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FIRST TIME in Guangzhou China 🇨🇳 | 3 Days of Hidden Bars, Street Food & Must-See Spots
First Time in Guangzhou: 3 Days of Hidden Bars, Street Food & Must-See Spots
I am in Guangzhou China for the first time and in this travel guide I’m taking you with me on 3 incredible days in Guangzhou China, exploring the best food, hidden bars, and must-see spots in one of China’s most underrated cities.
I will also slot in first timer tips such as using WeChat Pay and...
I am in Guangzhou China for the first time and in this travel guide I’m taking you with me on 3 incredible days in Guangzhou China, exploring the best food, hidden bars, and must-see spots in one of China’s most underrated cities.
I will also slot in first timer tips such as using WeChat Pay and finding the best local eats on Dianping along the way to make it an ultimate first timer guide to Guangzhou China!
ABOUT PHAT
Hi I am Steve another corporate burnout who decided to start creating content on YouTube as a passion project
MOST importantly if travelling is your VIBE I strongly suggest subscribing so we can go on more PHAT adventures together!
Join Steve from PhatLife Project on his first-ever trip to Guangzhou, China! Over three action-packed days, he dives into the city's vibrant street food scene, discovers hidden speakeasy bars, and visits iconic landmarks. From navigating the metro and using WeChat Pay to tasting Puning Rice Noodle Rolls and Crab Roe Noodles, this vlog is packed with practical tips and local secrets. Watch as he explores Yuexiu Park, Canton Tower, and Shamian Island, then unwinds at a spa and sips cocktails at secret bars like Hope and Sesame. It's an engaging, off-the-beaten-path guide to one of China's most underrated cities.
I am in Guangzhou China for the first time and in this travel guide I’m taking you with me on 3 incredible days in Guangzhou China, exploring the best food, hidden bars, and must-see spots in one of China’s most underrated cities.
I will also slot in first timer tips such as using WeChat Pay and finding the best local eats on Dianping along the way to make it an ultimate first timer guide to Guangzhou China!
ABOUT PHAT
Hi I am Steve another corporate burnout who decided to start creating content on YouTube as a passion project
MOST importantly if travelling is your VIBE I strongly suggest subscribing so we can go on more PHAT adventures together!
Steve from PhatLife Project lands in Guangzhou at 4:30 AM, kicking off his China adventures with a packed three-day itinerary. He immediately dives into local life, using Didi for a cheap airport ride and Dianping to find a hidden rice noodle spot for breakfast. The first day is a whirlwind: the Guangzhou Zoo (where he's on a mission to see the pandas), the historic Yuexiu Park with its 600-year-old city walls, and a Pearl River cruise that lights up the skyline. He's clocking 20,000 steps before lunch, but that doesn't stop him from exploring Beijing Road's ancient street layers and Shamian Island's European colonial architecture. After checking into his surprisingly spacious hotel in Tianhe district, he ends the night at a secret bar ranked among Asia's top 50. Day two starts with Michelin-starred dim sum at Tao Tao Ju, where he orders way too much but gets incredible value. He then tackles the Canton Tower's bubble tram for 360-degree views, escapes the heat at the Guangdong Museum, and catches sunset from Ersha Island. A neck and foot massage at a popular chain leaves him rejuvenated, and another hidden speakeasy in Dongshankou caps off the night. On day three, a local friend sends him to Dian Du De for a more authentic dim sum experience, followed by two trendy cafes—Raw Guangzhou with its desert aesthetic and Seed Down for a mango-coffee blend. He explores Dongshankou's hip boutiques, then heads to Xiesanbao for Shanghai-style crab roe noodles. The night ends at two more unique bars: the Butter Beer Company and a cave-themed cocktail spot. Steve wraps up by declaring his love for Guangzhou—the dim sum is next level, the history is deep, and the customer service is A-plus. He's already planning a return trip.
Steve from PhatLife Project lands in Guangzhou at 4:30 AM, ready to dive into three days of Cantonese culture, street food, and hidden gems. From the moment he steps off the plane, he's navigating the city like a pro—using Didi for a cheap airport ride, Dianping to find a local rice noodle joint, and WeChat Pay for everything. His itinerary is packed: the Guangzhou Zoo (where he's on a mission to see the pandas), the historic Yuexiu Park with its 600-year-old city walls, and a Pearl River cruise that lights up the skyline. But the real magic happens after dark—secret bars like the award-winning speakeasy and a cave-themed cocktail spot. Steve's honest, energetic narration makes you feel like you're right there with him, sweating through 20,000-step days and savoring every bite of dim sum.
