I have met plenty of backpackers whilst traveling around China who have attempted to tackle the chaotic city of Guangzhou. Most have told me about their experience of stepping out of the city train station only to be met by huge crowds, pollution and traffic jams then retreating to the closest hotel and catching the morning train out of there. But this isn’t the real Guangzhou.
The west side of the city is filled with narrow streets with old buildings and tiny street vendors. Shamian Island on the Zhujiang river is home to old colonial buildings. The streets are lined with banyan trees and its pace much slower then rest of the city. Just north of Shamian is were Guangzhou starts to get interesting. Qingping market occupies a number of city blocks and is famous for vendors selling anything from live scorpions to dried cockroaches. The government has cracked down on the market in the last decade because it used to be renowned for selling bears in cages and other endangered species’ parts. But don’t be put down, there is still plenty to check out.
» Read more: What to do while backpacking in Guangzhou, China
