Ora Good Cat Experience Officer | Driving Past Canton Tower, Delightful Afternoon Tea Moments with the Ora Good Cat
The first afternoon tea of 2021—time to make plans!
Afternoon tea originated in 19th-century Britain, and the new social style of "strolling through fields with a teacup" quickly won the admiration of duchesses. Between the demands of my busy new media work, I'm passionate about carving out my own afternoon tea moments—savoring the flavor surprises of cinnamon scones and Earl Grey, and discovering fresh possibilities for living.
My first afternoon tea route of the new year: Ersha Island in Yuexiu District. Let me introduce Ersha Island—it's a wealthy enclave in downtown Guangzhou, where you can gaze at Canton Tower in the distance and feel the Pearl River up close, with the island embraced by water on three sides. Spend a leisurely weekend afternoon here experiencing the most affluent, romantic, art-filled, and laid-back island in Guangzhou.
And my travel partner is the Ora Good Cat. This pure electric vehicle blends classic design elements beloved by women into a rounded, retro-inspired aesthetic. Together with this head-turner, I'm off to explore Guangzhou's enchanting moments.
The millennia-old Pearl River ripples under blue skies as time, like the current, drifts gently by. Looking at luxury residences worldwide, the nouveau riche often cluster in CBDs, while old money with deep wealth remains drawn to mid-level urban retreats. Ersha Island is undoubtedly Guangzhou's premier wealthy neighborhood.
Thirty years ago, Ersha was a patchwork of fish ponds and creeks; from the 1990s, it became a magnet for the affluent. High-oxygen natural surroundings, panoramic unobstructed cloud-mountain sky pools, and an eco-friendly mountain-view gym—these top-tier amenities attract true socialites. For them, life demands 'refinement' and 'aesthetics.' As a photographer, travel blogger, and occasional fashionista, I'm always discovering exquisite things. The first time I saw the Ora Good Cat, my delight was impossible to hide. My inner voice squealed three times: 'Wow! So beautiful! This color is gorgeous!'
To me, the Ora Good Cat is the ultimate style icon among pure EVs. Its cat-eye headlights and muscular mini-widebody evoke the charm of 1960s Porsches, while 18-inch wheels with low-drag aerodynamic covers give it a very MINI-ish vibe. The most eye-catching detail is the retro circular headlight design—full LED with bright projectors, echoing the brand logo. The distinctive 'ORA Retro-futurism' design philosophy makes the Good Cat a contemporary classic.
Slip inside, and the wow factor hits you. Dual integrated screens blend minimalist style with plenty of tech. The digital instrument panel separates electric charge and energy readouts on either side from the central display. The 9-inch center screen boasts a futuristic UI. The two-spoke retro steering wheel, with contrasting colors and bright chrome, feels exquisite. Multi-function buttons on both sides control media, driver assistance, and trip computer. Settling into the driver's seat, hands wrapped in a macaron-hued wheel (mine's green; red, black, and brown are also available) swathed in abundant suede, plus the crystal rotary shifter, I can't help feeling like a Disney princess in exile~
After a hectic day, I drive my Good Cat to the riverside or sit quietly on a bench waiting for sunset. When night falls and lights twinkle across the river, I might feel enchanted and lose track of time.
Promise me, when you're on Ersha Island, don't miss Wenlifang. Wenlifang has become a red-hot Instagrammable spot in recent years, famous for its fluid architectural lines and unique minimalist, slightly cold aesthetic. Good design means almost no design—it's restrained, extreme, individual. Wenlifang is the perfect example.
Head straight for the 360-degree white spiral staircase. At the top, the elegant black ceiling contrasts with the pure white steps and two enormous square frames, creating a three-dimensional sense as if you're stepping through a time tunnel. Driving the Good Cat here, though, means mega traffic jams! Guangzhou's Inner Ring Road truly lives up to its reputation—the navigation screen beams a constant deep red. Long waits at traffic lights can wear you down, making a car's comfort crucial.
After extended driving, you'll appreciate the Ora Good Cat's superb ride comfort. The seats feature a green-white contrast diamond-quilted retro stripe design with suede, brimming with flair. You can opt for different interior colors—the brown scheme is very vintage, too. The front seats offer excellent comfort, snug bolstering, and solid support. They even have heating and massage functions; after a long haul, you can enjoy a 10-minute massage to ease fatigue. So thoughtful!
The rear seats mirror the front's design, with broad cushions providing good leg support and a center armrest. The panoramic sunroof opens to flood the cabin with light and create more headroom.
