Guangzhou
We arrived by train from Guilin.
The weather was hot and very humid. Thunder roared in the sky.
Hotel: 7Days Inn Guangzhou Yuexiu Nan Road Tuanyida Square Subway Station
This hotel wins not only for the longest name but was the cheapest option that we could find. 208 RMB for a double room, with private bathroom and air-con but without window. Ok, we could have stayed in a 12-bed-dorm for less …
For Dinner we chose a foodstall near the hotel and ate coriander and cabbage pork dumplings – yummy!
Couchsurfing
1st day
We stayed for the weekend with Jennifer. She had a nice apartment in the center of Guangzhou.
The guard at the entrance of her apartment building was so astonished to see two westerners at the gate that he at first refused to let us in although everybody else could pass. Finally we got in and Jennifer welcomed us with arms wide open 
After arriving and getting to know each other Jennifer showed us pictures of her stay in Mexico and explained some facts about the country that were new to us. Very interesting.
Later in the afternoon we took a walk in the direction of New Town Guangzhou. The
library is huge and very modern! In the foreign language section were mainly books written by Chinese how to use English. Books of English contemporary authors were missing.
Jennifer asked if we wanted to watch a movie in the evening. She suggested a movie that she had seen lately and liked very much. So we watched – Mad Max Because we hadn’t been to the movies for a long time now, we couldn’t stop and watched after that also Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ;o)
From Jennifer’s balcony we had an incredible view on the night skyline on a very warm and humid night. In the distance a thunderstorm …
A bamboo mattress on the floor was our bed and we immediately fell asleep.
2nd day
Mary, a good friend of Jennifer, accompanied us this day. She showed us around the places that she likes most in her city and gave us a lot of explanations.
Ramada Pearl Hotel
We started with a dim sum breakfast. Accompanied by Sunny, a friend of hers, we enjoyed the breakfast. Entering the hotel we thought we were underdressed with shorts and flip-flops, but it turned out that the locals dressed very casual for breakfast.
Medicine market
Just right outside the metro station that you get of to go to Shaiman Island the medicine market starts. On sale are many products – some strange ones like dried frogs – for traditional Chinese medicine.
Shaiman Island
What an oasis of quietness! The former foreign consession with its old buildings and the green pedestrian zone.
Our last visit to Starbucks was along time ago – although we like the coffee very much. This time we were forced into it because of the pouring rain. It is located in an old colonial building and had a very nice balcony.
Seafood market
Just outside Shaiman Island this is a place not to be missed!
We should have brought a book that explains the underwater species of the South China Sea. It was better than going to a Zoo – at least from our side of the aquarium. The “poor” animals got freshly prepared into a tasty dinner right above the shops.
Romeo & Juliet, French musical
In the evening Jennifer gave us a sense what kind of drama she likes. The French musical had many beautiful voices and Jennifer turned the music very loud
3rd day
Spin Restaurant, Aiquin Hotel – Dim Sum
113 Yanjiang Rd.
Jennifer took us and Mary out to have a dim sum breakfast. The restaurant was on the 17th floor of Aiquin Hotel, a building that saw a lot of Chinese/Guangzhou history. The draw here, besides that it was quiet inexpensive, many locals went here and we sat for about 3 hrs, was that the restaurant rotates 360 degrees. Jennifer made the order so we nibbled on chicken feet – quiet soft and tasty -, pig feet, enjoyed some lung and stomach, and as well a lot of “normal” tasty stuff. We talked a lot, laughed a lot and took many pictures
Canton View Bay
We walked by a new luxury apartment block and wandered how expensive that might be. “Let’s find out!” We pretended to be interested and could have a look inside and even viewed an apartment on the 33rd floor with a breathtaking view. The approx. 4.84 million Euro for the apartment is something Claudia and I still have to discuss 😉
Goelia 225
A mixture of art and fashion located in an old renovated building. Mondays it’s closed.
…When Jennifer’s mobile rang she asked if we would like to see a drama and we said “yes!”. A minute later we sat in a taxi …
Theater no.3
How many cultural bonus points do we get for having visited a Russian drama called “Live of Ilja”, in Russian with Chinese subtitles?! This was a very special experience. To be honest, it was quiet hard to follow and with a duration of about 3 hrs a little bit tiring.
To get from the theater again across town we took Uber. A very cheap and convenient way to go from A to B in Guangzhou.
Dinner with friends
Jennifer our host invited us to a good friend of hers who is a chef and cooks for other families. The welcome was very warm and friendly. The dinner was very good – one of the best on our journey!!!
In the morning Jennifer prepared a small breakfast and we had to say goodbye to our lovely host who made our last weekend in mainland China so very, very special! Thx Jennifer, you are always welcome – wherever we might settle down!
Guangzhou to Kowloon, Hong Kong
High Speed Express Through Train
Tip
Just show up at the train station and buy your ticket. There is no need to book in advance. (Except national holidays!)
After the first waiting room we passed immigration, handed over our exit card, got an exit stamp in our passports and left China officially … just to arrive in Hong Kong … China?!
Thank you for reading!
Safe travels
Zà i jià n!
Claudia & Tom
We left Guangdong province.
What happened next in Hong Kong? What places did our local friend Carson recommend? Read it here.
Find tips and general remarks to China 2015 and the links to the previous provinces – from our start in Beijing in June, down to the south west, until our last stay Hong Kong in July here.
