I still call it a maze even though I have been going there for the last 10 years!Just when I could finally find my way around it, management decided to refurbish the place and switch things around!Luckily the places for kids remained the same and they’re so cool!

Many people have never even heard of Fashion Plaza-the enormous underground market sprawling under Tianhe Stadium. Others have been but were put off by shops selling cheap clothing, bags and shoes of questionable quality. Indeed, it used to focus on fast fashion BUT that has changed and it ALWAYS had way more to offer than that, especially for kids.

If I take my son there, we usually start with a nice scoop of gelato. I know, I know, it’s not the same as the actual Italian gelato but it’s good enough and GELATO DI NATURA offers a nice selection of flavours at a very reasonable price. No, I do not get commission:)

Then head for the tram! Yes, an actual tram driving along a proper track through the ‘Old Shanghai’-themed section of the mall. We have been on it several times and never get bored of it, however I can imagine it would be too boring for older kids. You can jump on either at the station near the Parc Central entrance to Fashion Plaza-very easy to find and that’s where you’ll find the schedule or at the end-next to the entrance to animal park/food court.

What I like about Fashion Plaza is that its design constantly changes. While the main sections stay mostly the same, the actual decorations are changed regularly and so whenever we go, it looks different and always has stuff that kids can engage with. They often hold manga/art exhibitions and have singing performances and other shows, many of which are children-friendly. To be honest this place appeals best to teenagers-the alternative fashion shops, the events, the snacks, all so colourful and cool, edgy and industrial. Most importantly-cheap.

Several stand-alone attractions can also be found in Fashion Plaza, e.g. the House of Horror, the above-mentioned mini zoo, VR rooms, go karts, indoor sports area (including bowling), Snow World-type of room, artists’ studios where you can have a one-off painting lesson.

Moreover, unlike many of the major malls, it has shops offering DIY perfume and jewellery making, pottery making and even a large area with various rooms styled according to different eras, e.g. there are rooms styled as ancient ‘oyster’ houses, 1920s rickshas and vehicles on display as well as those, made to look like Revolution-era police station! Plenty of young people go there specifically to take photos and I don’t blame them, it’s really different! In addition, at car park level there are many activity centre: dance studio, boxing club, archery, escape room, you name it!

My favourite is the ‘ancient village‘ area with a fish pond, a bridge, a cinema room. Some of it feels like being in a museum, all underground!

Many of the clothing shops and restaurants are designed in a really unique way so that, in my opinion, you don’t feel bored walking around this massive space. For little legs it may be too tiring though-hail the rentable ‘buggy’!

Whoever though of this was a genius!I really appreciate places, which go that extra mile to accommodate families with young kids. These buggies can be rented from several stations within the market, I got mine next to the customer service desk as I needed a bit of help having never rented one before. Luckily the instructions are very simple and your child will love riding around rather than having to drag their feet. I wish there was an adult version:)!

Food: Once you get tired or your child gets a bit too excited about all the toy/pet shops, etc. feel free to take a rest, there are MANY benches/seating areas or if you’re peckish, hundreds of eateries are waiting for you! From market stalls serving fried baozi, our favourite, BBQ, noodles, pickled fish…to proper restaurants (including Korean and Malay) and everything in between! The choice is simply too big and the cost is lower than in the restaurants above ground, in the malls. It does get incredibly busy on weekend afternoons though so bear in mind there may be long queues for the most popular places. Luckily more and more eating places are being added and they are spread all over the market, within dedicated sections.

Whether you’re a parent looking for some, largely free, fun for your child in the city centre, you’re looking for alternative fashion, want to take cool and quirky photos, wish to try your hand at making jewellery or want to have your portrait painted-Fashion Plaza has you covered. It is one of those places you either love or hate but one thing is for sure, it offers SO MUCH that you should check it out at least once. Just the fact that all this is underground blows my mind!

!If you’d like to see some videos of this place, head over to my Instagram. I also post on X and while my posts are about places and things to do in Guangzhou, they may not be related to kids .

Info:

Opening times: 10am-10pm

Parking: On-site, 10rmb/hour, so if you’re heading to one of the major malls in Tiyu Xi, you can park here and simply walk to the mall you want to visit. Works out cheaper than parking at TMALL, Grandview or Parc Central.

Getting there: Metro Line 3, exit E-walk through Tianhe Festival Walk underground passage (lots of clothes stalls) and take escalator up on your right hand side, entrance to Fashion Plaza will be in front of you, next to BRT(bus transit) exits. Metro Line 1 to Tiyu Zhong Xin(Tianhe Sport Centre), not sure which exit takes you to Fashion Plaza but there are signs, I’m sure. I don’t have much information about buses but I do know that B6 stops right above Fashion Plaza, just get off outside TEE MALL shopping mall and walk down to the underpass. Didi address: Fashion Tianhe Commercial Square, Tianhe Road entrances are the best to reach by car.

Age: 2+ but especially appealing to older kids and teenagers.