Formerly known as Canton, Guangzhou is one of China’s foremost business centers and home to its most prominent language and cuisine. Its location at the midpoint of the Guangdong Province, north of the Pearl River Delta near the South China Sea, has always made it a magnet for commerce. It is renowned as the country’s hometown for foreign residents — nearly one-third of its 12 million inhabitants are transitory, having migrated from around the world.

They come as employees of international corporations, from pharmaceutical concerns to printer manufacturers, shipbuilders, technology firms and beer makers — more foreign residents than any other Chinese city. Their presence has been beneficial to Guangzhou, leading to construction of new schools, hospitals, roads and industrial parks.

Historically, the city’s significance is traced to ancient times when it served as the capital for three dynasties: the Nan Yue (South Yue), the Nan Han (South Han) and the Nanming (South Ming). Its auspicious location made it a powerful base for emperors.

Today, the 2,000-year-old city draws leaders of the corporate sector. About 10,000 visit each spring and fall as exhibitors at the China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair (www.cantonfair.org), the biggest trade fair in the country. If your aim is to explore trade possibilities with China, that’s the time to plan your visit to Guangzhou.

LODGING

THE GARDEN HOTEL
True, you’ll find The Garden on busy Huanshi East Road, the commercial and financial hub of Guangzhou, but once you walk inside, the artful Chinese décor will calm you. The lobby mural in particular, with 200,000 tiny pieces of gold inlay, helps visitors set business tensions aside. A stroll through the gardens, with their carp-filled ponds and a six-story waterfall, is ultra-relaxing. The theme continues to the guestrooms, where fresh flowers and the choice of buckwheat or goose-feather pillows help you unwind into the evening. A fitness room, a pool, tennis courts and squash courts offer exercise options, but don’t forget to stop for a drink and panoramic city views in the top-floor revolving lounge.$$$
THE GARDEN HOTEL
368 Huanshi Dong Lu
tel 86 20 8333 8989

RITZ-CARLTON, GUANGZHOU
Lodging doesn’t come more elegant than the Ritz in the new Tianhe business district, just yards from the scenic Pearl River. Popularly used for corporate relocation clients, the Ritz offers amenities a long-term guest might need, including translation services, a health club, walk-in closets, a yoga studio, Pilates classes, computer rental and cell phone rental, along with babysitting services, a playground and supervised activities for children. The area has plenty to keep the entire family busy: Flanked by the Guangzhou Opera House on one side and the Guangzhou National Museum on the other, the hotel is just a half-mile walk from the Teem Mall, a local favorite.$$$$
RITZ-CARLTON, GUANGZHOU
3 Xing An Road, Pearl River New City, Tianhe District
tel 86 20 3813 6688
www.ritzcarlton.com

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL GUANGZHOU
Like the city itself, the Shangri-La is well served by its location. Situated next to the Guangzhou International Convention Center and more than 10 miles from the touristy Xiguan Heritage Street of boutiques, the Shangri-La is known for hosting shorter-term business guests. It offers stress-busting services — yoga and aerobics classes and miniature golf — and complimentary pressing of one business outfit for each guest on arrival. You can guess at the pressure-cooker lives of this hotel’s guests by the size of its spa, with 11 treatment rooms.$$$$
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL GUANGZHOU
1 Hui Zhan Dong Road
tel 86 20 8917 8888
www.shangri-la.com

DINING

1920
Most people are surprised to spot a German restaurant in Guangzhou — especially one managed by Filipinos — but if you enjoy German fare, the food is excellent. The décor is another surprise: contemporary, in a muted purple and sage scheme, resembling a hip European bistro. The menu features such comfort food as baked homemade noodles, lamb filet and smoked pork loin with sauerkraut. Clients are mostly expats and tourists, noshing on sausage and cheese. Save room for the white cheese mousse with red fruit sauce, and stick around for the live jazz. $$$
1920
183 Yanjiang Zhong Lu
tel 86 20 8333 6156
www.1920cn.com

