Lying next to Hong Kong and Macau, Guangzhou is aware of its commercial development. The biannual Canton Fair adds to the commercial atmosphere. To tourists, Guangzhou is really a 'Shoppers' Paradise'.

If a friend comes to Guangzhou from afar, Cantonese will take him/her to walk around the Shangxia Jiu Lu and Teem Plaza area. Just like the Wangfujing in Beijing, the Town God's Temple (Chenghuang Miao) in Shanghai and the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, Shangxia Jiu Lu is the most influential traditional commercial street in Guangzhou.

Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street is located in the Liwan District of Xiguan, a prosperous traditional commercial district. It is the first commercial pedestrian street in Guangzhou. Walking into this street, you will see the featured Qi Lou, an old building style that exists in Guangzhou and its neighboring areas, on both sides of the road. It reflects the strong Lingnan Culture. On this street lie more than 200 stores, especially those brand name restaurants and teahouses open here. From 13:00 to 21:00 on weekends and holidays and on every night, Shangxia Jiu Lu is restricted to pedestrians only.

Be sure to go to Shangxia Jiu Lu. Even if you don't buy anything, just walking along this street you will feel the cultural atmosphere in the street with Qi Lou on both sides.

Walking on the Beijing Lu, in the center of Guangzhou City, however, you will find a world far different from Shangxia Jiu Lu. It is simultaneously fashionable and traditional.

If you are interested in Japanese and Korean fashion, go to Zhuangyuan Fang (Number One Scholar Lane) on Renmin Nan Lu. Although it is a small lane less than 200 meters (219 yards) long, the Zhuangyuan Fang attracts numerous visitors by its most fashionable clothes, ornaments, and small articles that are popular with young people.

The most famous department stores are Teem Plaza, China Plaza (Zhonghua Guangchang). The Teem Plaza has become the new commercial center of Guangzhou. Here boutiques, shops selling fantastic goods and restaurants come together.

Hualin Jadeware Street & Wende Calligraphy and Painting Street
Located on Xia Jiu Lu, Hualin Jadeware Street is a street mainly dealing with retail, wholesale and jade and jewelry processing. It is said the history of this street can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). From that time, Hualin Jadeware Street has already been the famed Jadeware Fair. At present, hundreds of jadeware stores are found here. Best-quality jades from Burma and Yunnan Province are made into jade bracelets, rings and other wares.

Wende Calligraphy and Painting Street neighboring the Beijing Lu is known as 'Guangzhou Gallery'. Stores selling works of calligraphy and craftworks line both sides of the road.

Yide Lu Seafood Market is the home of famous dried seafood. You will find a wide variety such as shark's fin, oysters, abalone and cuttlefish... Shan Hai Cheng and Hai Zhong Bao are the most reputed seafood markets here.

The Clothes Wholesale Market: Gaodi Street from Beijing Nan Lu at the east to Qiyi Lu at the west and Hongmian Clothes Market at F1, 2 and 3, No.184, Huanshi Xi Lu, Guangzhou

Highsun Electrical Appliance Market is the right place for those who want to buy electrical appliances.

Local Products
Don't forget to buy some local products such as the Wang Laoji Herbal Tea, cooking materials, Canton Embroidery, Canton Enamel and Canton Sculpture.
1.Canton Sculpture includes Canton Ivory Carvings, Jade Sculpture, Wood Sculpture and Olive Sculpture.
2.Canton Enamel is short for Guangzhou Colorful Pottery. It has a history of over 300 years.
3. Canton Embroidery, namely Yue Embroidery, is one of the Four Famous Chinese Embroideries together with Su Embroidery, Xiang Embroidery and Shu Embroidery.
4.Canton Bacon is the general designation of cured meat in the Guangzhou Area.
5.Wang Laoji Herbal Tea is a kind of medicine that is healthy for the human body.