consulates from nine countries established here over time. Nearly a century of European-style architecture remains, earning it the title of "Open-air Architecture Museum." It is now a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

The area mainly features European continental architectural styles, including Neoclassical, Baroque, Gothic, and more, with over 100 buildings. The core is concentrated along Shamian Avenue, South Street, and North Street. The architecture is very distinctive, and many people come here to shoot portraits and wedding photos.

Address: South Street, Shamian, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Transportation: ① Line 1/Line 6 Huangsha Station, Exit D or F, walk 5-8 minutes via the overpass; ② Line 6/Line 8 Cultural Park Station, Exit A, about 10 minutes on foot.

Admission: Free

Opening Hours: Outdoors open all day; museums closed on Mondays, open 9:00-17:00.

Best Seasons: October to December (dry and comfortable) or March to April (cotton tree flowers bloom). In summer, pay attention to sun protection and mosquito prevention.

Photo Spots: White Swan Hotel (China’s first five-star joint venture hotel), vintage McDonald’s, Tiffany Blue Starbucks, Locomotive French Restaurant (dine in a real train carriage).

Food Recommendations
Dim Sum: Victory Hotel, White Swan Hotel (egg tarts, shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, spare ribs)
Cantonese Cuisine: Qiao Mei Shi Fu braised pigeon, oven-roasted duck; Tao Ran Xuan white-cut chicken, roasted pork
Snacks: Shamian sweet soup, Guangzhou rice rolls, Pantang water chestnut cake
Western Food: Locomotive French Restaurant, Ruth’s Bistro, Rose Garden Western Restaurant

Accommodation: Consider staying in Yuexiu or Liwan District for convenient transportation and proximity to attractions.

One-day Tour Route
09:00 Exit D at Huangsha Station → walk over the bridge to shoot the Pearl River morning view → enter North Street of Shamian
09:30-11:30 North Street → Shamian Avenue → South Street, visiting Locomotive Restaurant, Shamian Exhibition Hall, Guangdong Foreign Affairs Museum, Our Lady’s Church, Christ Church in sequence
11:30-13:00 Find a Cantonese restaurant near South Street (Qiao Mei Shi Fu braised pigeon/Lan Kwai Fong) or have dim sum at White Swan Hotel’s “Yu Tang Chun Nuan”
13:30-15:30 Stroll along the riverside in Shamian Park → take photos at Starbucks/vintage McDonald’s → visit exhibitions at In Arcade gallery
16:00 Walk 10 minutes off the island to Shangxiajiu/Yongqingfang, continue exploring arcade buildings, eat Yinji rice rolls and Tao Tao Ju dim sum, end the trip

Tips: Shared bikes and electric scooters are prohibited on the entire island, and there are no sightseeing buses. You can only explore on foot. The streets are mostly cultural relics, so climbing and graffiti are forbidden. Keep your belongings safe.

If you have time, come to Shamian Island in Guangzhou to experience the old Guangzhou’s everyday life and the romance of the 19th century.