Welcome to Southern China

Welcome to Southern China
Changsha
Although dating back more than 2,300 years, in modern Chinese history Changsha is celebrated for its connections with Hunan native Mao Zedong. Mao was educated in the city and led a Communist uprising here in 1927. Visitors are constantly reminded of the connection through statues, town squares, parks, and exhibitions and day trips to his home town 90km away are extremely popular.Capital of Hunan Province, Changsha is a modern, developed city of some 2 million residents with perhaps 6 million in the urban area. Hunan province is famous for its spicy cuisine and Changsha natives consider themselves to be China's most sophisticated diners, so this is a great place for trying out local restaurants.You will find great food without effort in Changsha; even the smallest places will impress. Specialties to try include the Preserved Bean Curd (Chou Dou Fu), Crisp Sesame Duck (Maren Xiangsu Ya), and Spicy Chicken Cubes (Mala Zi Ji). Streetside food stalls throughout the city are great places for snacks. An airport is located around 30km from the city with a good shuttle bus service. There are also good train or bus connections from other parts of China. There is no subway in the city but the bus system is good and there are plenty of taxis. Changsha can be hot and humid in the summer, which coincides with the rainy season, but winters are dry with reasonable temperatures, averaging 5 degrees Celsius in January. Weather is changeable in early spring, and fall is extremely pleasant with warm temperatures and little rain.
Dongguan
Over five thousand years old, Dongguan has plenty of history and has thrived in recent years. Its location between Shenzhen to the south and Guangzhou to the north has been a major factor. It's a busy place full of people intent on getting ahead. The First Opium War started in Dongguan and, although not a tourist destination, the city hosts fascinating exhibitions about this period of Chinese history. Set in an area of forests and hills, the city also offers beautiful gardens and the largest shopping mall in the world. It's a friendly city and a place to get a real sense of the dynamism of the Pearl River Delta. Dongguan has no airport so most visitors come via Shenzhen, Guangzhou, or Hong Kong. There are shuttle buses from Shenzhen and Guangzhou airports and, in Hong Kong's case, a ferry. You can also get here easily by train or long-distance bus. There is a good public bus service and taxis are affortable and easy to find.As with most of Guangdong province, temperatures are mild year round and humid in summer. There's plenty of rain, particularly between June and October, which makes fall the best time to visit.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou is an ancient city and was one of the five Chinese treaty ports opened by the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842 after the First Opium War. Since the early 1980s, the city has boomed and is now one of the biggest in China. The capital of Guangdong Province, it is an incredibly energetic city with fascinating glimpses into its past through ancient temples and traditional back streets. Shamian Island, with a fine cathedral, is an interesting reminder of the colonial period. And when it comes to food, there's no better city to find out why the Cantonese are famous throughout China for the range of their cuisine.Guangzhou's gleaming new international airport 30km outside the city is China's biggest and busiest. You can also reach the city by high speed rail link from Shenzhen, ferry from Hong Kong, or by train or bus from anywhere in the country. Inside the city there is an excellent modern subway system and many taxis. Traffic is generally pretty busy and the buses can be crowded.Fall is probably the best time to visit Guangzhou as temperatures are mild all year round. The summer can be hot and humid with occasional drizzles between June and October.
Guilin
Often used as a base for expeditions down the Li River to Yangshuo, Guilin is a quaint, pleasant city surrounded by remarkably beautiful scenery. This is where the famous limestone hills are found, without doubt one of the natural highlights of a visit to China. The mountainous terrain of peaks and valleys attracts millions of tourists each year and the city itself has two rivers and four lakes. Although most of the sights are outside Guilin, there are hills within the city limits that are worth exploring. A modern and tourist-friendly city, Guilin is about 2,000 years old although its current name dates only from the Ming Dynasty. The airport is 25km from the city center and there is an affordable shuttle bus service. The train station is a regional hub so there is good access to and from all parts of China. Book ahead if you want sleeper tickets as the services are often busy. In the city itself, travel by taxi or rent a bicycle to enjoy the landscape.Guilin has four mild yet distinct seasons. January temperatures average eight degrees Celsius, while in July the average is 28 degrees with high humidity. A good time to visit is before or after the rainy season in May and June, although Guilin is pleasant at any time of year.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is an amazing city, transformed by a mix of geography and economic reform. From a population of just 20,000 in 1980, the city is now a metropolis of towering skyscrapers and the richest city in mainland China. The city is diverse, still growing, and changing every day. There are decent beaches and Shekou in particular is worth visiting for its laid back atmosphere. Shenzhen makes up for its lack of history with inventive tourist attractions in the Overseas,Chinese Town (OCT) area, an energetic entertainment, nightlife and restaurants galore.For a day trip from Hong Kong, simply take the subway and local train and walk across the border. Visas are available at the border if you don’t have one already. Otherwise, the airport is 35km outside the city with good train and bus links. A new subway system makes city center travel easy as traffic is generally dense.The climate is comfortable most of the year and rarely drops below ten degrees Celsius in winter. Summers are hot and humid.
Xiamen
Xiamen in Fujian Province has pristine beaches, great scenery and is considered one of the most attractive cities in China. The city area spans two islands and a mainland peninsula. Xiamen is linked to the mainland by a causeway and the smaller island of Gulangyu, once a base for the foreign community, is now a tourist destination boasting colonial villas and gardens. It's a major port yet despite its successful industry is famous for its clean air and generally healthy environment. The local language is Amoy, with Mandarin widely spoken.Xiamen has a modern international airport 10km from town and is also convenient to reach by train or bus. In the city buses or taxis are the best option, and this is a good place to rent a bicycle as traffic is manageable. No cars are allowed on Gulangyu, which is a 10-minute ferry ride away. Ferries depart every 15 minutes.The weather is another reason Xiamen is so highly thought of. A subtropical monsoon climate creates average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius with a summer average of 26 and an extremely mild winter, making it pleasant all year round. It is rainiest May to August.