In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · China
Guangzhou – North and East
Spend a half‑day in the north‑east districts: visit Baiyun Mountain, the Huangpu Military Academy site and a lychee orchard; 4–5 h total.
The north‑east of Guangzhou comprises five outlying districts (Baiyun, Huangpu, Huadu, Zengcheng, Conghua). They are reachable by metro or bus and offer nature (Baiyun Mountain), historic sites (Huangpu Military Academy), hot springs and seasonal lychee orchards. A short visit fits into a day‑trip from central Guangzhou.
- Country
- China
- Best months
- Jun–Jul (lychee season) and Oct–Nov (pleasant weather)
- Avoid
- Aug–Sep (high heat, humidity)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥150–250 excl. bed · Mid ¥250–400 excl. bed · High ¥400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 119 · Ambulance 120
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket Tianhe → Zengcheng | ¥16 |
| Baiyun Mountain tram | ¥20–40 |
| Conghua hot‑spring entry | ¥40–80 |
| Lychee (seasonal, market) | ¥5–10 per fruit |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CAN · Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
- Metro Line 3 to Baiyun Airport Station, ~30 min to city centre
Typical fares
- Tianhe Bus → Zengcheng
- about ¥16, 1 h 20 min (check)
- Metro Line 3 to Baiyun Airport
- ¥7, 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Metro lines 2, 3, 5, 9 and 13 serve the districts; city buses (e.g., 637, 638) run 07:00‑21:00 from Tianhe Bus Station. A one‑way bus ticket from Tianhe to Zengcheng costs ¥16 (check). Taxis and ride‑hailing are widely available.Metro lines 2, 3, 5, 9 and 13 serve the districts; city buses (e.g., 637, 638) run 7:00 AM‑9:00 PM from Tianhe Bus Station. A one‑way bus ticket from Tianhe to Zengcheng costs ¥16 (check). Taxis and ride‑hailing are widely available.
See and do
Known for
- Baiyun Mountain
- Huangpu Military Academy site
- Lychee season (June–July)
- Conghua hot springs
- Zengcheng lychee orchards
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Baiyun Mountain | Metro Line 9 to Baiyun Mountain station, then bus or tram to summit | ≈1 h total |
| Huangpu Military Academy site | Metro Line 5 to Yuzhu, then bus 431 to pier, ferry to site | ≈1 h 30 min |
| Conghua hot‑spring area | Metro Line 13 to Conghua, then local bus 14/19 to park entrance | ≈2 h round trip |
| Zengcheng lychee orchards | Bus 637/638 from Tianhe Bus Station to Zengcheng (≈1 h 20 min) | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Zengcheng Hotel
- 300+ rooms, near Guangzhou‑Shantou highway; budget option
- Oriental Resort
- ¥480 per night, on Baiyun Mountain; quiet location
- Guangzhou Hotel (Haizhu)
- ¥328 per night, near Haizhu Square; convenient metro access
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 对不起duìbuqǐ |
| Thank you | 谢谢xièxiè |
| How much is it? | 多少钱？duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the bus stop? | 公交车站在哪里？gōngjiāo chē zhàn zài nǎlǐ? |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? |
| Where is the toilet? | 洗手间在哪里？xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus schedules may change; confirm times at Tianhe station.
- Some park entrances charge ¥5‑70; check current fees before visiting.
- Hot‑spring facilities in Conghua may close for maintenance in winter.
Generally safe; stay alert on busy streets, keep valuables secure, and avoid isolated park areas after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guangzhou – North and East yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Baiyun Mountain
- Huangpu Military Academy site
- Lychee season (June–July)
- Conghua hot springs
- Zengcheng lychee orchards
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guangzhou/North and East, revision 5238527 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5238527
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/guangzhou-north-and-east). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.