GUANGZHOU (Guangdong Province)
-- area code (86-20)

Guangzhou is a huge city, spread out along waterways that are lit at night by computerized laser and lighting shows. The pace of modernization here seems slower, so Guangzhou is a treasure trove of traditional and period architecture, and a short walk off the beaten paths will reward the visitor with fascinating glimpses of the daily life of its 7 million residents (300,000 of whom are Utopians).

Shamian Island is a tiny parcel of land packed with European heritage buildings and garden parks. It's a great vantage point for the nightly public light show and an easy and fun stroll. Don't be surprised if you are asked, "Are you adopting a baby?" here, as this seems to be where China's unwanted children, primarily female, find new and loving parents. It also explains why there are so many baby clothes shops tucked in beside the art galleries and tea houses.

There is a lot to see and do in Guangzhou, so you won't run out of activities if you stay a few days.

• Men in Guangzhou message forum
• Guangzhou Gay Scene Updates message forum

The Utopia Guide to China (2nd Edition) is an expanded and updated guidebook to the gay and lesbian scene in 50 Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Included are bars, discos, spas, and restaurants. Enjoy hundreds of savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and travelers. Click here to order

Click here for Guangzhou hotels and accommodations.

• Xiaozhou Village
  Way off the tourist circuit (at the moment) and difficult to find, but if you are a fan of traditional life and architecture, this small village of quaint canals and no cars has plenty of Ming Dynasty buildings preserved in their original state. You'll see clan halls, ancestral temples, wood carvings, craftsmen, locals playing mahjong by the winding tree-lined canals, and a home whose walls are made of oyster shells. There is even a village theater presenting Chinese operas in the evening. Artists have begun to relocate to this quiet haven and restoration and refurbishment for tourists is just beginning, so catch it soon before it becomes Disneyfied like so many of China's other famous water villages. Pay a local Y$20 (US$3) to give you a walking tour. Make sure your taxi knows the place or you'll never find it. About 35 minutes drive from downtown (under US$25 for the round-trip fair and waiting time). Ask your taxi driver to wait and take you back!

Click here for Guangzhou bars and clubs.

Click here for Guangzhou discos.

Click here for Guangzhou massage and spas for men.

• 1/F facility in the big bookstore in the Sharp Bld. Chinese gays hang out looking for contacts. If you are reasonably discrete you can strike up conversations. A good place to meet middle class, educated gays. Subway stop there is Tiyu Xilu.
• CITIC Plaza, Tian-He District (the tallest building in Guangzhou), facilities on each floor of the shopping plaza.
• Eastern Place Residence (DongFeng GuangChang) swimming pool, 1 Dong Far St, 787 Dong Feng Dong Rd. Very clean outdoor swimming pool (Olympic size) in downtown. Check out the long-chair and shower when it is sunny. Good-looking PLU staff and customers. Mixed crowd. Be discreet.
• Gyms
  Look in the parks. Very cheap, with steam bath, dry sauna and swimming pool, not exclusively gay (be discreet).
• Ji Nian Tang (underground station).
• Pearl Riverside near White Swan Hotel.
• People's Park.
  By the Metro, get off at Gongyuan Qian Station. Gays usually hang out on the west side of the park, with an endless stream of men going in and out of the facilities. Outside, under the trees and on the benches, men sit and look to connect. There is also interaction in the bottom left hand corner of the park, near the dancing area (as you face the entrance with your back to the subway). The park is full of unemployed migrants, so while they can be cute, the phrase 'meiyo Renminbi' (it's not possible to give you money) may work to clear up any misunderstanding. Avoid the MBs. There are regular, honest gay men here looking for a partner.
• Shamian Tennis Court.
• Intersection of Zhongshan 4th Rd and Cangbian RD.

Comments from Utopians:

"There are a small number of Chinese PLU cruising each other in the lunch hour on the riverfront at Shamians near Lucy's restaurant. The facility there definitely has gay guys popping in and out to check out talent. Another facility is located near the foot of the overpass stairs on the other side of the main road which separates Shamian from the mainland. Take the small bridge over and walk left until you reach the last foot bridge that crosses the main road. The facility is on the left of the bottom of the stairs. A big traditional two-story Chinese style facility has little privacy but features a bit of come-hither flashing from the rough trade barrow guys and middle-aged tough guys from the local dried foods market on Qing Ping Lu. A different flavor here and all very keen to try western." -- JayCool, Dec 5, 2008

Tang Lee Food Art (Cantonese cuisine) Huasha Da Dao, Ru Yi Fang, Li Wan Hu Park, 8170-2228, 8181-8002. This charming lake restaurant inside a city park serves good local food. You can just point at pictures and prices are clearly listed. Sit indoors, on the terrace or balcony, or in one of their charming floating boats with your special someone. Lots of veggie dishes and the usual mystery meats. The pigeon was actually excellent (like mini, crispy duck).

• Starbucks in the street on the right hand side of Garden Hotel is popular with gays, including gay university students and gay Arab businessmen.
• Wilber's Bar and Restaurant (European)
  62 Zhusi Gang Rd, , +86-20-37611101, FAX , email. A renovated house turned into a brasserie with three floors of roomy dining and a barbeque terrace. The service is welcoming. They offer an eclectic menu of European cuisine. Great wine list and fabulous Martinis and Margaritas. A destination for gays and their friends. Open 5-11pm for dinner and until 3am at the bar. Gay-owned. 62 号 竹丝岗二马路

• Chung Mei Li Jian Mei Zhong Xin
  Subway Line 2, Sanyuanli stop, Exit A1. About 10m from the exit, turn right. On 2/F (under a 3/F Internet bar).

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Small, not particularly clean and has no private rooms. It is a gay working men's club and seems to be patronised by an older crowd of about 40/45. Only Utopians with Chinese origins will be able to use this facility, however. White looking foreigners are now banned as I discovered when I visited last month. I had been there twice before, but a new ruling from the Guangzhou police (again poking their noses in) has declared that any foreigners are to be refused entry or the sauna owners will be prosecuted. This is all part of Guangzhou's run up to the Asian Games and a naive attempt to clean up the city and rid it of 'undesirables'. The city authorities are determined that foreigners are to be refused entry at places that will offend their delicate sensibilities. Rather ironic when you consider that many foreigners I know here are, in fact, desperate to locate their gay Chinese brothers! These new police interferences will result in an even more restricted gay scene." -- JayCool, Nov 4, 2009

• Private Structure
  GZ Dynasty Mall. Sells sexy underwear for men.
• Tiku
  Fuquianlu 11 (northwest of Peoples Park). A small shop selling a good selection of intriguing underwear.