Steve explores Guangzhou's best dim sum, hidden bars, and historic sites in three action-packed days, blending local tips with authentic cultural experiences.
Guangzhou Travel Guide: Dim Sum, Hidden Bars & Must-See Spots
0:49 Use Didi Chuxing for airport transfers; it's China's Uber and costs around $22 from Baiyun Airport to the city.
1:19 Download Dianping to find top-rated local restaurants with discount vouchers—essential for authentic eats in Guangzhou.
2:36 Set up WeChat Pay and the Guangzhou QR code mini program for subway rides; Google Maps doesn't work, use Apple Maps or AMaps.
3:12 Check subway direction by looking for your station on the platform list; signs are in English for easy navigation.
6:26 Scan QR codes at restaurants to order and pay via WeChat—no physical menus or waiters for orders in most places.
13:51 Always carry your passport in China; it's required for entry tickets, subway passes, and identity verification at venues.
15:04 Pre-book and pre-purchase museum tickets online to avoid hassle with passport verification and payment apps at the venue.
16:33 Try a Chinese massage chain like Yun Wen Zi Shui for a neck and foot massage—great value at around $80 AUD for a premium experience.
0:49 Use Didi Chuxing for airport transfers; it's China's Uber and costs around $22 from Baiyun Airport to the city.
1:19 Download Dianping to find top-rated local restaurants with discount vouchers—essential for authentic eats in Guangzhou.
2:36 Set up WeChat Pay and the Guangzhou QR code mini program for subway rides; Google Maps doesn't work, use Apple Maps or AMaps.
3:12 Check subway direction by looking for your station on the platform list; signs are in English for easy navigation.
6:26 Scan QR codes at restaurants to order and pay via WeChat—no physical menus or waiters for orders in most places.
13:51 Always carry your passport in China; it's required for entry tickets, subway passes, and identity verification at venues.
15:04 Pre-book and pre-purchase museum tickets online to avoid hassle with passport verification and payment apps at the venue.
16:33 Try a Chinese massage chain like Yun Wen Zi Shui for a neck and foot massage—great value at around $80 AUD for a premium experience.
0:04 Arrival at Guangzhou Airport
1:45 Breakfast at Puning Rice Noodle Rolls
3:26 Guangzhou Zoo Panda Mission
4:05 Yuexiu Park and Sun Yat Sen Memorial
5:44 Beijing Road and Dafo Temple
8:11 Pearl River Night Cruise
9:09 Secret Bar in Asia's Top 50
10:50 Michelin Dim Sum at Tao Tao Ju
12:21 Canton Tower Bubble Tram
15:53 Sunset at Ersha Island
18:09 Local Dim Sum at Dian Du De
22:28 Butter Beer and Cave Bar
23:28 Final Thoughts on Guangzhou
00:00 Introduction (3 days Guangzhou China Travel Guide)
00:46 Airport to Hotel
01:15 Puning Rice Noodle Rolls + Luckin' Coffee
02:36 Navigating Guangzhou Public Transport
03:26 Guangzhou Zoo
04:03 Yuexiu Park
04:59 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
05:39 Beijing Road Pedestrian Street
06:52 Shamian Island
07:27 Where to Stay in Guangzhou
08:09 Pearl River Cruise
08:37 Dafo Temple at Night
09:06 Hope and Sesame Bar
10:45 Breakfast at Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居)
12:20 Canton Tower
13:17 Zhujiang New Town
13:48 Guangdong Museum
14:57 Guangzhou Museum
15:44 Sunset at Ersha Island
16:28 Spa Massage at Yun Xin Shui Yu
17:07 DrinkLESS Secret Bar
18:08 Breakfast at Dian Du De (点都得)
19:33 The RAW
20:19 Seed Down Cafe
21:00 Exploring Dongshankou (东山口)
21:47 Crab Roe Noodles (蟹叁寳)
22:26 Butter Beer Company (黄油啤酒公司)
22:52 INNer Bar Guangzhou
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They were stretchier than the ones back in Malaysia, but the taste was amazing!
How much did the Guangzhou Zoo ticket cost?
It only cost me four Aussie dollars—a great deal for the largest zoo in southern China.
What was the best dim sum you had?
The seafood red rice roll at Tao Tao Ju was incredible—like a thin shrimp toast inside a rice roll.
How did you find the secret bars?
I used online research and local tips; one was hidden behind a hole-in-the-wall in Dongshankou, and another was inside a cave.
What was the most surprising thing about Guangzhou?
The customer service was A-plus everywhere—from hotels to restaurants—and the dim sum was miles ahead of what I've had in Sydney.
