Guangdong

I went to Guangdong mainly to see the Kaiping Diaolou and it did not disappoint. The watchtowers and village houses standing among rice paddies felt like stepping into a different century. I rented a car from Zhuhai and drove along the coast—the scenery was calm, the seafood in Doumen was cheap and fresh. Also did a day trip to Dinghu Mountain, the waterfalls were lovely and not too crowded on a weekday. For anyone who likes history and quieter spots, this is a great side of Guangdong that’s easy to miss.

I wanted to love Guangzhou, but overall it was just okay for me. The Cantonese food is good—no complaints about the wonton noodles or roast goose. However, I found the city really crowded and the traffic made getting around slower than expected. A few heritage sites, like the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, were beautiful but too packed. Also the skyline view was hazy on both days, so I didn’t get those nice photos. It’s a fine place, but I was a bit disappointed after hearing so many friends rave about it.

If you love real food, put Chaoshan on your list. I took a bus from Shenzhen to Shantou and then just ate my way through the old town with a local I met. Beef hotpot at a roadside place with hand-cut brisket and satay sauce was the best meal I had in China, period. Also really liked the old Qiaopi building remnants and how mellow the pace felt compared to the Pearl River Delta. Not much English spoken, but people were incredibly kind. A hidden gem in Guangdong, for sure.

Guangdong surprised me—I expected a purely businessy area, but Shenzhen had amazing tree-lined streets and the OCT Loft creative district was a fun afternoon. The metro was one of the easiest I’ve used, was just everywhere. Only drawback: the heat in August was suffocating, and some tourist spots had long lines. But the view from the Ping An Finance Centre at sunset made up for a lot. I’d still give it 4 stars—super convenient and a good mix of city life, but I liked Guangzhou’s old charm a bit more.

I spent two weeks in Guangdong mostly around Guangzhou and Foshan, and honestly it changed how I think about Chinese food. The morning dim sum at a tiny shop in Liwan District was unreal—steamed shrimp dumplings so fresh they practically glowed. Even the random congee stall at 6pm beat any I’ve had abroad. The older neighborhoods, arcade buildings, and canal walk in Shunde were beautiful. Yes, it’s chaotic, but the energy is addictive. I already want to go back just for the claypot rice.

This was my first time in Guangzhou and it ruined all other dim sum for me. Breakfast at an old teahouse was a whole ceremony: little pushcarts, steaming bamboo baskets, perfect shrimp dumplings. Then I went to Chaozhou for beef hotpot and traditional street snacks. If you love food, Guangdong is basically heaven. Come hungry and give yourself more days than you think you need.