From Dim Sum Mornings to Pearl River Nights: Our Guangzhou Journey

The first thing we learned about Guangzhou was that people here take food very seriously.

On our first morning, we walked into a small local restaurant and stared at the menu for almost ten minutes. There were so many unfamiliar dishes, and honestly, we had no idea what half of them were. We knew Guangzhou was famous for Cantonese cuisine, but we didn't expect the flavors to be so different from the Chinese food we had tried back home.

Luckily, Willow Zhan, who helped arrange our trip, had already sent us a few suggestions before we arrived. She recommended trying morning tea, steamed dishes, roasted meats, and reminded us not to judge Cantonese food by how spicy it was. She was also the person we messaged when we couldn't figure out which restaurant sign we were looking at after getting a little lost on the first day.

Our guide, Mr. Chen, was a local Guangzhou resident who loved sharing small details about the city. He wasn't the kind of guide who only talked about dates and history. He would stop while walking and point out old buildings, explain why certain streets were designed that way, or tell us where locals actually went for food.

Our first full day started with Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, and it immediately changed our impression of Guangzhou. The detailed wood carvings, stone sculptures, and colorful decorations were incredible. We spent much longer there than expected because every corner had something to look at. Mr. Chen explained how these traditional crafts reflected the importance of family and education in Guangdong culture.

Later we explored Yongqing Fang and Shamian Island. The contrast was fascinating—one side felt like a modern creative neighborhood with cafés and small shops, while the other had quiet streets lined with old European-style buildings. We took far too many photos on Shamian Island, especially under the old trees. One friend kept stopping every few minutes saying, "Wait, this looks like a movie scene."

That evening we saw the Canton Tower from outside and joined the Pearl River Night Cruise. The city lights along the river were beautiful, but what surprised us most was how relaxed Guangzhou felt. It was a huge modern city, yet people were still sitting outside drinking tea, chatting, and enjoying a slow evening.

Of course, the food became one of the biggest highlights.

We tried dim sum, and at first we didn't understand why locals could spend hours sitting at a table with small plates arriving one after another. Then we understood. It wasn't just a meal—it was a social activity. We loved the shrimp dumplings, steamed buns, and rice rolls. The flavors were much lighter than we expected, but the freshness of the ingredients really stood out.

My personal favorite was the roasted goose. The crispy skin and rich flavor were completely different from anything I had tried before. One friend, however, accidentally ordered chicken feet because she thought it was a normal chicken dish. She tried one bite, paused for a few seconds, and said, "I need more time to become this adventurous." We laughed about that for days.

One evening, after walking around all day, we realized we had completely underestimated Guangzhou's heat and humidity. Everyone was tired, our clothes were sticking to us, and we were carrying too many shopping bags. Mr. Chen simply laughed and took us to a small dessert shop for double-skin milk pudding. It was exactly what we needed.

The trip outside Guangzhou was another surprise. At Gulong Gorge, we traded city streets for mountains, waterfalls, and fresh air. The glass walkway was exciting, although some of us looked much braver in photos than we actually felt. We also visited Cave Fairyland, where the cool underground caves were a welcome break from the summer weather.

In Foshan, we saw another side of Guangdong culture. At Foshan Ancestral Temple, we watched a traditional lion dance performance. The energy was incredible—the drums, movements, and teamwork made it feel completely different from anything we had seen before. We also walked around Lingnan Tiandi, where old architecture mixed with modern shops and cafés.

Our only small problem happened on the last day when one of us realized we had packed a souvenir into the wrong suitcase just before leaving for the airport. We had a small panic moment, opened every bag, and eventually found it hidden under a pile of clothes. Nobody wanted to admit who packed it there.

By the time we left Guangzhou, we had learned that the city was not just about skyscrapers or food. It was about slow mornings with dim sum, conversations over tea, old streets beside modern buildings, and people who were proud to share their culture.

And yes, we definitely left with a much longer list of Cantonese dishes we still wanted to try next time.