Top 6 Things to Do in Guangzhou at Night

Guangzhou is such a flourishing, prosperous, fast developing city that travelers cannot sit still during your visit or business travel. When night falls and lights put on, many of the parts of Guangzhou come alive, presenting itself in a different and charming way. Your nightlife is going to be very “COLORFUL” and you can choose to go out for sightseeing/shopping or stay indoor to spend an either peaceful or breathtaking evening.

Here are our picks for the best choices for nightlife for night owls. Among the top 6 things to do in Guangzhou at night, taking a Pearl River cruise to see stunning views along each bank and be dazzled by the Canton Tower is chose by most travelers. Which one do you prefer? Just feel free to select your likes.

The Pearl River is the second largest river by volume (after the Yangtze River) and the third longest river in China (after the Yangtze River and the Yellow River), stretching about 2320 meters. Pearl River night cruise is listed into “Top Eight Sights of Guangzhou” and it is highly recommended for travelers who want to spend a relaxing and memorable night outdoor. Embarking on the Pearl River cruise at night, you have the great chance to enjoy fantastic night view of Guangzhou when everything lit up, witness the flourishing “city of business” in close distance, see many historical buildings along the riverside as well as learn more about Guangzhou profound history and splendid folk culture. You won’t miss the landmark of Guangzhou - Canton Tower during 70-minute cruise.

Canton Tower, also called Guangzhou TV Astronomical and Sightseeing Tower, is a 600 meters tall observation tower located on the banks of the Pearl River in Guangzhou. Till 2019, it has been the third tallest sightseeing tower in the world. There are some nicknames to describe its beauty and features, including “Slim Waist”, “Twisted Firewood”, and “Peak of the Ram City”.

Travelers can get atop of Canton Tower before sunset around 16:30-17:00 to enjoy the beautiful sunset. After sunset, the whole Canton Tower itself is illuminated in a light display of changing colors through an integrated system of LED fixtures, ensuring it highly visible feature of the Guangzhou skyline during the night. For travelers who want to stand highly and see in different perspective, it is a good choice to ascend to 488 meters to overlook fabulous Guangzhou city and Pearl River night view in 360 degree. Furthermore, there are more thrilling activities to experience if you like.

Immersing yourselves into the busy streets and crowds is a good way to feel the authentic life in a local way. When lights are lit, it is time to go out and take a nice stroll along Beijing Road or Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street.

Beijing Road, located in the center of Guangzhou close to Haizhu Square and Pearl River, is a cultural, entertainment and commercial street. This street is very famous in Guangzhou with a history dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Now, Beijing Road is a mix of history of modernity. Along this 1450-meter street, travelers can find all kinds of shops, restaurants, clothing & fashion outlets, department stores, footwear, jewelry, leather good stores, boutique shops and large shopping malls. Wander leisurely and make a stop to try some local snacks or do some shopping along this No.1 commercial street in Guangzhou.

If you are traveling with kids in Guangzhou, the world-class Chimelong International Circus is a recommended activity to do at night. The night at the circus is will be a night you will not forget. Located in the Chimelong Paradise, Chimelong International Circus has the largest live-action circus stage in the world which was listed into the Guinness Book of Records. Besides, it has the largest number of performers and animals to display different kinds of fantastic and glorious performances. The large international cast of performers are from throughout North and South America, Russia and China. The entire show covers an impressive performance with amazing acrobatics, horse riders, spring-board divers and motor bike riders. There is no doubt to use “spectacular” “brilliant” “amazing” to describe the performance from the very start to the end.

Appreciating Cantonese opera is a special way to have a better understanding about the traditional, profound Cantonese culture. Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in Southern China’s Guangdong Province and is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macau. Like other Chinese opera, Cantonese opera is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics and acting. There are four types of roles - “Sheng”, “Dan”, “Jing” and “Chou”. The classic performances include “the Legend of Purple Hairpin”, “the Tale of the White Serpent”, “Peony Pavilion”, “Princess Cheung Ping”, “Wuqi and the Princess”, “Han Emperor Liu Bang”, and more. Guangzhou Opera House is the recommended place to enjoy Cantonese opera, and if you choose to appreciate the opera in a free way, you can also go to a featured tea house.

After a full day exploration in Guangzhou, you can choose another way to spend a night with your partners. Maybe go for a drink at a bar to relax and see what local young people usually do. In Guangzhou, there are four famous bar streets called - Bar Street at Paxing, Bar Street at Yanjiang Road, Bar Street at Huanshi Road, as well as Bar Street at Bai E’ Tan Street.