Free tour

Guangzhou Essentials: The Best Free Highlights Tour of Opera, Qilou & Hidden Food Gems

4.88

Excellent(24)

Guangzhou

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: li

Registered on 12 March 2025

Having called Guangzhou home for over a decade, I'm a certified urban explorer who knows where to find the crispiest roast meet, secret shortcuts to escape tourist herds, and how falling in love with this city always starts with a random alleyway. Join me to explore GZ.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Hello Hello! Welcome to Guangzhou!

This curated citywalk dives into Guangzhou’s historic Xiguan District, the cradle of Lingnan culture. Over two hours, you’ll explore tranquil water towns, UNESCO-recognized opera traditions, and bustling streets, all while tasting iconic Cantonese snacks.

Designed for those who love to explore local life, the route balances storytelling, hands-on experiences, and photogenic spots to capture the essence of "Old Canton".

On our route we will visit

Lychee Bay Park& Pantang Ancient Village
Cantonese Opera Art Museum
Yongqing Fang & Enning Road Qilou
Xiguan snacks tasting (it may cost about 10-30 yuan depending on what you want to taste, such as Double Skin Milk /Wonton Noodles, around 10 yuan each) You can pay in cash, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. This is entirely up to you, if you are not interested in this part , we can skip it .

The tour will end at Yongqing Fang , about 10 minutes walking from the Ruyifang station , Metro Line 6&11.

Let us discover hidden gems of Old Guangzhou together!

P.S. I will show you my personal list of tips and recommendations about Guangzhou（loved by locals）

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Liwan lake park

Ruyifang station (Exit D1, Metro Line 6&11). I will be there right at Exit D1, wearing a black hat.

Outside visit

Xiguan Snacks

Guangzhou’s dim sum is a culinary art form, offering bite-sized delights like har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork-and-shrimp parcels), and char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), steamed or fried to showcase fresh, seasonal ingredients. Rooted in the tradition of yum cha (tea time), these dishes blend craftsmanship with bold flavors, best enjoyed in bustling restaurant. No visit to Guangzhou is complete without savoring this communal feast of textures and tastes.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €15 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).