Beijing Road & Yuexiu, Guangzhou
The historic downtown core, everything within walking distance

The appeal of Beijing Road / Yuexiu is that it is a living old town, not a museum. By day the pedestrian street is full of people shopping and snacking; by evening the lights come on and it gets busier still. Step off the main strip into the side lanes and you find old temples, a stone church and teahouses that have been open for a hundred years. The area suits travellers who want to soak up traditional Guangzhou rather than stare at skyscrapers.

• 1
  For travellers who want a central base

  Central base · metro hub · walk to old town

  The area is in the heart of the old town and sits on the Lines 1/2 metro interchange, so getting anywhere is easy. Whether you take Line 1 to Shamian Island or change lines for the Zhujiang New Town business district, you start from here. There is no need to stay far out just to keep transport simple.

• 2
  For history and culture lovers

  History · temples · Nanyue heritage

  If you like wandering among old things, the area is a treasure trove. Within walking distance you have the ancient road relic, the Nanyue King Museum, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Guangxiao Temple, the stone cathedral, and Yuexiu Park with the Five Rams Statue — you can spend most of a day exploring the old town on foot.

• 3
  For shopping and food near your bed

  Shopping street · dim sum · snacks

  The Beijing Road pedestrian street puts department stores, brand-name shops and food within walking distance of the hotels. By day there is dim sum and an endless run of Cantonese snacks; by night the lights and the crowds give it real energy. A late meal or a forgotten purchase is a few steps from your room.

• 4
  For first-timers visiting Guangzhou

  First-timer · easy navigation · day trips

  For a first trip, the area is easy to walk and hard to get lost in. Gongyuanqian on Lines 1/2 reaches almost every major sight in the city. If you want to compare it with other areas before booking, read where to stay in Guangzhou and the Guangzhou first-timer's guide.

The strongest argument for basing yourself in Beijing Road / Yuexiu is that you get a central location at a lighter price than the business district. Wake up to dim sum, spend the day walking the old town and temples, shop the pedestrian street in the evening, and the Lines 1/2 station at Gongyuanqian takes you to other districts or out to the airport and railway stations. If your trip is mostly about the old town and the food rather than skyscrapers, the area is good value and a lot of fun.

One thing worth knowing: the pedestrian street is busy and noisy at night. If you sleep lightly, pick a hotel with rooms set back into a lane or on a higher floor — you keep the good location but get a quieter night.