Name: The Pearl River: Guangzhou’s Trade Past and Present
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1
Price: ¥NUMBER
Availability: InStock

About this Journey

Travel through time while remaining in the present by following the opaque waters of the Pearl River as they wend peacefully through the heart of China’s third-largest metropolis, Guangzhou.

As water is to life, the Pearl River is to Guangzhou. It was here that the bows of foreign ships pushed to rest against sandy shores and that the smoking wartime cannon balls finally settled on a silty floor. It is here that local fishermen throw in their hooks hoping to catch a dinner-worthy fish while upstream millions of shipping containers embark on journeys to the farthest reaches of the globe. The river is the heart of the city, shaping around it an array of different livelihoods, each of which provides a new understanding of the city and its people, if only you know where to look.

What we love

Stepping behind the curtain to see inside a factory that makes bags for some of the world’s leading brands
Tracing Guangzhou's past and present through its architecture
Learning gongfu (kung fu) from a master in a hidden inner-city studio

Map

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Upon arriving in Guangzhou, your local WildChina guide will meet you in the arrivals hall with your private vehicle on standby ready to take you to your hotel for check-in.

Day 2Guangzhou

Stroll along the Donghaochong Canal and Greenway, a tree-lined path through the heart of the old city • Visit the Ou Ancestral Hall, a shining example of Guangzhou’s Lingnan style architecture. • Step into a hidden inner-city gongfu (kung fu) studio and explore its foundations and movements as an acclaimed master shares the secrets of this renowned martial art. • Soak up the city’s character at the local market with a Cantonese snack or a sip of traditional Guangzhou tea. • Pass by People’s Park, observe or even engage in people’s recreational activities. • Immerse yourself in history as you walk past Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architectural styles of this former concession and discover bars and cafes with views over the Pearl River. • Delve into Guangdong’s unique food culture as we explore the food stalls at Old Qingping Market. • Explore the arcade-style buildings at Enning Road, especially a lion dance academy, a Cantonese Opera museum and the ancestral home of Bruce Lee.

Day 3Guangzhou

Stroll the lanes of the Huangpu Ancient Port and Village, an open-air museum for the maritime Silk Road. • Take in the view of Guangzhou on a bike. • Hop on a ferry to Changzhou Island (10 minutes) • Weave through the past and present of the island, and explore the canaled neighborhood. • Embark on a short hike to the island’s highest point for panoramic views over the island.

Day 4Guangzhou

Go on a one-hour drive up north and you’ll arrive at Shiling district, the epitome of Chinese industry. Go off the beaten path and explore another side of China, one that fuels much of the world’s wants and needs. • Visit the BSK Bag Factory, which has produced over 10 million of the world’s bags (and counting) and witness “made in China” in action. • Sit down and treat yourself to a delectable selection of local Cantonese delicacies. • Take a walk through the manufacturing neighborhood, where factories, wholesale markets, living quarters, and shops intermingle to create a bustling ecosystem that supplies the world with various products. • Visit several different types of factories on this walk.

Day 5Depart Guangzhou

Your WildChina guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.

Your Accommodation

LN Hotel Five, Guangzhou

Contemporary Luxury

Presiding over the Pearl River, LN Hotel Five is Guangzhou’s answer to contemporary luxury. Watch the sun set over the city from the elegant lounge bar.

Photos

Details

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Next Steps

How do I book this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email info@wildchina.com to get started. One of our travel designers will be in touch accordingly to start the process of planning your custom China trip!

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

2. Full payment:

Full trip payment will be requested 60 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 60 days of your departure, you may be asked to make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

During the planning phase, our team of specialist travel advisors based in China will design every detail of your trip with you. When you’re on the ground, they will then orchestrate your entire journey, maintaining close contact with each of your guides throughout your trip to ensure you’re having the best journey possible. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we are committed to ensuring that your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. With over two decades of experience, we’ve run just about every type of journey you can imagine. No request is too strange, too extreme, or too exclusive. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina’s guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a-lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

We firmly believe that supporting local people and economies allows you to experience the soul of a destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s cultures. From watching artisans hand-make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

The Pearl River: Guangzhou’s Trade Past and Present

Have questions?