These special fairs, as that’s what they really are, are an essential part of Chinese culture with most families visiting one at least once during Spring Festival. Check out my list of all the markets in Guangzhou this holiday together with suggestions on what else to see near them!

I love Flower Markets as they create a very special atmosphere and really add to CNY experience. Yes, they can be crowded and noisy but when you’re there, you really feel just how important it is for Chinese to purchase flowers and other traditional trinkets at this time of year. In addition to selling flowers, these markets are also venues for hundreds of events, from Wing Chun (southern version of Kung Fu) and Cantonese Opera performances to acrobatics, dragon dances, drama performances, costume parades and artisan workshops, not to mention the abundance of food! They are really interesting, fun and incredibly culturally-rich so I encourage everyone to visit one at least one time when in China. Entry to all markets is free and open to the public.

Tips:

• If you go in the morning, you will get the freshest flowers and you’ll pay the lowest price!
• Go in the afternoon and there will be less crowds plus you will be able to haggle the price but the flowers won’t be as fresh
• Evenings are the prettiest with all the lights on but the crowds will be back
• feel free to ask the sellers about flower maintenance
• For best experience go before or after CNY (29th Jan-5th Feb), depending on the duration of a given market, unless crowds are your thing:)

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Water Flower Market

Where? Liwan Lu; Lychee Bay area, Liwan district. Best metro station to get off at is Chen Clan Academy on Lines 1 and 8.

When? 26th Jan 8.30-29th Jan 2am (3 days).

What to see? This flower fair is by far the most popular one as, unlike others, it involves buying flowers from boats floating on the lake! Liwan Park is beautifully decorated this time of year so even if you don’t wish to buy any flowers, I would encourage you to take a stroll around it, maybe pop in to a small yet really good Liwan Museum (numerous events will be held right outside it) as well as the nearby area of lively Enning Road with tens of cafes, rooftop views over Old Town, private kitchens inside stunning villas, iconic Zhong Shu Ge bookshop (kids will enjoy their children’s section and desserts on 2nd floor!)and either enjoy dim sum at the lakeside restaurant or try local traditional snacks, such as yummy rice rolls with beef/sweet sauce sold right outside Liwan Park, chicken or lamb hot pot(not the way they serve it in malls!Trust me, it’s a memorable experience) or ice cream from the oldest ice house in GZ (the melon one is so good even if has the colour of a neon sign)!

Tianhe Flower Market

Where? Utopa Olympic mall, No.12 Aoti Nan Lu, Changban village, Tianhe. What it may lack in charm and special atmosphere of Liwan or Conghua markets, it makes up in convenience!And if you want to feel a more special atmosphere, head over to Liede village (Liede station, Line 5, exit A), which always has performances and special events on during major holidays.

When? 25th Jan 8.30-29th Jan 2am (4 days). Yes, you read that right, it stays open till 2am! Not sure if going after midnight with kids is a good idea though:)

Haizhu Flower Market

Where? Binjiang Xi Lu (between Renmin Bridge and Jiefang bridge), Baogang Dadao, Haizhu district. Take Line 2 to Haizhu Square, cross the beautiful Renmin Bridge and you’re there.

What to see? This is the only riverside market in town. If you fancy it, you could afterwards take kids to Haizhu Children’s Park (not as big as Guangzhou Children’s Park which I had described but still plenty to do for the kids), Haizhu Lake Park, which you can read about here, or even Haizhu Wetland. All are excellent places for the entire family!

When? 26th Jan 8.30-29th Jan 2am (3 days). Perfect if you’re fond of late evening walks by the river or simply want to make the experience even more special.

Baiyun Flower Market

Where? Outside Wanda Plaza mall, Yuncheng Dong Lu, Baiyun district. Take metro to Feixiang Park on Line 2, from there it’s just a few minutes walk to the mall. I heard this market focuses more on food so if you feel like munching on various street snacks whilst admiring flowers, this is the place.

What to see? About 10min drive from Wanda is Korea Town, where you can see murals, feast on Korean BBQ or Korean Fried Chicken in restaurants plastered with posters of KPOP/KDRAMA stars and try the famous Korean dessert bingsu. If you have teens, they might even want to go to one of the Korean KTVs:)

When? 26th Jan 8.30-28th Jan 10pm (3 days in total)

Nansha Flower Market

Where? Seaside near Nansha Jie. Self-driving is recommended though you could take Line 4 and get off at Nansha Ferry Terminal.

What to see? Not only will you be able to enjoy sea views but also you’ll be close to the magnificent Tianhou Palace temple and Puzhou Garden. You could also see the brand new Nanhua Jewellery Art Museum, Nansha Wetland Park or the Tunnel Museum-a winner with the kids. It’d be a shame not to see the best of Nansha if you choose to drive all the way down there, right?

When? 22nd Jan 9am-27th Jan 10pm (6 days)

Huangpu Flower Market

Where? Haishi City-Huangpu Park; Science City (Heyuan Zhongxin Lu) and Kaifang Yi Lu. Nearest metro station is Dashadi on Line 5.

