Guangzhou & Foshan City Break (Standard)

On arrival in Guangzhou, you are greeted by a local guide and driver before transferring to your hotel - a journey of around one hour, depending on traffic. The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing you time to relax after your journey or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

After breakfast at the hotel, you begin exploring Guangzhou, a city that for centuries was China’s gateway to the world. As the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, it was once the only port through which tea, silk and porcelain reached Europe.

You visit Huangpu Old Port, a key witness to the city’s maritime prosperity and an important departure point for foreign trade during imperial times. From here, continue to the Chen Family Temple (closed on Tuesdays), an outstanding example of Lingnan-style architecture. The complex is richly decorated with intricate wood carvings, ceramic figurines and traditional folk art. Passing through Huacheng Square, you take in the modern heart of Guangzhou, surrounded by landmark skyscrapers, museums and landscaped green spaces.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant before you continue to admire the exterior of the Guangzhou Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid and inspired by river-worn stones. You'll then linger around Lychee Bay, a tranquil waterside area known for its Lingnan gardens, arched bridges and echoes of old Canton life. Your walk continues along Enning Road in Yongqingfang, once one of the most vibrant residential streets of the Qing Dynasty. The area still preserves its historic streetscape, with architecture blending Chinese and Western influences from the Republican era through to more modern styles. Tucked away in a quiet alley, you also discover the former residence of Bruce Lee’s parents.

Finish the day with a visit to Shamian Island, a former foreign concession established after the Treaty of Tientsin in 1859. Once divided between the British and French, the island is lined with elegant colonial-era buildings, churches and former consulates. After your visit here, you are transferred back to the hotel, and the evening is at leisure.

Guangzhou - Foshan - Guangzhou. Today, you visit Foshan and step into Foshan Ancestral Temple, a beautifully preserved complex that celebrates the heritage of local clans. Admire the intricate wood carvings, tiled roofs and tranquil courtyards, where rituals and festivals have taken place for centuries. Nearby, you may also see traditional lion dances and demonstrations of Wing Chun martial arts, both deeply rooted in Foshan’s cultural identity. Next, visit the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln, one of the oldest continuously operating kilns in China. Still in use today, it offers a fascinating insight into Foshan’s long-standing ceramics tradition and cultural heritage.

Lunch is at a simple, family-run local restaurant near the kiln, giving you a taste of everyday Cantonese cooking.

In the afternoon, continue to Shunde and take a leisurely stroll through Qinghui Garden, one of the finest classical gardens in southern China. Built in the mid-17th century during the Qing Dynasty as a private residence for a scholar-official, the garden later expanded into a renowned example of Lingnan design. Unlike the refined delicacy of Suzhou gardens, Qinghui Garden features open courtyards, lush greenery and water features adapted to the warm Guangdong climate, creating a calm and harmonious setting.

End the day on Shunde’s pedestrian street, where you can sample local snacks at your own pace. Shunde is especially famous for its double-layered milk pudding, or shuang pi nai - a silky dessert made from fresh buffalo milk, lightly sweet and smooth, and served either warm or chilled. After a chance to taste it, you head back to Guangzhou for the night.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check out. An included transfer takes you to the airport or railway station for your onward journey.