fah-thai-magazine-march-april-2017-in-flight-magazine-of-bangkok-airways

GUANGZHOU
Three bronze statues of Chinese
women on nearby Shamian Island
in Guangzhou aptly chronicles its
historic direction: that of a woman
in traditional clothing from the colonial
period, another woman in a cheongsam
dress from the mid-20th century and a
young Chinese woman wearing shorts and
talking on a mobile phone.
Such is the history of Guangzhou; because gone are
vintage postcard memories of boats chugging along the
Pearl River. Instead, online postings show the latest
gleaming co-working spaces and cafés as people sip
their latte.
In the 18th century, the Qing Dynasty imperial court
gave approval for the Pearl River Delta area of Guangdong
province (with Guangzhou as its base) to be the first in the
region opened for trade with the outside world.
Since then, activity never really ceased and twice a
year since 1957, the city hosts the largest import/export
fair in China called the Canton Fair.
Nostalgic travellers to
Guangzhou may still think of it
as Canton despite its status as the
third largest city in China and the
political, economic, technology,
educational and cultural hub
of southern China. It lies close
to the South China Sea, Hong
Kong and Macau on the Pearl River
(also referred to as Zhujiang), and is
the third longest river in China.
The strategic location of
Guangzhou’s past has historic
offerings for visitors like the
Western Han Nanyue King’s
Tomb Museum (which houses
the 2,000 year old tomb of King
Zhao Mo), the Bright Filial Piety
Temple for a lesson on the ancient
history of the city, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s
Memorial Hall, Yuexiu Park, the
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, or
Qingping Market. The beauty of the
mountains at Baiyunshan scenic
area is another attraction while
colonial history is still preserved
on Shamian Island with its grand
mansions set amidst greenery.
Meanwhile, its modern offerings
are scattered in a metropolis
whose construction pops out new
skyscrapers adding to the city’s
hyperactive skyline. Now cultural
landmark buildings are avant-garde
architecture such as Zaha Hadid’s
Guangzhou Opera House (also called
the ‘double pebble’); the carved
box-shaped Guangdong Museum,
and the familiar Canton TV Tower
skyscraper whose design resembles
a thin hourglass.
Gastronomic delights resulted
from its pleasant weather,
abundant rain and sunlight in the
ideal conditions for agriculture.
Top & Below Left
Visitors to
Guangzhou
remember that
nestled comfortably
with sleek
architecture are
ancient temples
worth visiting.
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