As a Marriott Bonvoy member, traveling with my little one to bustling Tianhe, I discovered a 'comfort zone' for food, fun, and more.

The more heritage a city has, the more vibrant it is. I can always find something new here, especially when walking around, discovering that even familiar places can bring new emotions. Traveling with a child is all about convenience and ease. Experiencing hotels is one of our family's favorite ways to travel. Paired with local attractions, a trendy and fulfilling short vacation is easily within reach.

Every city has its 'hidden personality,' which might be an inspiration for the future or the city's unique charm. If you're not yet familiar with the beauty of Guangzhou, come and unlock its fun and joy with us!

This time we chose to stay at the Guangzhou Zhengjia Plaza Marriott Hotel. Its prime location is truly the top choice for a downtown getaway. The hotel is in Tianhe CBD, adjacent to Pearl River New Town, and close to Guangzhou's shopping and entertainment hubs. There are many large shopping malls nearby, including Guangzhou Zhengjia Plaza, TeeMall, Parc Central, TaiKoo Hui, and Fashion Tianhe, all within walking distance from the hotel. Zhengjia Plaza itself is a national AAAA-level scenic area, boasting numerous indoor attractions, with the must-visit Zhengjia Polar Ocean World.

[Belugas' Love - Beluga Babies]

In 2021, Guangzhou's only artificially bred beluga baby was born—adorable, smart, and heartwarming. You can see these belugas up close at the Beluga Hall and Beluga Concert Hall.

[Flower Dance and Mermaid Show]

In the 40-meter-long Deep Sea Wonder display tank, which has even been certified by the Guinness World Records, watching a stunning mermaid performance on such a vast underwater stage is a truly amazing experience. The crowd constantly exclaims 'wow,' and with the help of a thousand brilliant golden trevally, it gives a feeling of abundant wealth.

[Underwater Dreamy Swan Lake]

You may have seen ballet, but have you watched underwater ballet? Right here in a romantic ballet set in Atlantis, also in this same display tank, the performers dance the world-famous 'Swan Lake'—a sight of great artistic value.

Other photo spots: At the entrance, a 270-degree panoramic sky curtain creates an intense visual impact, as if you're wandering in a vast, unpredictable universe.

The Polar Ocean World has countless fish tanks and marine life to admire: rays, sharks, clownfish, and novel sea creatures you've never seen before, like galaxy diamonds, zebra pufferfish, Satan duckbill catfish, and more. The vibrant jellyfish wonderland is a great place for stunning photos.

In the polar tribe area, you can see penguins, arctic foxes, arctic wolves—these rare polar friends. My little one had so much fun the first time during the day, and insisted on playing a second time at night. Our day was filled with joy, all thanks to Zhengjia Polar Ocean World.

Zhengjia Polar Ocean World features 4 signature marine shows, 5 classic photo spots, and 10 themed exhibition zones. It's the perfect destination for family trips in Guangzhou—go ahead and plan your visit!

After our journey at Zhengjia Polar Ocean World, we stayed at the Guangzhou Zhengjia Plaza Marriott Hotel right next to the attraction—it's actually connected within the same building. So staying here, you don't have to worry about late-night returns or tiring travel. You can even keep playing at the Polar Ocean World's evening sessions!

Bustling 'Comfort Zone'

Staying at the long-awaited Guangzhou Zhengjia Plaza Marriott Hotel, we easily shed our fatigue. It felt like we had stepped into a 'comfort zone' within this bustling city, bringing us joy and beauty throughout our trip. Let's just indulge! From the warm welcome at check-in to the room service, everything was attentive and enthusiastic.

The hotel rooms are cozy and decorated in bright, minimalist tones, creating an atmosphere we love. A homely feel was added by the two 'little cuties' on the bed—adorable little lambs that you can't help but love!

Our room on the 21st floor offered a great view of Guangzhou's cityscape. Opening the curtains revealed upscale office buildings and shopping malls. During the day, watching the sunlight stream into the room was perfect for an afternoon tea.

On the 14th and 19th floors of the hotel, there are hidden spots to pause and enjoy a moment of tranquility—truly a rare find.