After Wenlifang, if you want to escape the bustling commercial area, drive the Good Cat to Xinghai Concert Hall and embrace art. There's a series of classical music appreciation concerts. From classical to romantic, you can listen to Beethoven's 'Eroica' Third Symphony or the finale from the ballet 'The Creatures of Prometheus'—a truly stirring sonic experience. When crystalline chords flow past your ears, you feel a gentle breeze in the midst of the world, like moonlight through pines on a clear night. This brief escape from the mundane is also possible inside the Good Cat. Park, turn up the volume, open the sunroof to let sunlight pour in, recline under a roadside banyan tree, and let your mind and body completely relax.
Along the way, you glide, stop, and toggle the chrome rotary shifter with illuminated gear indicator—bright enough even in daylight. Below sit the electronic parking brake and auto-hold button, with clear feedback. Though the center console has few buttons, every function is practical.
The Pearl River flows past busy inland ports, glittering urban landscapes, ancient harbor temples, and grand modern docks—bearing the golden age of the Maritime Silk Road, and Ersha Island is a window onto it all. The island features a 5.5-kilometer scenic greenway loop; follow it in search of a refined, aromatic café.
The Ora Good Cat's intelligent cockpit houses the ORA Smart-café HMI system, which not only handles multi-scenario voice interaction but also creates a virtual butler cat attendant. Paired with ORA Smart-café's master mode, it enables voice, face, and voiceprint recognition; the seat automatically adjusts to your previous position—incredibly user-friendly. On the way to the café, if you sneak a peek at your phone, the Good Cat's strict butler voices, 'Don't get distracted!'
On the smooth island loop, you can leisurely explore the Good Cat's power delivery. I set it to Comfort mode; the resistance stays mild—I use the same mode for mall trips. Honestly, I don't grasp the detailed specs, but the Good Cat is super easy to drive. A light tap on the accelerator delivers satisfying pickup, and the chassis tuning feels comfort-biased over speed bumps.
Here's a driving tip for you: the Ora Good Cat comes with full-range ACC adaptive cruise control. On highways, set it to 120 km/h, and it automatically maintains distance from the car ahead while adjusting speed. During rush-hour traffic jams, switch on ACC for automatic follow-the-leader operation—zero frustration from stop-and-go, greatly reducing driving fatigue.
Arriving at the café, the 360-degree panoramic camera system is a godsend for female drivers; it even offers a transparent chassis view, letting you park perfectly in one go. Shift to N, step out with the key, and the car powers down automatically.
I ordered the signature brownie and my beloved latte, listening to relaxed retro tunes inside. Stealing a half-day's leisure in life's hustle—that's what you call simple happiness!
Wining, dining, and roaming with the most comfortable travel buddy adds so much security to life. This partner is like a longtime friend, a harbor you can always count on no matter the situation. The Good Cat's security comes largely from its rich safety features. Beyond over 416 electric safety protections, it boasts an IronBone™ ultra-high-strength steel body frame, omnidirectional airbags, Bosch 9.3 ESP, e-Call automatic collision alert and roadside assistance, and more—making every cat-lover's journey safer.
If time allows, go shopping to your heart's content. After all, the Good Cat measures 4235×1825×1596 mm with a 2650 mm wheelbase. With the rear seats up, the luggage compartment easily fits a 24-inch suitcase laid sideways. Due to the tapering roofline, width performance is average, but for bigger loads, fold the rear seats for generous space.
Keeping sisters' habits in mind, the cabin offers storage everywhere. The cup holders are recessed to save space. Ahead of them is a slot perfect for cards and odds and ends. The storage cubby includes two USB ports and a 12V outlet for versatile connectivity.
On the way back, crossing nearly the whole city, range anxiety is inevitable. My long-range model uses a 59.1 kWh ternary lithium battery, good for 501 km (a standard 401 km version also exists). The front e-motor delivers 105 kW and 210 N·m. For charging, a 12-minute fast charge adds 100 km, while a 30–80% DC fast charge takes just 30 minutes—very convenient overall. Review the dedicated EV interface with energy recovery, battery level, and power output. To preserve winter range, the Ora Good Cat also offers a trickle-charge insulation function, keeping the battery warm via the charger even after slow charging finishes.
Later, friends asked why I chose the Ora Good Cat. The answer is simple: the BMW MINI is too expensive, the VW Beetle is discontinued, and the Ora Good Cat shines in design, interior, powertrain, and features, with tech specs rivaling luxury cars. The market for women-friendly small cars lacked exactly this kind of reimagined classic.
To find happiness amid urban clamor, maybe all you need—like me—is a cup of coffee, a dessert, and a good chat with your bestie. Where you go doesn't really matter; the sunshine, scenery, and laughter along the way turn the noise into tranquility, and happiness overflows from that calm~ May these small joys help us gather our spirits on every busy workday and continue to chase mountains and seas!