We had read so much about the new speed train system that was becoming operational all throughout China so of course we had to try it out.
This was how the interior of the train looked like...
And here's some of the scenery we encountered while hurtling at 200km/h towards Guangzhou (with a couple of stops in between, of course) before finally arriving at Guangzhou East Station...
Like Shenzhen, and unlike Hong Kong, the city centre was characterized by wide, open boulevards which were flanked by modern sky scrapers. I like that as I think it looks a lot neater that way and prevents a buildup of claustrophobia.
Of course, all around us were signs of that it was just days to go till the upcoming Asian Games. From the placard inside the taxi...
To the decorative ornaments depicting the various sports at the sides of the roads...
More on that later but first, check out the hotel lobby. Why Hyatt has a knack of placing their lobbies way above street level I do not know but the striking views they provide could be one reason.
Our room, as well as the view it provided us, wasn't too shabby as well. Pity about the glass which prevented our pictures looking as sharp as those taken from the lobby though...
Immediately after checking in, we walked around the surrounding area and were surprised to find that the city centre was empty. We later found out that not only was it a Sunday, a lot of roads leading there had been blocked due to the Asian Games torch procession. No matter, it gave us a chance to look at some of the roadside decorations.
That's when we realised that they were actually comprised of artificial roses. Cool, very cool. And smart too.
We actually intended next to go to eat some Dim Sum for lunch but serendipitously ended up at Shang Xia Jiu instead after the cab driver said that if we were there for only a day, it was necessary to go there to capture the essence of the real Guangzhou.
On our way there, we passed by yet more open boulevards, but also historic-looking sites like this one.
In a way, the cab driver was correct, for the shophouses at Shang Xia Jiu which now housed various foodstalls and various provision shops once pervaded the whole of Guangzhou before it started modernize, so we were told...
There were signs that this was a very modern, tourist friendly complex though, with again the characteristic open plazas and squares inter-mingled with rustic lanes...
Food as expected, was super cheap. These are some of the food stalls we encountered...
And some of the wares we consumed.... Prices, as usual, super cheap....
Special mention for these cooked crustaceans however. Neither prawn nor crayfish, they are not possessed of a lot of meat and smell... unique... Umm... An experience, I guess, which we had to undergo if we were to get a seat...
This being the Asian Games, there were certain to be reminders...
As well as the ever present group of volunteer guides... Not all are that knowledgeable. But they are all certainly enthusiastic...
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