Guangzhou Family Trip: Discover New Flavors of Southern Guangdong in Xiguan | 2-Day Itinerary

As a Guangzhou girl born and bred, my favorite hangout during school days was always the Shangxiajiu commercial area, with its Lingnan-style arcade streets, famous time-honored eateries, and for shopping, Hengbao Plaza was the go-to. I still remember the first time I brought my husband (who's from out of town) here—he fell in love with it instantly and still can't stop thinking about it. Whenever we have free time, he'll say he wants to go to Xiguan.

So, taking advantage of the holidays, I arranged a two-day urban getaway for our family of three in Xiguan. I brought my little one, He Bao Dan, along to explore this neighborhood, soak in the Xiguan charm, and of course, stop by my beloved Hengbao Plaza to pick up some New Year gifts!

**Sightseeing:** Xiguan, Cantonese Opera Art Museum, Enning Road, Bruce Lee's Ancestral Residence

**Shopping:** Hengbao Plaza, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street

**Food & Drink:** Xiao Yue Fine Cantonese Cuisine in Hengbao Plaza, Ma Ji Tea Stall, street snacks, etc.

**Accommodation:** Xiguan-style boutique guesthouse

**Transportation:** By car – parking lot on the 4th floor of Hengbao Plaza; by metro – Line 1, Changshou Lu Station, Exit D; by bus – Hengbao Plaza bus terminal (routes 226, 207, and 541)

**Tips:** Exit from the south gate of Hengbao Plaza and you'll see signs pointing to Yongqing Fang.

They say you should visit Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu, Lihuangpi Road in Wuhan, Zengcuoan in Xiamen, and Hongya Cave in Chongqing—each city seems to have its landmark streets. So when you come to Guangzhou, you must come and experience the unique, nostalgic Guangzhou flavor found in Yongqing Fang in Xiguan. Here you'll find Lingnan-style architecture and countless spots for really interesting photos. We parked our car at Hengbao Plaza and it was just a few minutes' walk—super convenient.

If you're interested in Cantonese opera culture, have a stroll through the Cantonese Opera Art Museum. No ticket is needed, but you'll need to make a reservation. The pavilions and terraces are beautifully arranged, with bridges and gardens distinctly in the Lingnan style. There are even costume makeover sessions for Cantonese opera portraits—truly a hidden cultural gem in the city.

When in Xiguan, Enning Road is a must-see. Built in 1931 in Guangzhou's Liwan District, this road is steeped in Xiguan character. Legend has it that back in the day, the road was wide enough for eight sedan chairs to walk side by side, making it the most prosperous place in Xiguan, hailed as 'Guangzhou's most beautiful old street.'

One spot especially worth recommending in Xiguan is the Bruce Lee Ancestral Residence Museum. Bruce Lee is a pride of the Chinese people, one of the few Chinese film stars to have his handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The museum introduces Bruce Lee and his family.

One of the landmarks here in Xiguan is Hengbao Plaza. From the arcade streets, it's just a few minutes' walk. I can say Hengbao Plaza grew up with me. I remember when the metro only had Line 1, my classmates and I would take the metro specifically to come here. Getting off at Changshou Lu Station, we could enter the mall directly.

I still love hanging out here because it has everything—food, fun, and shopping. There are several kids' clothing brands I really like, often with promotions and discounts, so I can shop for He Bao Dan. There are also plenty of places suitable for kids to play!

The mall is large, with five floors (from B2 to L3) and a huge variety of shops. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it here. Don't forget to look up while walking around—the atrium design is special and full of contemporary style.

Want big brands at friendly prices? GAP is the place!

Their kids' clothes have a casual, laid-back style, letting children enjoy a natural, comfy life without constraint. From newborn rompers and bodysuits to the base layers and little sweaters He Bao Dan now wears at age two, most have been bought right here.

When we went, they were having a huge year-end sale with great discounts. Sweaters and jackets were around just a few dozen to a hundred yuan after discount, perfect for buying some new outfits for the New Year.

