Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Features

The best of Guangzhou China

By

Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province in South China, has become one of China’s fastest growing cities, thanks to its bustling textile and manufacturing trade. In recent years the city has been making the transformation into a global destination, remodeling its airport, hiring architect Zaha Hadid to design its opera house and several luxury shopping destinations popping up. From the city’s coolest hotel, to its best Cantonese restaurant, The Manual gives you travel tips in case you ever find yourself in this part of the world.

Related: The Manual’s guide to Baijiu

Recommended Videos

PLAY

Kui Yuan

IMG_3268
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tucked away in one of Guangzhou’s most historical neighborhoods, this charming gallery offers affordable art and a café with the sweetest tiled balcony. This spot is a great date destination where you can check out some culture and sit in a beautiful setting.

SHOP

The Fashion Door

Okay, so they sell womenswear here as well, but The Fashion Door also has what has got to be some of the coolest men’s threads in the city. Find up and coming labels like May J, Manmade Natural, Three Society and Ricostru. You can be the coolest guy on your block once you put on clothes from The Fashion Door.

EAT & DRINK

Beiyuan Cuisine

Red Rice Rolls at Beiyuan Cuisine
Red Rice Rolls at Beiyuan Cuisine Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yeah, you think you’ve tasted Chinese food, but the General Tso’s chicken and lo mein you get from your neighborhood take-out joint is nothing compared to this place. A throwback to 1928, the year this restaurant opened, Beiyuan Cuisine is one of the best Cantonese restaurants in Guangzhou. Housed in a lovely building that is a prime example of traditional Chinese architecture and was once a private villa, the dining rooms surround a quaint courtyard. Make sure to try the succulent roast meats, the coriander dried tangerine peel beef rice rolls, and the red rice rolls.

Fei Ultralounge

This multi-level nightclub features several bars, a super cool lighting system, large dance floor and several tables for a multi-sensory experience filled with music and fun. It’s no wonder why all of Guangzhou’s cool kids go to Fei Ultralounge to party.

SLEEP

W Guangzhou

The W Guangzhou
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We couldn’t help but be awed by the magnificence of the W Ghangzhou. With a sleek black exterior designed by architect Rocco Yim, and interiors by agency Yabu Pushelberg, everything in this hotel is impeccably designed. Go to buffet heaven at The Kitchen Table, which has a selection of Asian and western food, and a mad scientist-like ice cream station.  Then after relaxing in your luxurious room head to the Wet indoor pool, where you can enjoy the lush wall of greenery and soaring ceilings located high above on the 38th floor.

Ann Binlot
Ann Binlot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle… Read Full Bio
Travel
Copenhagen was just named the world’s most livable city. After spending half my year here, I’m not surprised.
Copenhagen

Every few months, I swap Ohio for Copenhagen.

For roughly five or six months of the year, Denmark’s capital becomes home. My boyfriend lives here, which means I’ve had the rare opportunity to experience Copenhagen beyond the typical long weekend itinerary. I’ve settled into routines that make the city feel familiar, from stopping by Netto for groceries to grabbing what I still maintain is the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had from Lagkagehuset. I’ve spent warm afternoons swimming at Ofelia Plads and Nordhavn, wandered through neighborhoods that rarely make first-time visitor guides, and discovered that some of the city’s best moments happen when there’s no plan at all.

Read more
Travel
These 2026 island getaways are surging in popularity right now
Sandals St. Lucia Grande

Expedia just released its latest set of data: The 2026 Island Hot List, a trending list that compiles the emerging islands travelers are searching for before they become the next big thing. According to the newExpedia data, interest in these rising island destinations is up 55% on average year-over-year, while social media mentions have climbed 20% as travelers look for new experiences, better value, and fewer crowds. If you ask me, this is pretty surprising to hear it’s up 55%, especially when I thought islands were already one of the most popular year-round travel destinations.

Ranked #1 on Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List is St. Lucia, an island I first fell in love with back in 2023 when I went on my honeymoon there. Once you visit here, it’s pretty easy to see why it’s ranked the best for romantic escapes. This destination has been a popular spot for anniversary and honeymoon trips for a long time now — and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down. As travelers move beyond crowded Caribbean hotspots, many are willing to take the extra trek to destinations like St. Lucia for it’s dramatic scenery, romantic resort options like Sugar Beach, and soft adventure focus.

Read more
Travel
Six Senses Rome is a peaceful retreat in a beautifully chaotic city
the lobby at Six Senses Rome

Rome is one of the most visited cities in Europe, and by all accounts, it gets crowded. But considering that it’s one of the world’s most important epicenters for history, culture, food and architecture, we can forgive the crowds. After all, complaining about tourism when you’re a tourist is not the way. But booking yourself a peaceful respite to start and end each day most certainly is.

I chose Six Senses Rome as my home base during a recent four-day trip to the city. The property opened in 2023 in the restored 15th-century Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini. The historic building sets the tone before you even check in, with restored 600-year-old columns in the main entrance, pale travertine floors, a light-dappled lobby overflowing with greenery, and a massive marble staircase that’s almost comically regal. And its neighbor is the gorgeous San Marcello al Corso Church—so you can start your sightseeing by literally going next door. 

Read more