| Page Views: 21,301 Last Visit to Guangzhou: May, 2007 I Used To Live Here | Nuthin' But a "GZ" Thang by Guantanamera - last update: Jan 30, 2008 |
Winged Victory of........ Guangzhou!? Guangzhou, the most important trading city in South China for more than 2000 years, once the mecca of the ancient Yue Kingdom, nestled in the tangled strands of the Pearl River Delta, is lately transforming itself into a modern metropolis... I hazard to add that it is becoming even just a little bit... dare I say it... cosmopolitan...
Construction of brand new skyscrapers and shopping malls is a never ending process here that cannot be escaped... Many of the big international names have taken up residence, with many more soon to come... Still far from the futuristic majesty of Hong Kong, GZ occupies a middle ground between the Asia of yesterday and the Asia of tomorrow...
The dining and nightlife scene has expanded and diversified tenfold in the last 10 years, with something for just about every taste, all centered around the grand culinary kaleidoscope of Cantonese cuisine... Thai food, Indian, Brazilian, French, Italian, Vietnamese, you name it... The fashion scene is fascinating, especially for its multitude of independent Chinese designers who own their own stores in trendy spots such as Tiyu Xilu and Taojin Lu...
And for those sinophiles out there, GZ offers a great deal of historical and cultural points of interest, including ancient Buddhist temples as well as sights important to the development of China in the 20th century...
Some famous persons who have resided in Guangzhou at one time or another include:
Bodhidharma - Indian Buddhist monk and ancient founder of zen philosophy, lived in GZ circa 520 C.E. and built a well in Guangxiao Temple of GZ
Hui Neng - Famed 6th patriarch of zen buddhism in the Tang Dynasty, became enlightened while living in GZ when hearing a passerby reciting the Diamond Sutra.
Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas - Maternal uncle of the prophet Muhammad, lived in GZ during the Tang Dynasty, established the first Chinese mosque in GZ and entombed in GZ.
Sun Yat-sen - Cantonese leader of the democratic revolution which overthrew the last emperor of Qing Dynasty China in 1911, he studied medicine in GZ and attempted his first 1895 insurrection in GZ as well.
Mao Zedong - Hunanese Marxist revolutionary and founder of People's Republic of China, he established the Peasant Movement Institute while living in GZ.
Pictured above, a reproduction of the famed "Winged Victory of Samothrace", poised within Guangzhou's brand new Grandview Mall in Tian He. |
| A balcony in the heart of Guangzhou |
|  | Shown here, a typical residential balcony in central Guangzhou, full of botanical beauty... |
| The Temptation of St. Anthony |
| | The Greenery Cafe, in central Guangzhou, which is decorated with huge wall size reproductions of Salvador Dali masterpieces. |
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 Comments for Guantanamera about Guangzhou | | | | |
Partyanimal3000 Wed Aug 19, 2009 16:08 UTC
We took a table whose glass shattered. In 15 min abt 25 bouncers came. In mins, they surrounded us. Whn the sec tape showed tht we didnt break the glass, they started shouting screaming wildly. Out of fear for our lives we paid 2000 & left | ozalp Wed Aug 12, 2009 09:40 UTC
Thanks Paul but I wasn't an expert. Maybe I am, on inertia, because I have so much to write before new travels. | jenniferchin Mon Jan 26, 2009 02:00 UTC
hahahaha ... I am sure ;-) | Aussieguy53 Tue Jan 20, 2009 17:00 UTC
Paul, I've been reading your GZ page. Thanks for all the effort you've put into your advice. I'm there in late March before venturing further into China. You were lucky to have such a personable travelling companion. Chris |
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