Guangzhou
Guangzhou is the capital and most populous city in Guangdong. Despite being the largest city in China by metropolitan area, Guangzhou is surprisingly laid-back. Zao cha culture, literally meaning “morning tea” but referring more to dim sum, ensures that everyone slows down once in a while, and the Pearl River meandering its way through the city creates a focal point for leisure activities.
While you’re in the city, also make sure to check out Shamian Island, a verdant former British and French concession with plenty of leftover colonial architecture; Baiyuan Mountain, from whose peak willing daredevils can bungee jump with a fantastic view of the city; and Xiguan, the western reaches of the old town.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is another mega-city in southern Guangdong. The city is known for being masterfully planned and greener than most cities of comparable size. Much of the large expat community lives in Shekou district, where some say they never run into locals, either for good or for bad.
While the city is home to several beaches, it is far too built-up to be considered a beach town. Still, beachcombers can enjoy Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches in Yantian and Xichong Beach on the Dapeng Peninsula. There are also innumerable parks and museums.
Dongguan
Not on the same level in terms of size and importance as Guangzhou or Shenzhen, Dongguan is still a major city in Guangdong due to its many factories that attract migrant workers from rural China. It can be considered the electronics capital of China, with Samsung and Nokia both operating out of the city.
Zhuhai
Zhuhai is a city and Special Economic Zone located at the outflow of the Pearl River into the South China Sea. It has a long, beautiful coastline and 146 islands, most of which are accessible by ferry for diving, fishing, and swimming getaways.
Yingde
Guangdong also has miles and miles of rural farmland, the most picturesque of which is located near the small city of Yingde. The city isn’t known for much, but its local black tea is famous worldwide. You can visit the tea plantations where the leaves are harvested and play tea-picker for a day. When you’re done with that, take a bamboo cruise on an offshoot of the Beijiang River, past the ancestral home of the Peng clan. Pengjiaci, as it is known, is made up of crumbling old houses built up the side of a hill, where members of the family still reside to this day.