1 Canton Tower

A visit to Guangzhou isn't complete without seeing the Canton Tower, affectionately nicknamed "Slim Waist". For the best experience, take a Pearl River cruise — you can buy the cheapest ticket and still access the 2nd and 3rd decks (the only difference is no assigned seats).

When the cruise is approaching Canton Tower, hurry to the 1st deck's open-air platform. Stand as close to the railing as possible, and you'll capture stunning, crowd-free night photos of the tower!

Pro Tip: There’s a shopping mall at the base of Canton Tower with plenty of restaurants and bubble tea shops. However, it might feel boring if you’re not into window-shopping.

2 Beijing Road

As a 1,000-year-old commercial and tourist street, Beijing Road transforms at night when the Guangzhou Big Buddha Temple lights up — the scene feels like it’s straight out of the animated film Spirited Away!

I used the telephoto lens on my VIVO phone to zoom in for photos, and the results were amazing.

Pro Tip: Unlike Canton Tower, Beijing Road is a one-stop destination for shopping, entertainment and dining. I absolutely love browsing the K-pop merchandise stores here!

3 Yongqing Fang

The Moon Bridge at Yongqing Fang looks incredibly picturesque in night photos. I visited in the afternoon, but I highly recommend going at night for the full effect.

Check the performance schedule at the entrance of the Cantonese Opera Exhibition Hall — watching a Cantonese opera show is a perfect way to experience authentic Cantonese culture.