Guangzhou Historical Day Tour: Five Rams to Canton Tower by Metro

Five Rams statue, tomb museums and a river view of the city in one day

A seven-hour guided tour of Guangzhou starting at Yuexiu Park station, traveling by public metro and Pearl River boat to see the Five Rams statue, the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Chen Clan Academy, Shamian Island and Canton Tower. The guide speaks English, and the tour includes dim sum lunch, selected museum entry fees and all transport by metro and boat. The Nanyue King Tomb limits daily visitors. You can view it from the upper level even if the tomb chamber itself is full. The tour ends at Canton Tower square, where you make your own way back to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King1h · entry included
2. Chen Clan Academy1h · entry included
3. Shamian Island1h 30m · entry included
4. Canton Tower1h

Explore Guangzhou by metro and boat

• Meet outside Exit B1 Yuexiu Park station
• Visit Yuexiu Park and Five Rams statue
• Visit Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King or YongQingFang
• Visit Chen Clan Academy or YongQingFang
• Explore Shamian Island and have dim sum lunch
• Take Pearl River day cruise
• Visit Canton Tower and conclude tour

The experience

You meet your English-speaking guide outside Exit B1 of Yuexiu Park station on metro line 2 at 9:30am, then travel by public transport through the city to see how Guangzhou's history sits inside its everyday streets. The first stop is Yuexiu Park itself, where you see the old city wall and the Five Rams statue, a symbol of the city. From there the guide takes you to the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, excavated in 1984. The museum holds the original tomb chamber, exhibitions and historical documents (if the museum is closed on Monday, you visit YongQingFang instead). Next is the Chen Clan Academy, built in 1894 as a folk art museum with brick carvings, iron carvings and wood carvings inside the Cantonese houses. If it closes on Tuesday, YongQingFang becomes your stop.

The tour moves to Shamian Island, a small island in the Pearl River that was a British and French colony two centuries ago. You walk the old streets between Western-style buildings, and depending on timing, you have your included Cantonese dim sum lunch here. Then you board a day cruise on the Pearl River itself, which gives you a view of the buildings and the city's waterfront. The boat takes you toward Canton Tower, the 600-meter structure built in 2010. You can see it from the square at the end of the tour, and if you want to go up to the observation floor, you buy a ticket separately.

What’s included

• Local English-speaking guide.
• Cantonese dim sum lunch with vegetarian option available.
• public metro transport throughout the day.
• Pearl River boat cruise.
• selected museum entrance fees for Yuexiu Park, the Nanyue King Museum and Chen Clan Academy.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (3 to 85 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by SilkRoadTrips

Is this one for you?The tour uses public metro and covers several neighborhoods on foot, so you need to be comfortable walking and climbing stairs. The pace is steady but not rushed, and the seven-hour day includes a lunch break. If you want to see Guangzhou's history without renting a car or navigating the metro alone, traveling with a guide who knows which streets matter makes the difference.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What time does the tour start and where do I meet the guide?

The tour starts at 9:30am outside Exit B1 of Yuexiu Park station on metro line 2 in Guangzhou. Bring your passport with you.

Is the Museum of the Nanyue King tomb always open?

The museum closes on Mondays, and when it does, the tour visits YongQingFang instead. The tomb site itself has a daily visitor limit. You can view it from the upper level even if the chamber is full that day.

What happens if the Chen Clan Academy is closed?

The Chen Clan Academy closes on Tuesdays. On those days, you visit YongQingFang as a replacement stop.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, Cantonese dim sum lunch is included, and a vegetarian option is available if you request it when you book.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes your local English-speaking guide, dim sum lunch, selected museum entrance fees, and all transport by public metro and Pearl River boat. The Canton Tower observation deck ticket is not included and costs extra if you want to go up.