Season 2 of Discover China begins. Three weeks in southern China (Guangzhou, Yangshuo, Guilin, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau) and the first stop is Guangzhou: colonial Shamian Island, a classical Lingnan garden, a mountain, and the day I faced my fear of heights.
Getting there
The trip started with a night train to Rome, another train to Fiumicino, and then Hainan Airlines, probably one of the best airlines I've ever flown. After a connection in Chongqing we reached Guangzhou exhausted, so on the first afternoon we only took a short walk around the Canton Tower.
Shamian Island and Yongqingfang
Shamian Island feels like another world. It's a small sandbank on the Pearl River that became a British and French concession in 1861 and still has its colonial atmosphere: banyan trees, pastel European buildings, quiet riverside walks. It's hard to believe you're in one of China's biggest and busiest cities.
In the Yongqingfang area I managed (with some effort) to buy a China Mobile SIM, so I finally had a local number and could start posting on Douyin. And then the moment I'd been waiting for: in a DJI store I bought the new Osmo Pocket vlog combo for 4,299 RMB, with a tax refund available when you leave. Many of the next shots were filmed with it.
Baomo Garden
Baomo Garden in Panyu is like stepping into a classical Chinese painting: a Lingnan-style garden built around water, with brick and wood carvings and ceramic figures covering almost every roof. There are century-old stone bridges, lotus ponds, and even a miniature reproduction of the Guilin karst mountains with a waterfall. We also took a short boat ride. The craftsmanship is unique, and the photos don't do it justice.
Liwan Lake and Baiyun Mountain
Liwan Lake Park is one of the most peaceful corners of the old city, with willow-lined paths and locals doing tai chi or playing mahjong by the water. Then we went up Baiyun Mountain, "White Cloud Mountain", known for centuries as the first scenic spot of Lingnan. We took the bus to the top (not the cable car) for a sweeping view of the whole skyline. What goes up must come down, and the way down is when I got really scared.
Canton Tower: facing my fears
I still don't know what pushed me to the top of the Canton Tower, since I'm seriously afraid of heights and had just been on a zipline. The lift is incredibly fast. At 604 metres, with a twisting "waist" inspired by a woman's silhouette, it was once the tallest tower in the world. It turned out to be one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Two and a half days in Guangzhou are not enough. This city deserves more time.