Delicious 'Food Time'

They say the hotel's Chinese Executive Chef might be one of the youngest in Guangzhou, and his dishes really cater to the tastes of us young people. It's time to enjoy the hotel's 'good food time'! I highly recommend the Man Ho Chinese Restaurant on the 6th floor.

The restaurant's environment is elegantly Chinese, with private rooms full of national charm. The fashionable red-and-gold color combination is both stylish and grand. Dining here should be a unique experience.

The private dining space in the rooms is exquisite and gorgeous, with great soundproofing, so you can dine without interruptions.

As spring blooms, the season's intense flavors are brought to the table. The chef combines the essence of traditional Cantonese cuisine with innovation, presenting the freshest spring tastes. For example, the chicken soup with salted bone and spring bamboo shoot stew—the crispness and freshness of the bamboo shoots bring this pot to life.

As the saying goes, 'Before the rain, Chinese toon is as tender as silk.' Chinese toon is a seasonal spring vegetable with a very short harvest window. The Chinese toon with scallion oil and walnuts is not only visually and aromatically appealing but also delightfully crisp and refreshing.

Spring asparagus is so tender it shines. The signature black pepper beef cubes with asparagus are a perfect match. The unique natural fragrance of asparagus seeps into the beef cubes, making the meat juicy and fragrant without being greasy—a lingering aftertaste.

The restaurant's classic signature Marriott barbecue duo platter represents the essence of Cantonese cuisine.

For my child, the restaurant prepared steamed egg custard with shrimp and fun coconut rabbit-shaped cakes. The delight of spring on your taste buds is something I can't quite describe—you simply have to try it.

My wife said something was missing without a dessert. So, a bowl of mango pomelo sago was in order, with the perfect blend of mango, coconut milk, sago, and pomelo—sweet and tangy without being heavy. If you like soups, I suggest ordering the aged tangerine peel three treasures stew with meat broth, a spring nourishing specialty.

At the Urban Kitchen All-day Dining Restaurant on the 5th floor, you'll find a luxurious restaurant at the forefront of food trends. Sitting by the window, enjoying the bustling city views while feeling the breeze and light clouds, all life's worries drift away—this is the unique charm of the setting.

At breakfast, my child's favorite croissants and donuts were all there. Many delicious options were available, like freshly made beef congee, cold pasta, salads—light and energizing, a perfect start to a new day without greasy heaviness.

The lunch buffet was also very rich. I probably went back and forth to the buffet stations thirty times! There were so many dishes, and the restaurant was so refined and convenient. I tried to control myself by just taking a small portion of each dish to taste, but I still ended up completely stuffed. There were Cantonese-style char siu, dim sum, barbecue, oysters, whole grains, and surprisingly Mexican spicy beef and Thai-style beef—very distinctive. There were also mini burgers and fries kids love.

After the meal, an ice cream is a perfect treat!

The Executive Lounge on the 20th floor offers a seamless dinner-to-happy-hour experience, connecting effortlessly to Guangzhou's nightlife. The lounge food is very exquisite, and with the night view, this dinner is extra special.

In the Executive Lounge, you can't miss the great atmosphere. We could enjoy a glass of red wine for a slight buzz or a cocktail for a slow sip, kicking off a wonderful night.

Keep Going Endlessly

The hotel has a tropical-themed heated swimming pool, so you don't need to worry about the weather outside. My little one loves playing in the water, and this warm pool is her sports playground. The uniquely designed pool is also a great spot for posing and photos. The 24-hour gym has a variety of equipment to meet all fitness needs. With so much hotel food, after eating and drinking, you can come here to burn some calories.

Little Tips:

For family trips in Guangzhou, there are more options—

Stay at Aloft Guangzhou University Park and visit the Guangdong Science Center (the world's largest science museum certified by Guinness) nearby;

Stay at Aloft Guangzhou Tianhe and make friends with little animals at Guangzhou Zoo;

Stay at Four Points by Sheraton Guangzhou, Dongpu and go wild at Sports Monster, a sports-themed park (one of only two in the country, a new-concept entertainment sports theme park).

Travel has new trends—it's a bit interesting!