DONG JIANG HAIXIAN DA JIULOU
In most Chinese cities, older neighborhoods are being demolished and gentrified. While some of that is happening in Guangzhou, this is still a city where the massive, multistory restaurant is common. In that genre, the two Dong Jiang restaurants are among some of the best and the largest. The Haizhu Square location stretches an impressive five floors into the sky, with more tables set up on the sidewalk. Visitors are treated to the spectacle of massive tanks of crabs and other seafood on the first floor — a good place to start before they dare each other to eat local delicacies such as water beetles. Avoid Dong Jiang in the early evening, especially Sundays, when families like to eat out; every table will be filled and you’ll have to shout to carry on a conversation. $$$
DONG JIANG HAIXIAN DA JIULOU
2 Yanjiang Lu
tel 86 20 8318 4901

LIAN XIANG LOU RESTAURANT
Travelers come to this 120-year-old restaurant for the same reason they flock to Le Bec-Fin in Philadelphia, or Brennan’s in New Orleans: to say they were here. With Lian Xiang Lou, the lure is its cakes. Known worldwide as “No. 1 Lotus Seed Paste,” it began drawing customers for its rich lotus seed cakes and biscuits in 1889. Today, it’s still famous for its rice cakes with coconut juice and lotus seed pastries, serving them up for about 300 customers a day. The cakes are in such demand that Lian Xiang Lou built two factories to produce them. It has been named “Domestic Superfine Restaurant” and “Chinese Time-Honored Brand” by the country’s Trade Ministry.$$
LIAN XIANG LOU RESTAURANT
67 Shipu Lu
tel 86 20 8181 1638

DIVERSIONS

Even residents of major cities need their “nature breaks,” and those living in Guangzhou are no exception. The most spectacular is White Cloud Mountain, about 10 miles north of the city. With a 113-acre sculpture park, an enormous bird sanctuary and 30 peaks for hiking and climbing, White Cloud provides both respite and adventure possibilities.

More readily accessible is Yuexiu Park, downtown Guangzhou’s biggest park. With three artificial lakes and seven hills set in about 122 acres, Yuexiu brings nature to the city but is also the site of some of Guangzhou’s most prized landmarks. The most renowned is the Five-Ram Sculpture, Guangzhou’s emblem, symbolizing five immortals who rode into the city on five rams more than 2,000 years ago and left sheaves of rice to save the people from famine.

Another important spot in the park is the circa-1380 Zhenhai Tower, or Five-Story Tower. Today it serves as the Guangzhou Museum, with artifacts and records spanning the city’s history on display. But most people come to Yuexiu Park just to relax in the elegant gardens or to walk the peaceful paths.

For history buffs, the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family (7 Zhongshan Road, tel 86 20 8770 6871) is known for the ornate brick carving and metalwork of the building itself. The Chen family, who trace their roots across Guangdong Province to the 1600s, donated it as a sacrifice and to encourage their descendants to work and study hard. Another important site is Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (180 Huang Shi Xi Lu, tel 020 8668 2845), built after Sun Yat-sen’s death in 1925. The pristine, blue-tiled structure stands, surrounded by gardens, on the south slope of Yuexiu Hill. And the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liu Rong Lu), built more than 1,400 years ago, is the tallest ancient pagoda in Guangzhou.

INFO TO GO

Opened just four years ago, Guangzhou New Baiyun Internat ional Airport (CAN) serves 31 million passengers each year, flying from more than 100 domestic and international cities. Located about 17 miles from the city, CAN is one of China’s three busiest airports.

You can also reach Guangzhou by train. The Jing-Guang Railway Line is the primary rail link between north and south China, from the Guangzhou Railway Station. To reach Hong Kong by train, start at the Guangzhou East Railway Station.

Getting around Guangzhou by taxi is easy; cabs are prolific throughout the city, and passengers can haggle with drivers in the evening. Four subway lines cross the city — a fast, economical way to travel for those familiar with the streets and language. The newest transport in Guangzhou is the water bus, running a 25-minute route along the Pearl River. With only four ports along the route, it’s easy to recognize your stop — and if you miss it, you’ll circle back again in a few minutes.