JANVI TOURS

Step back in time with this Guangzhou Walking Tour, crafted to reveal the soul of Old Canton. Known as Sai Kwan (or Xiguan), this neighborhood holds centuries of Guangzhou's vibrant history, architecture, and culture. As you wander through the Xidi area (the "West Bund") and its remarkable transformation over decades, you'll see how ancient traditions blend with modern life—a true hallmark of Guangzhou.

View of Canton c. 1800 © Peabody Essex Museum 2006 Photo Sexton-Dykes

On this tour, you'll journey to Shamian Island, a former British and French concession showcasing 19th-century European architecture. The tranquil streets here are filled with stunning colonial buildings, making it a unique piece of foreign history nestled in South China.

Site of foreign district on Shameen Island, Canton, 1850s, lithograph based on photo by John Thomson

Sai Kwan's traditional neighborhoods offer a glimpse into the lives of Guangzhou’s residents through winding granite streets and Sai Kwan civil houses, which combine Chinese and Western architectural styles. Visit Fengyuan Community and Yong Qing Fang, where charming grey-brick homes and pebble stone paths tell stories of life a century ago. Here, you'll step into the preserved residence of Dr. Jeme Tien Yow, an architectural treasure that honors the “Father of China's Railroad.”

Food lovers will appreciate this tour’s Cantonese food stops. Try authentic snacks at a street-side restaurant before continuing to Lychee Bay. Known for its historic Lingnan water town architecture, Lychee Bay features beautifully restored mansions from the early 1900s, set against serene waterways.

If you're lucky enough to be here, you will see the traditional Cantonese opera performance.

The tour also includes a stroll through a traditional Chinese medicine market and the chance to browse the lively pet street, all to capture the authentic sights, sounds, and flavors of local Guangzhou culture. Depending on availability, you may even witness a performance of Cantonese Opera in a Southern Chinese Garden or visit a Taoist temple for an immersion into China's ancient beliefs.

Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Ancient Doors Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Cantonese Opera Art Museum Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Cantonese opera performance Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Chinese Medicine Market Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Local Noodle Restaurant Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Local Wet Market Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Old Bund in 1937 Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Old Bund in 2017 Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Playing Chinese hacky sack Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Shamian Island Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Small Alley Guangzhou Walking Tours of Sai Kwan - Taoist Temple

End your journey with a curated list of Guangzhou's best places to explore further—local restaurants, shopping spots, and more hidden gems.

Look at What Our Customers Are Saying our walking tours on their blogs…

Tour of Old Canton After two days of following Michelin, it was time for a change and we enlisted the aid of Janvi, a local tour guide, to take us on a Guangzhou city and food walk.

Janvi pointed out lots of historic sights and architecture, told us about the history of the area and took us to the largest medicinal market in Southern China. We saw so many interesting things.

And along the way, we saw seamstresses, cabinetry makers, and food stalls. Loud chirps echoed in the bird and herb markets. We saw people at play, rest and everything in between. And it was a great opportunity to see everyday life in Guangzhou.

Highlights of the Guangzhou Walking Tour

• Visit Xidi and Shamian Island for a look at the merging of old and new Guangzhou.
• Explore Sai Kwan’s historic residential areas with their unique blend of Western and Chinese architecture.
• Discover one of our traditional religions: Taoism.
• Experience Cantonese Opera and traditional Chinese medicine market for a full immersion into local culture.
• Discover the Lingnan water town charm at Lychee Bay with restored early 20th-century mansions.
• Stop at a traditional Cantonese street restaurant for authentic snacks.
• Explore the backstreets in Old Canton, a truly important part of Guangzhou life.

Information of Sai Kwan Walking Tour

Type of Tour: Private Tour -- Just for you and your travel mates

Tour Departure Date: Available year round on request

Duration: Approx. 3 hours OR 5 hours;

Price of 3-Hour Sai Kwan Itinerary

Price of 5-Hour Sai Kwan Itinerary

Tour Starting Time: The best time is at 11:00 am (5-hour tour) OR 1:30 pm (3-hour tour)

Walking Distance
3-hour walking tour: Approx. 3 km;
5-hour walking tour: Approx. 8 km;

What's Included:
1. Meet and greet at the downtown hotel.
2. Unique souvenir produced by us.
3. Professional guide;

What's NOT Included:
1. Additional costs for food and personal expenses;
2. Transportation to and from the tour's starting/ending point;

Who May Attend
We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Guangzhou for the first time. This experience is not recommended for young children or people who find it difficult to walk for long periods of time. We are also able to provide a driver and a vehicle to reduce the amount of walking distance.

Private Tour
This tour can be enhanced with a variety of local food. We will have chances to try the Yum Cha & Dim Sum, bamboo-pressed noodles, Double Layer Steamed Milk and other Cantonese style desserts as well as Cantonese style salty pancake and multi-layer Chinese pancake along the journey. To keep your tour costs low, we have not included meals in the tour price. This allows you to choose options that best fit your preferences and budget, as food prices are generally very reasonable. We kindly ask that you cover our expenses for meals and drinks during the tour, but these costs will be minimal. Based on our experience, the additional costs for food are typically as follows:

1. Dim Sum at local tea house, it costs around CNY￥35 per head;
2. Bamboo-pressed Noodle, it costs around CNY￥10~16 per head;
3. Cold Crispy Fish Skin, it costs CNY￥24;
4. Double Layer Steamed Milk, it costs CNY￥14 for a bow;
5. Multi-layer Chinese pancake, it costs CNY￥2;

Booking Process
To complete your Taishan Private Day Tour booking, a deposit of 30% to 50% is required via Stripe, Alipay, or wire transfer after we confirm the tour date and duration with you. Please note that a transaction fee of 0.29% + $0.30 + $3.04 to $4.79 will be applied to the total amount when the deposit is made through Stripe. Once the payment is processed, your booking for the Private Taishan Diaolou and Village Tour will be confirmed. The remaining balance can be paid on the day of the tour via Stripe, Alipay, or cash. You may choose to pay in either U.S. Dollars or Chinese Yuan, whichever is more convenient for you. We prefer U.S. Dollars that are undamaged and unstained; otherwise, please provide Chinese Yuan.

Covered Areas for Meeting Up and Greeting
Please note that hotels located more than 40 minutes away from Beijing Road metro station by public transport (as per Google Maps) will incur an additional meeting charge of USD $20. There is no extra charge when meeting at the tour starting point (Beijing Lu metro station). Please be aware that we do not offer-up services for hotels located in Panyu District, Nansha District, Conghua District, or Zengcheng District. We recommend booking your hotel in the downtown, including Yuexiu District, Liwan District, Haizhu District, and Tianhe District. The meet-up service is available only for the tour and does not include stoppage time. While we do not provide return service, we will assist you in calling a taxi and instructing the driver to take you back to your hotel.