I was in Vietnam and decided to take a quick trip to Guangzhou, China. I had no idea what to expect. I know there are numerous political issues surrounding the United States and China, but I didn’t feel any of that. So what was it like? I gathered some helpful travel tips for Guangzhou, China.
What were my first impressions?
I was the only non-asian tourist I saw on my three days in the city. No one bothered me or tried to sell me something. It was the complete opposite of Southeast Asia. No one even looked in my direction, although everyone was polite. No one spoke English, and besides the subway and Starbucks, all of the signs were only in Mandarin. Ensure you have Google Translate installed.
The city was spotless and reminded me of Japan. There were even people cleaning the sidewalk on their hands and knees. Public restrooms were available throughout the city. And many banks. So many banks. Not sure why.
How to Get There and the 240-Hour Visa
China currently offers a free 10-day tourist visa for entry in several designated areas. I flew from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Guangzhou.
When I checked in for my flight in Hanoi, they asked me about my visa. I showed them my return flight and told them my plan. It took a few extra minutes, but it wasn’t a problem.
Upon landing, proceed to immigration. At the end of the hall, most people take a right to get in line for immigration. Don’t follow. Straight ahead is a desk labeled ‘Transit Visa’. You need to stop there, and they will request your departure flight information and issue you a visa at no cost. Security waved me right towards immigration, but when I approached the agent, he sent me back. The transit desk will provide you with the necessary paperwork to complete. Please don’t make my mistake.
From the airport, you can take the Metro anywhere in the city. The Metro only runs until midnight. If you land after midnight, use Didi, China’s ride-sharing app. At the airport, follow the signs for E-Ride. Be careful because Taxi drivers pretend to be your driver as you exit the building.
Can you use the internet?
My hostel informed me that Google Maps, Gmail, and Facebook would not work, but as long as I used my cell phone service or VPN, I had no issues.
Download WeChat, Didi and Alipay. WeChat is the equivalent of WhatsApp, Didi is the equivalent of Uber, and Alipay is the equivalent of Venmo. You should also get a subway card through Alipay.
The central issue was GPS. Apple Maps worked the best, but even that tended to have your location or the location of your destination a few blocks off. Another drawback was that I couldn’t find reviews of any companies, such as restaurants, on Google Maps, as it is not available in China.
When you use the Didi app, you can actually see how long until the light changes when the driver is at an intersection. I wish Uber and Lyft were so convenient. You can also use DiDi for food delivery.
Transportation
The majority of locals drive scooters, but I wouldn’t recommend nor did I see a place to rent one. I am still confused about the scooter etiquette. They ride on bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, and streets (although they often fail to stop at red lights and frequently ride in the wrong direction). Be careful crossing the street. 75% of the scooters I was zigzagging to avoid were food deliveries.
Public Transportation
The Metro was clean and easy to use. If you have ever used public transit in a major city, you will not have a problem. You can buy a token for each ride before boarding, but it wasn’t the most convenient or easy. I recommend downloading Alipay and signing up for a subway card. You can then tap your QR code when entering and exiting the bus and train stations. You must undergo a security check before entering the train station. They wanted to see my water bottle and external battery.
Ride Share
I recommend using Didi. They were frequent and well-priced. Most rides cost about $3-4 around town. When you use the Didi app, you can actually see how long until the light changes when the driver is at an intersection. I wish Uber and Lyft were so convenient. You can also use DiDi for food delivery.
Where to stay?
I stayed at the YoYo Youth Apartments. It was just that, an apartment in a high-rise building. Not social, but clean and a great location by the train station. Lanzi, who runs it, is lovely.
Where to go?
I felt very safe walking around as a single female. I even felt safe at night and while riding public transportation. No one even glanced in my direction. Since the GPS was spotty, I just wandered. Each neighborhood was packed with food stalls and shops. I recommend walking down the alleys. There are so many small communities tucked between the busy streets.
I definitely recommend visiting Guangzhou, China and taking advantage of the 10-day free visa. I didn’t know what to expect on my visit, but with my top travel tips, I hope you consider taking your own trip to Guangzhou.
