Canton Fair

Most foreign people come to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair every year. there are two fairs each year, spring and autumn. I used to go there for work, but this year, I just go for fun and wanted to  get few packs of travel size soya source.  

I knew the Pearl River Bridge Soya source will give out free sample small packs in their booth.  that is my favourite brand of  soya source when I lived in England. in Guangzhou, there some even better small local brands, but Pearl River Bridge Soya source is the best exported one. last year, when I was travelling in Armenia, I could not found soya source in this country! I like cooking by myself, while without soya source, I can't make satisfactory food. I planed to go to Armenia again this year, so I must get some travel size packs!

I said I am a super fan of their soya source, the manager was very happy and nicely gave me a lot,haha¬lucky me!  ^_^ 

even happier than was given the travel size pack of skin care. 

this remained me the first day I moved to Oxford. when I set up everything in my new home, then I went shopping in the small supper market near by. when I was searching for soya source, a man kindly  recommended me to buy the  Pearl River Bridge Soya source. I smiled, and say: yes, I know it is good, I am Cantonese, this is one of our famous local brand. then he recommended me use this soya source and oxford source to fire mixed vegetable. he say the taste is incredibly amazing, and this is the local taste here in Oxford. I think, well, maybe it is good to have a try,oxford source in oxford. I always like to try local food. then I listened to him, and buy all the needed ingredients home and have them cooked by followed his recommendation. 

how it was taste? --- why had I listened to an England about how to make chinese stir fry?! am I stupid?   the oxford source taste weird! I should never trust what English means " taste  incredibly amazing ". 

information about the canton fair:  http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/

expats take your passports or ID, and paid about 400 CNY, you can register as a buyer, it is a permanent pass, don't forget to keep it for the next Canton Fair.

  

festivals during the chinese new year

1.Traditional  new year fair 

we usually go the the new year fair with family after the family gathering dinner. Each district has a new year fair market, you can choose the one which near you. but the one on Beijing Road are the largest in the city. they sell similar things: flowers and new year crafts, but each market has it own decoration of lantern. people will buy flowers back home for to decorate the house. flower symbolise new hope. 

the new year fair will be started on 16th Fb till 18th Feb  every day at 08:30 - 02:00

when buying things, remember to bargain and first cut the price at least half. usually 30%--50% off  the price is the reasonable range. 

2. flower city square new year lantern festival

there will  be a lantern and lighting opening ceremony show here on 15th Feb at 20:00

Then the lantern and light setting will be shown till 5th Mar every night at 19:30-22:30
Nearest Metro station: Haixinsha 海心沙 APM

3.lychee bay water market and traditional lantern festival

Want to experience pure local culture, then you must come here. you will see people selling flowers on the boat. and maybe tasted some traditional snacks. will be started on 14th Feb - 25th Feb.
Nearest Metro station: Zhong Shan Ba 中山八  Line 5
                                   RuYi Fang  如意坊  Line 6

                                 
4.Yue Xiu Park lantern festival
Goat Year theme lantern exhibition
14th Feb - 20th Mar
Nearest Metro station: Yue Xiu Park

5. Baiyun Mountain and Yun Tai Garden flower exhibition  
Geranium potted, and peach flower will be shown.
13th Feb - 31st Mar
Nearest Metro station: N/A

6.Cantonese temple festival
on Beijing road and Zhongshan road.
traditional Cantonese craft, art and temple culture will be shown.
15th Mar - 11th Mar
Nearest Metro station: Gongyuan Qian 公园前

Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain

Baiyun means white clouds. the mountain was the highest mountain in Guangzhou ( the old Guangzhou city was very small ), so people name the mountain Baiyun which metaphor its high. the mountain was also the landmark of Guangzhou, and which is why the Guangzhou airport also named Baiyun.
here is their website: http://www.baiyunshan.com.cn/publicfiles//business/htmlfiles/bysywb/index.html

No metro goes to the mountain, but many buses go there.

ticket for entrance: 5 CNY /person
Gondola: going up: 25 CNY/person
                   down: 20 CNY/person
electromobile:  10 CNY/person
by foot: free

Baiyun Mountain is like a park than a mountain, it is only 382 metres high, and the government built a lot the paths and roads on it, so you won't feel very tried to hike in here.

famous food here:

you will see a lot of food stalls on the mountain which sell Cantonese refreshments.

there are two must have snacks I recommend.

Doufu pudding, Cantonese add sugar.while other Chinese like add soya source and chilly source. The doufu pudding here are made by spring water on the mountain. it is more yummy than other place's.

Baiyun pig hand.

For once I thought it is an unique recipe in the world, only Cantonese knows how to make this Baiyun pig hand. but I saw similar things in Armenia! and the taste were quite similar too! what a shock!

This snack also made by the spring on the mountain. it taste a little bit sour and little bit sweet. it is very chewing, the texture like chewing a gummy candy. but i gave it to an American to try, and he said it is chewing like a glue.so~try it or not, its up to you.

anyway,if you don't like Cantonese food, or traditional refreshment, there is McDonald's on the mountain. just next to the gondola ticket box on the mountain.