I visited Guangzhou, or “Canton” as the Brits used to call it, last week.  I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of the place, but I was glad to see it.  Though it’s only an hour by fast train from Shenzhen, it’s quite different.  Of course, Guangzhou is a much older city than Shenzhen.  It’s not much of a contest; Shenzhen is a mere 30-years old.  Guangzhou, sitting on the Pearl River Delta has been an important trading city for hundreds of years.  I found it to be a much dirtier, less-organized city than Shenzhen.  It is home to many markets, each of which is quite different as well.  The market across from ShaMian island was probably the most pungent I’ve ever been too.  It’s mostly a food market, but specializes in seafood, and much of it is dried bizarre-looking things.  I can’t believe there’s that much demand for shark fins.  Judging by the quantity I saw, sharks are either plentiful, or now near extinction, or both.  In the end, I prefer living in Shenzhen.  Enjoy the pictures!