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Shamian Island, Guangzhou

PreeChina · Route Guide

Things to Do Near Shamian Island, Guangzhou

6 stops within 3 km of Shamian Island. A sample itinerary that PreeChina can turn into a private, custom or tailor-made tour.

1 day6 stopsStart: Shamian IslandWithin 3 kmUSD 305 per person, 2 travelers

At a Glance

Route Quick Facts

Anchor
Shamian Island (沙面)
Stops
6, anchor first
Radius
All within 3 km of the anchor
City
Guangzhou
Anchor to Centre
3 km, straight line
Length
1 day

Price

Price of This Private Tour

Per person, in US dollars. The price covers the guide, the ground service, and the transport, meals and tickets in the itinerary, and it falls as the group grows. What a price includes and leaves out.

Estimated price per person for Things to Do Near Shamian Island, Guangzhou, by number of travelers
Travelers246810152030
Day tripUSD 305USD 220USD 185USD 175USD 160USD 155USD 145USD 135

Premium hotels and first-class rail raise the price: the selectors on Private Tours show by how much. The final price is confirmed in writing before anything is booked.

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Why This Route

Shamian Island and What Lies Within Reach

An artificial sandbank that became the British and French concession after the Second Opium War. More than a hundred consulates, trading houses, churches and banks survive in a block, the largest concentration of Western-style buildings in Guangzhou.

Shamian Island lies 3 km from central Guangzhou in a straight line. This route stays within 3 km of it. The stops are Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic District, Cantonese Opera at Guangfu Tai, Cantonese Opera Art Museum, Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou).

The Guangzhou city guide covers the city itself.

Itinerary

Shamian Island Itinerary: 6 Stops Around It

The Day

  1. 1

    Shamian Island (沙面). An artificial sandbank that became the British and French concession after the Second Opium War.Start here.

  2. 2

    Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market (清平中药材市场). Guangzhou's only national market for medicinal herbs, forty years old, with more than 1,800 stalls and 500 kinds of material, from soup herbs to costly tonics.0.3 km from the previous stop, 0.3 km from Shamian Island, straight line

  3. 3

    Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (上下九步行街). Arcaded shopfronts through the old Xiguan quarter, and described as the first all-day pedestrian street in the country.0.7 km from the previous stop, 0.8 km from Shamian Island, straight line

  4. 4

    Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic District (广州西关-恩宁路历史文化街区). Old copper-smiths still hammer next to trendy cafes under the qilou arcades, recorded as the longest intact arcade street in Guangzhou.0.4 km from the previous stop, 1.2 km from Shamian Island, straight line

  5. 5

    Cantonese Opera at Guangfu Tai, Cantonese Opera Art Museum (粤剧艺术博物馆广福台粤剧粤曲展演). A free, daily Cantonese opera performance held on a beautiful waterside stage within a Lingnan garden museum.0.8 km from the previous stop, 1.2 km from Shamian Island, straight line

  6. 6

    Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou) (石室圣心大教堂（广州）). Described as China's largest Gothic stone church, a granite cathedral with twin spires and stained glass, standing among Lingnan shophouses in old Guangzhou.2.8 km from the previous stop, 2.7 km from Shamian Island, straight line

Stops run from Shamian Island outward, each next stop being the closest one left. We do not list clock times here: your private itinerary sets the pace, the order and the start time with you.

Map

Map of the Stops

The gold marker is Shamian Island. Numbers follow the route order. We do not draw a line because it would not follow roads.

Stop by Stop

The Stops

Shamian Island, Historic Building
1
Historic Building

Shamian Island (沙面)

Start of the route

An artificial sandbank that became the British and French concession after the Second Opium War. More than a hundred consulates, trading houses, churches and banks survive in a block, the largest concentration of Western-style buildings in Guangzhou.

2
Market

Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market (清平中药材市场)

0.3 km from Shamian Island, straight line

Guangzhou's only national market for medicinal herbs, forty years old, with more than 1,800 stalls and 500 kinds of material, from soup herbs to costly tonics.

