Guangzhou has its own
opera style ,
superficially similar to Beijing's, but more
rustic. It doesn't get much of an airing any
more, though you might see travelling
amateur groups performing in the parks at
the weekends. The Cultural Park on Liuersan
Lu has a proper stage, and hotel staff can
usually translate announcements of
forthcoming events in local newspapers for
you.
Nowadays, eating out is the main
preoccupation. Cantonese youngsters also
flock to the cinema to see Hong Kong
kung fu epics or Western action films, both
usually subtitled in English and Chinese,
while there are also discos/karaoke sessions
at many of the tourist hotels. Guangzhou
also has, for China, an unusually high
number of nightclubs , along with a
number of "beer cellars" and bars,
all patronized by a mix of young Chinese and
foreign workers - both a useful source of
information of other nocturnal hotspots.
Pubs, bars and clubs
Guangzhou has an up-and-coming social scene,
though venues habitually open and close
without notice. For the latest, pick up a
copy of Clueless in Giangzhou or South China
City Life, free monthly magazines aimed at
Western...
read
more >>
Shopping
Guangzhou's shopping ethos is very much
towards the practical side of things, but
while it might not be the best place in the
country to pick up a bargain piece of art,
it's fun to join the masses and see what
they're buying. Liwan Plaza...
read
more >>
