FDX - Guangzhou
04-01-2010, 06:15 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 156
FDX - Guangzhou
There doesn't seem to be much info out there on CAN so I thought I would share some of my experiences to help the guys that don't come here as often.
First of all, if you have an iPhone then I highly recommend the Guangzhou taxi guide application. It has a huge database of restaurants, hotels, places etc, that you can display as a taxi card to show the driver in chinese characters. Getting around by taxi is very cheap. Rides start at 7 RMB and I think the longest ride I have taken was about 25 RMB ($3.60 USD). The Metro is also very good, it is very similar to the one in HKG so if you can find your way around on that one, then you will be fine here too.
1. Holiday Inn Shifu
+ Very very friendly staff, free breakfast, free appetizers and drinks in exec lounge in the evening, big nice rooms. Gym is on the rooftop level by the outdoor pool. Treadmills, free weights, and a universal machine. Nothing brand new, but more than adequate.
Places to go close to the hotel:
Shang jiu Pedestrian St. - Go out the hotel door and turn left. You are there, the road runs east and west for a mile or so with lots of shopping and food places. There are cheap restaurants like McD's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Papa Johns pizza, Ajisen Ramen. There are also a bunch of local food places, and sushi joints. Lots of the food is not on the ground floor so look for the signs and escalators going up. For well known local Cantonese food, the Guangzhou Restaurant is right there by the hotel and has a huge lit up sign on the roof. There is lots of street food too but lots of tentacles!
Shamian Island - It's where the Brits were set up during colonial times. The island has a lot of trees and old colonial type buildings. The most popular place for food and a beer is Lucy's, which has a nice patio in the garden, and serves western food. There is also an italian restaurant on the East end of the island, called La Dolce Vita, it's in a nice building with affordable prices. Next to that is the Orient Express, it has a train car on the patio. I haven't eaten here since it was a German place so not sure about the food, but it is a nice setting. Also I have heard that the Thai place is good, the Cow and Bridge, North side of the island.
To get here just walk out the hotel, and turn right. Continue southbound for 4 blocks or so through the pet street, and through the dried goods market. You will see an overpass to get across a busy street. Go across that and to the right and continue until you see a bridge to go across the river/mote. The one tall building on the island is the White Swan hotel, walk towards that, turn left at the hotel and you will see Lucys cafe.
Note* they are doing lots of construction on the island right now, so you watch your step!
2. China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel
I have only been here once but it is pretty nice. Nice rooms, big TVs, good shower, starbucks downstairs. The gym is good and there is a tennis court in the plaza. There are a couple restaurants, and a bar in the hotel complex, with choices from cheap to expensive. I think we get appetizers and drinks in the exec lounge here too.
The Metro stop is directly downstairs of the hotel. There is a nice park just down the street from the hotel that is nice to jog in.
3 . The Garden Hotel Area
We do not stay here, but a lot of other expats do. It is not a big deal though, just jump in a cab, it is only a few bucks to get there. This area probably has the most expat bars in the area. Here are a few good ones. All of these places are walking distance from each other.
The Paddy Field, - typical Irish pub, good food, good beer. Just behind the Garden Hotel
The Hill Bar, - one of the first expat bars, and still very popular, inside and outside seating.
The Elephant and Castle, sports bar, always a soccer game on the numerous big screens, popular with westerners, locals and other foreigners.
Across the street to the north from the Garden hotel, there is an elevated walkway to cross the street. Turn right and it is right there, walk a little farther to the Hill bar.
Also in the area are The Cave Bar, Tang Club, and the Oasis Bar but I haven't checked those out yet.
Next time:
The "Guanhzhou Bar street" is right across the river to the southwest from Shamian Island. I guess there is a ferry that docks by the White Swan hotel, that will take you over, otherwise I know the MTR can get you there as well.
Bai-e-tan Bar street
Also, I have heard that this Canadian bar Strange Brew has the best burgers in town, anyone been there?
Hope this helps, I'll update with more stuff next time I am there.
boost
First of all, if you have an iPhone then I highly recommend the Guangzhou taxi guide application. It has a huge database of restaurants, hotels, places etc, that you can display as a taxi card to show the driver in chinese characters. Getting around by taxi is very cheap. Rides start at 7 RMB and I think the longest ride I have taken was about 25 RMB ($3.60 USD). The Metro is also very good, it is very similar to the one in HKG so if you can find your way around on that one, then you will be fine here too.