3
Market

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (上下九步行街)

0.8 km from Shamian Island, straight line

Arcaded shopfronts through the old Xiguan quarter, and described as the first all-day pedestrian street in the country. Double-skin milk, rice rolls, wonton noodles, radish with beef offal, and morning tea.

Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic District, Historic Neighborhood
4
Historic Neighborhood

Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic District (广州西关-恩宁路历史文化街区)

1.2 km from Shamian Island, straight line

Old copper-smiths still hammer next to trendy cafes under the qilou arcades, recorded as the longest intact arcade street in Guangzhou.

5
Live Show

Cantonese Opera at Guangfu Tai, Cantonese Opera Art Museum (粤剧艺术博物馆广福台粤剧粤曲展演)

1.2 km from Shamian Island, straight line

A free, daily Cantonese opera performance held on a beautiful waterside stage within a Lingnan garden museum. Over 1,000 shows per year, featuring classic excerpts like "The Peony Pavilion" and "Wang Zhaojun." Visitors sit in the garden pavilion and watch costumed performers with live musicians.

Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou), Heritage Site
6
Heritage Site

Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou) (石室圣心大教堂（广州）)

2.7 km from Shamian Island, straight line

Described as China's largest Gothic stone church, a granite cathedral with twin spires and stained glass, standing among Lingnan shophouses in old Guangzhou.

Distances

Distance From Shamian Island

#StopTypeFrom Shamian IslandFrom previous
1Shamian IslandHistoric Building--
2Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine MarketMarket0.3 km0.3 km
3Shangxiajiu Pedestrian StreetMarket0.8 km0.7 km
4Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic DistrictHistoric Neighborhood1.2 km0.4 km
5Cantonese Opera at Guangfu Tai, Cantonese Opera Art MuseumLive Show1.2 km0.8 km
6Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou)Heritage Site2.7 km2.8 km

Straight-line distances. Road distances are longer.

Getting There

Visiting Shamian Island From Other Cities

FromStraight lineWe plan it asGuide
Guangzhou3 km1 dayCity guide
Dongguan53 km1 dayCity guide

Straight-line distances from the city centre. Road and rail distances are longer. Your private itinerary sets the pace and the order with you.

Independent Travel

Doing This Route Independently

Arranging these 6 stops yourself keeps the budget lower. It also means booking each one and the transfers between them. Compare a private tour with independent travel, or ask PreeChina to plan it.

Custom Tour

Turn This Into a Private, Custom Tour

This route is a starting point: 1 day and 6 stops. PreeChina plans it as a private, tailor-made trip and changes the stops, the days and the pace to your group.

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Questions

FAQ

How far is Shamian Island from central Guangzhou?

Shamian Island lies 3 km from central Guangzhou in a straight line. The road distance is longer.

What is near Shamian Island?

The stops on this route, with straight-line distances from Shamian Island, are Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market (0.3 km), Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (0.8 km), Guangzhou Xiguan Enning Road Historic District (1.2 km), Cantonese Opera at Guangfu Tai, Cantonese Opera Art Museum (1.2 km), Sacred Heart Cathedral (Guangzhou) (2.7 km).

Which stop is closest to Shamian Island?

Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market, at 0.3 km in a straight line.

How many days does this route need?

We plan it as 1 day. Your private itinerary sets the pace and the order with you.

Who is this route not a good fit for?

Anyone who wants a slow day. The route links 6 stops, so each visit is short. Tell PreeChina which stops matter most and the others can go.

Plan More

Nearby Routes and Tour Types

Things to Do Near Canton Tower, GuangzhouGuangzhouGuangzhou city guideWhere to stay, eat and go

See all PreeChina route itineraries

Explore More

This route is in Guangdong. The province page lists its city guides, themes, museums and other routes.

Related

Keep Exploring Guangzhou

Attractions in and around Guangzhou

Routes and day trips

Theme maps

Background reading

Plan This Route as Your Private Tour

Tell us when you arrive in Guangzhou, who is travelling and how much time you have. We build the route around your group.

Plan My Custom Tour See Pricing