No need for me to introduce adidas too much, right? Their gear is really great for sports. He Bao Dan is now over two years old and often plays outdoors on her balance bike, so I've been wanting to get her professional sports shoes and a warm-performance jacket. So we stopped by!

The shop assistants were super friendly and gave He Bao Dan a balloon, which made her so happy. In the end, she chose a pair of shoes herself, totally satisfied.

This place is simply our mother-daughter girly paradise, haha. It's all pink claw machines! He Bao Dan's dad never really understood why we girls love this kind of game so much, but at least he knows his job is to supply us with tokens!

The plush toys here are all adorable. The outer row has smaller ones, which are easy to grab! The inner row has the bigger ones, which probably require some skill! There are also gashapon machines nearby. He Bao Dan was so skilled—before even putting in the coin, she was already reaching for the capsule. So cute!

**Xiao Yue · Fine Cantonese Cuisine**

After a few years in Guangzhou, He Bao Dan's dad has gradually come to love Cantonese flavors, especially trying new things. So we often eat at Xiao Yue on L3 of Hengbao Plaza. This place specializes in new-style Cantonese dishes, and the decor is very Lingnan-inspired. Here are a few recommended signature dishes:

👉 Tossed Free-Range Chicken, 'Winds and Waves' (Feng Sheng Shui Qi)

Guangzhou folks care a lot about lucky meanings, and during New Year, you definitely want to eat this 'tossed chicken' that symbolizes making waves and smooth sailing (in Cantonese, 'tossed chicken' also means succeeding). This dish looks fantastic, colorful, and tastes very refreshing.

👉 Yellow Croaker with Soy Sugar

Soy sugar is an authentic Guangzhou home-style cooking method. The sauce is savory-sweet and perfect with rice.

👉 Classic Sweet and Sour Pork

Pleasantly sweet and sour, also very kid-friendly.

**Ma Ji Tea Stall**

Tea stalls (cha daan) are a distinctive part of the culinary scene in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area! The shop decor is super retro, even featuring a photo wall of Hong Kong streets. If you've been shopping for a while, why not stop by B1's Ma Ji Tea Stall, rest your legs, sip a silky milk tea, and enjoy some snacks. They even have the currently trendy Red Robe tofu milk tea here!

Leaving Hengbao Plaza and walking for a few minutes brings us to the Xiguan-style boutique guesthouse we stayed at this time. Even though I'm a Guangzhou native, I've never actually lived in a classic Xiguan mansion. So this time I made it a point to finally visit this long-wished-for Origin Guesthouse. It's only about five minutes on foot from Hengbao Plaza—very close.

Housed in a renovated standalone Republican-era building, Origin Guesthouse is filled with Ming and Qing dynasty furniture collected by the owner. The moment I walked in, I couldn't help but say 'Wow!'—so full of antique charm! You can even rent a qipao to take photos, and every shot looks like it's straight out of a stylized shoot. The rooftop terrace on the fifth floor is a hidden gem, especially romantic under the night sky. Such attention to detail—no wonder it's an internet-famous boutique guesthouse.

For a family outing with a child, I suggest spreading it over two days to keep the pace relaxed. On the first day, visit the sights; on the second, focus on shopping. This way, the little one gets to satisfy their curiosity seeing new things, and mom gets to enjoy shopping to her heart's content. Hengbao Plaza has nursing rooms (on the 2nd and 3rd floors), so breastfeeding moms can nurse there, and there's also a dedicated space for baby-care needs.

As this is an old town area, transportation is very convenient. All the places we went were near Hengbao Plaza and walkable, so we made Hengbao Plaza the hub of our two-day trip and parked our car in its parking lot.

The parking lot is on the 4th floor and is very friendly even for a female driver like me—the lanes and spaces are wide. Plus, shopping in the mall gets you parking discounts!

Public transportation here is also very convenient:

🚇 Metro Line 1, Changshou Lu Station, Exit D leads directly into the mall

🚌 Hengbao Plaza bus terminal and Changshou Xi Lu bus stop, with routes 2, 3, 6, 15, 61, 82, 207, 226, 541, and Night 39 all accessible