1. Holiday Inn Shifu
+ Very very friendly staff, free breakfast, free appetizers and drinks in exec lounge in the evening, big nice rooms. Gym is on the rooftop level by the outdoor pool. Treadmills, free weights, and a universal machine. Nothing brand new, but more than adequate.
Places to go close to the hotel:
Shang jiu Pedestrian St. - Go out the hotel door and turn left. You are there, the road runs east and west for a mile or so with lots of shopping and food places. There are cheap restaurants like McD's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Papa Johns pizza, Ajisen Ramen. There are also a bunch of local food places, and sushi joints. Lots of the food is not on the ground floor so look for the signs and escalators going up. For well known local Cantonese food, the Guangzhou Restaurant is right there by the hotel and has a huge lit up sign on the roof. There is lots of street food too but lots of tentacles!
Shamian Island - It's where the Brits were set up during colonial times. The island has a lot of trees and old colonial type buildings. The most popular place for food and a beer is Lucy's, which has a nice patio in the garden, and serves western food. There is also an italian restaurant on the East end of the island, called La Dolce Vita, it's in a nice building with affordable prices. Next to that is the Orient Express, it has a train car on the patio. I haven't eaten here since it was a German place so not sure about the food, but it is a nice setting. Also I have heard that the Thai place is good, the Cow and Bridge, North side of the island.
To get here just walk out the hotel, and turn right. Continue southbound for 4 blocks or so through the pet street, and through the dried goods market. You will see an overpass to get across a busy street. Go across that and to the right and continue until you see a bridge to go across the river/mote. The one tall building on the island is the White Swan hotel, walk towards that, turn left at the hotel and you will see Lucys cafe.
Note* they are doing lots of construction on the island right now, so you watch your step!
2. China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel
I have only been here once but it is pretty nice. Nice rooms, big TVs, good shower, starbucks downstairs. The gym is good and there is a tennis court in the plaza. There are a couple restaurants, and a bar in the hotel complex, with choices from cheap to expensive. I think we get appetizers and drinks in the exec lounge here too.
The Metro stop is directly downstairs of the hotel. There is a nice park just down the street from the hotel that is nice to jog in.
3 . The Garden Hotel Area
We do not stay here, but a lot of other expats do. It is not a big deal though, just jump in a cab, it is only a few bucks to get there. This area probably has the most expat bars in the area. Here are a few good ones. All of these places are walking distance from each other.
The Paddy Field, - typical Irish pub, good food, good beer. Just behind the Garden Hotel
The Hill Bar, - one of the first expat bars, and still very popular, inside and outside seating.
The Elephant and Castle, sports bar, always a soccer game on the numerous big screens, popular with westerners, locals and other foreigners.
Across the street to the north from the Garden hotel, there is an elevated walkway to cross the street. Turn right and it is right there, walk a little farther to the Hill bar.
Also in the area are The Cave Bar, Tang Club, and the Oasis Bar but I haven't checked those out yet.
Next time:
The "Guanhzhou Bar street" is right across the river to the southwest from Shamian Island. I guess there is a ferry that docks by the White Swan hotel, that will take you over, otherwise I know the MTR can get you there as well.
Bai-e-tan Bar street
Also, I have heard that this Canadian bar Strange Brew has the best burgers in town, anyone been there?
Hope this helps, I'll update with more stuff next time I am there.
boost
Last edited by boost; 04-01-2010 at 09:40 AM.
06-09-2010, 01:06 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 520
Thanks Boost for the post.
I am staying at The China Hotel and there doesn't seem to be anything 'western' in this area. I got out and walked around the hotel some and I couldn't really find anything of interest. Maybe its different at night but kind of disappointed.
If anyone has info for things to do in and around The China hotel PLEASE post.
PT
I am staying at The China Hotel and there doesn't seem to be anything 'western' in this area. I got out and walked around the hotel some and I couldn't really find anything of interest. Maybe its different at night but kind of disappointed.
If anyone has info for things to do in and around The China hotel PLEASE post.
PT
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