Guangzhou

Guangzhou has been a major trading port since the Tang Dynasty, and its commercial DNA runs deep — the city hosts the world's largest trade fair twice a year. The Lingnan-style architecture of the old Xiguan district, the colonial Shamian Island, and the towering Canton Tower along the Pearl River create a rich visual tapestry. Dim sum here is elevated to an art form: morning teahouses serve bamboo steamers of har gow, siu mai, and cheung fun to families lingering for hours. Guangzhou is also the gateway to the Pearl River Delta region including Shenzhen and Hong Kong.