Morning — Shamian Island & Dim Sum
Shamian Island is a tranquil sandbar lined with European-style colonial buildings and the Gothic Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel along leafy riverside promenades. Begin with a dim-sum breakfast of har gow (shrimp dumplings) and char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) at a historic teahouse such as Lianxiang Lou.
Afternoon — Sacred Heart Cathedral & Beijing Road
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is China's largest granite Gothic church, begun in 1863 using stone imported for its vaulted ceilings and stained glass. Later, stroll Beijing Road, an ancient commercial street where glass walkways reveal buried Song-dynasty pavements, and try double-skin milk pudding.
Evening — Cantonese Opera & Night Market
In the evening, watch a Cantonese opera performance at Liwan Theater, with your guide explaining the classic stories behind the elaborate costumes. Then browse Huifu Night Market for stuffed lotus root, clay-pot rice, or the famously pungent stinky tofu.
