Foshan & Guangzhou — September Days I Didn’t Expect to Love
The Journey Begins with Work
September 2025, I joined a delegation to Foshan as a staff member, accompanying sales staff and clients to visit Midea’s headquarters and factory. The schedule was packed, everything arranged in advance. Yet sometimes, business trips give you more than you expect — and this one certainly did.
Table Of Content
First Night in Foshan — Rain, Park, and Unexpected Calm
On the first evening in Foshan, after settling in, we had some free time. Light rain began to fall — not heavy, just enough to cool the air after the day’s heat. Our guide took us to Lingnan Tiandi, a cultural park near the city center. I had no particular expectations, just thought it would be a casual stroll.
But the rainy night scene stopped me in my tracks. Lights reflected off Lingnan-style architecture, stone pavements glistened, and locals strolled calmly under the drizzle. It was quiet, unhurried, and deeply atmospheric. Standing there, watching the rain, I felt present in the moment — and that was when I began to truly like Foshan.
Guangzhou — Beijing Road and Its Unique Energy
Later, we moved on to Guangzhou. If Foshan felt slow and contemplative, Guangzhou was the opposite — vibrant and bustling. Our guide led us to Beijing Road, one of Guangzhou’s most famous pedestrian streets. It’s one of China’s oldest commercial streets, and what fascinated me was how it preserved history beneath modern life. Glass panels on the pavement reveal ancient foundations from different dynasties, so you literally walk on history.
At night, the street came alive. Crowds filled the sidewalks, shops spilled onto the street, and warm lights stretched endlessly. The energy wasn’t exhausting — it was captivating.
Pearl River Cruise — Seeing the City from the Water
Another evening, we boarded a cruise along the Pearl River, part of the planned itinerary. Guangzhou at night from the river was a completely different experience. Skyscrapers lined both banks, their LED displays shifting colors and reflecting across the water. It was modern, grand, and dazzling in its own way.
Sitting on the boat, feeling the river breeze, watching Guangzhou light up layer by layer — I realized this was one of the best ways to experience a city: not by reading about it, but by seeing it from a perspective where it doesn’t try to perform for you.
Cuisine — What I Remember Most
If asked what I remember most, the honest answer is: the food. Cantonese cuisine is renowned for its refinement, and every meal was an experience. Morning dim sum with dozens of small dishes. Fresh seafood prepared simply to preserve its natural sweetness. Guangzhou-style congee — something I thought I knew, but here it was on another level.
The Cantonese saying goes: “To eat in Guangzhou” is one of life’s great blessings. Only after visiting did I understand that it’s not an exaggeration.
And I Will Return
I came in September for work, but left with the feeling that there was so much more to discover — streets in Foshan I hadn’t walked, restaurants I hadn’t tried, slower moments the group schedule didn’t allow. Foshan and Guangzhou aren’t the first places people think of when planning a trip to China. Yet sometimes, it’s places like these that give you more than you were looking for.
