[Guangzhou Day 1] Departing from Hanoi, a half-day trip flying to Guangzhou

A journey departing from Vietnam, from Cantonese cuisine to the night views of Canton Tower. Before formally heading to Chengdu, first spend a day in Guangzhou, meeting friends and warming up for the highland adventure about to unfold. 🗓 Today's Itinerary Tong Hai ✈ Hanoi ✈ Guangzhou Baiyun Airport | Canton Tower | Cantonese Culinary Feast Flying from Hanoi to Guangzhou: Smooth entry into China Originally planned to take a sleeper bus northbound on Saturday evening, but both travel companions said "don't torture yourself," so we quickly switched to an early morning flight instead, departing from Tong Hai to Hanoi earlier, making the journey much more relaxed. Sunday at 5 AM sharp, checked out and took a Grab to the airport. With our passports and Taiwan compatriot certificates, we successfully obtained our boarding passes and arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport three hours later.

This is my third time coming to Baiyun Airport, but it's my first time officially entering. Nowadays the crowds are much fewer than before, and immigration clearance requires almost no queuing. With just my Taiwan Compatriot Certificate and plane ticket, I was able to pass through smoothly. Next, I called the Chinese version of Grab (ride-hailing), and headed to my accommodation.

First Meal in Guangzhou: Authentic Hakka Cuisine As my friend often says: "Hotels in China really do offer great value for money." This business hotel costs about 500 RMB a night, clean and comfortable. When I arrived, an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time was already waiting at the door. He warmly hosted me throughout this two-day trip to Guangzhou.

The first meal was arranged at a Hakka restaurant near the hotel. My friend said with a smile, "When eating in Guangzhou, the first thing you must do is drink soup to warm your stomach." That bowl of herbal stewed pork rib soup was richly fragrant, warming the body as soon as it touched the lips; the dishes that followed were each more wonderful than the last: Crispy fried pork skin, crunchy without being greasy, with a stunning texture Char siu stuffed with salted egg yolk, rich and layered in flavor Roast goose, though a signature Cantonese dish, was slightly overcooked at this place Steamed grouper, tender and delicate, a perfect finish

After we were full, we decided to take a walk around the city. Canton Tower and the Pearl River Night View It took another hour to drive from the neighborhood to downtown Guangzhou, no wonder locals aren't usually eager to go into the city. Tonight we had only one destination: Canton Tower. When we arrived it was still daytime and the heat was intense, so we first took shelter from the heat at Starbucks. We headed out again at half past five in the evening, and the scene had started to liven up, with singers performing and activity booths set up — the atmosphere was really great.

Walking along the Pearl River, accompanied by the glow of the setting sun, the scenery was very pleasant. A friend mentioned that after several years of cleanup, the river water has become much cleaner.

As night falls, the lights of the Canton Tower begin to flicker, gradually changing colors, and after more than ten minutes the entire tower becomes dazzlingly brilliant. After taking a few night scene photos, we headed to the dinner spot.

A Grand Dinner and Midnight Massage Dinner was hosted by a friend, and both the travel companion and another old friend joined as well. The meal opened once again with chicken soup, followed by dish after dish: Sashimi, tea-smoked roast goose (perfectly cooked this time), salt-baked chicken, salt-baked river snails, tofu, salt-and-pepper crayfish — every dish left a lasting impression. The finale was steamed grouper, its flesh delicate and melting in the mouth.

After the meal, the group went to a foot spa to relax and sober up a bit. We didn't return to the hotel until after midnight, wrapping up this Guangzhou warm-up day full of good food and night views. Summary: The journey officially begins This Tibet trip finally made "being a guest in Guangzhou" a reality. From the Hakka cuisine at noon to the sumptuous Cantonese feast at night, we spent the whole day immersed in the essence of Cantonese cuisine, one of China's eight great culinary traditions. The dazzling night view of the Canton Tower opened up this journey in grand fashion. Next, we'll set off for Chengdu, Sichuan — getting ever closer to that dream destination: Tibet.