What to see? This area has been heavily invested in and it shows in the beautifully renovated, family-friendly parks. Feel free to visit the market and then take kids cycling, visit Huangpu Children’s Park or Sports Park. Alternatively, if you have more time, I recommend visiting Huangpu Ancient Port with historical buildings and an interesting museum (with English explanations!) or take the water taxi to the cool Changzhou Island, where your kids can go crazy in the outdoor amusement area, you can go on gentle hikes and you can enjoy a chilled vibe of the island.

When? 24th Jan 8.30-28th Jan 10pm (5 days)

Conghua Flower Market

Where? Fengyunling Forest Park, Jiekou Jie, Conghua district. Self-driving is the only option. Perfect spot if you wish to experience a flower market and combine it with a trip to the countryside.

What to see? Think ancient temple, river views, autumn colours and camping. You could make a weekend out of it and stay in one of the fabulous hot spring resorts, many of which have playgrounds, with the largest ones organising CNY-themed activities on site.

When? 24th Jan 9am-28th Jan 10pm (5 days in total)

Huadu Flower Market

Where? Guangzhou Flower Capital Park, No.37 Furong Dadao, Huadu district. Self-driving is the best option as nearest metro is quite far.

What to see? This market takes place in a park, in an area very far from popular spots so it will be much less crowded than the city ones and you could take this chance to visit a new area, try local restaurants, visit famous Taoist Yuanxuan Temple, ancient Langtou Village, which holds their own CNY activities, admire stunning views from the hills located in Nine Dragon Lake Resort (which also boasts a very pretty fake European Town and various activities for kids, you need to pay to enter), visit Furong scenic area with a huge lake and a waterfall or cycle around Huadu Lake Park, which also has a great playground:)

When? 25th Jan 8.30-28th 10pm (3 days)

Yuexiu Flower Market

Where? Xihu Lu, Jiaoyu Lu, Yuexiu. Best way to get there is to take Line 1 or 2 to Gongyuanqian (this metro station in itself is a destination for many local teenagers!). This market is over 100 years old and certainly one of the most traditional ones in the city.

What to see? Located off Beijing Rd, this area seems to be permanently crowded, CNY or not! Enjoy a vegetarian feast inside the massive, beautifully lit up Dafo Temple while you’re there. When your kids are starting to whine, you could take them to Yuexiu Children’s Park, which is just across the road from Cultural Park that will have lanterns and many shows on during the two main CNY days.

When? 25th Jan 8.30-29th Jan 2am (4 days)

Zengcheng Flower Market

Where? Zengcheng Plaza. Take the metro to Zengcheng Square on Line 21.

What to see? Near the market, you can also take a leisurely stroll along the river or, if you’re driving there, turn it into a trip to the countryside and visit one of the many fruit farms!This weather is also perfect for cycling so if you have your own bikes, bring them with and drive leisurely around Zengcheng villages.

When? 19th Jan-29th Jan 10pm (10 days)

Panyu Flower Market

Where? Nancun Wanbo Commercial Street, Nancun Town. Get off at Nancun Wanbo metro station, Lines 7 and 18.

What to see? If your kids get bored of the market, take them to the nearby Four Seas Bay, where they can visit Dino World and enjoy delicious snacks/desserts in many bakeries and cafes. Bit further away is the amazing Dafushan Forest Park (Line 3 to Hanxi Changlong, then taxi), a huge forested area designed specifically for picnicking and cycling (family bikes available for hire at a very low price)! For a bit of something else, head over to Shawan Ancient Town, where residents hold their own CNY activities or Baomo Yuan-a stunning, large Chinese garden (paid entry), where you’ll experience CNY celebrations in the most beautiful surroundings. Kids will enjoy feeding the hundreds of massive koi fish!Take Line 3 to Shiqiao and then a taxi to reach both.

When? 25th Jan 8.30-28th Jan 10pm (5 days).

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There is so much going on in various district around this time of the year that, in my opinion, it would be a bit silly not to use a visit to the Flower Market as kind of excuse to discover and explore a new area, unless you’re short on time, of course. It is impossible to mention all the smaller events taking place in temples, tourist areas, scenic spots, shopping malls, ancient villages, museums, cultural venues, you name it! I love unexpectedly stumbling upon something special while just wondering around so keep your eyes open for red lanterns and your ears open for the sounds of firecrackers!

If you wish to make this CNY holiday even more exciting and witness Lunar New Year celebrations in other cities, why not visit one of Guangzhou’s neighbours? Foshan’s Zumiao Temple’s Lion Dances are legendary while some of Dongguan’s CNY events focus on the city’s strong connection to Dragon Boats. Check out my post about city breaks to find out more about those places and check their Wechat accounts for up-to-date info on CNY celebrations! Chaouzhou’s Yingge Dance makes for a mesmerizing spectable so why not see that amazing ancient city during CNY year? Alternatively, drive north to the absolutely magical Miao minority, One Thousand Year Old Village, where locals celebrate Lunar new Year in their own special way!

Finally, if you’ve seen one too many lion dances, there are of course plenty of non-CNY-related family-friendly events taking place in the next few weeks, e.g. many of Guangzhou’s best museums have introduced ‘FREE ENTRY DAYS‘! To find out more, feel free to subscribe to my blog. I am constantly in awe of just how much this city has to offer!