Guangzho, home of Pancit Canton

(Note: The writer was in China during the second week of April 2005)

Guangzho, popularly known to the Westerners as Canton, is understood by the Filipinos as the origin of pancit canton. It is one of the oldest and biggest cities in southern China. Downtown Canton is cut across by the Po River, which in turn is connected by three arching bridges, the oldest of which is knowns as the Liberation Bridge.

As one moves around the city, he can really sense the antiquity of the place. Some of the city streets are narrow and there are really lots of old structures. There is not much of tall structures in the old section of Canton. In fact, most of the restaurants, especially around the hotel row, are ot the big modern ones but are typically small room affairs with the ambience of a traditional eating place.

Canton's most prominent landmark and is a very popular spot for tourists is its river boulevard. Here one can look across to the other side and observe the traffic on the river. On an early morning and a later afternoon, health-buff joggers and intimate young couples are common sights. One can also go on board one of the tourist ferries that take sightseers through the Po River to get a wider view of the city, eight at night time or during the day.

Canton is also noted for its shopping centers and furniture factories. The largest furniture shop in the city which exports furniture items to the United States, Europe and Hongkong is the Jisheng Wellborn Furniture Factory.

The most popular destinationsof visitors in Canton are the Pan Yu Safari Park and the Guangzhou Zoo. Numerous species of mostly Asian and African animanls and birds can be found in the two areas. The Pan Yu Safari Park is especially impressive. It covers thirty acres of land simulating geographical zones such as the African savannah, Southeast Asian jungle, and the northern Asian steppe. Thus, one not only gets an oppurtunity to see hundreds of animals in the park but also has a botanical immersion in the various flora. Among the numerous animanls found in the park are the Mongolian wild ass, deers, elephants, lions, tigers, zebras, rhinoceros, wildebees, goats, brown bears and sun bears, hippopotamus, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and impalas. The fowls and the birds, on the other hand, consist of different types of geese, peafowls, ostriches, peacocks, red-haired cranes and black-winged cranes, saddle-bill stork, parrots, pigeons and many more.

One gets the impression that he is actually on a real safari as he moves around the park. For safety purposes, one gets a glimpse of the different sections of the park by riding on board interconnecting small coaches pulled by a powerful engine. Interestingly, the most famous hotel in Canton, the Chung Lung Hotel, has the unique reputation of have many live animals in its vicinity.

Quite similar to the Pan Yu Safari Park in its appeal is the Guangzho Zoo. Actually it is owned by the same person who developed the Pan Yu Safari Park, a certain Mr. Su. But it does not a special attraction because of its daily animal performance show.

Not to be missed and a must for those interested in history is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall and Park. It was built and developed in 1931 to honor the memory of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the first president of China. The memorial hallis a beautiful structure of chinese design and archtecture and has served in more recent times as a convention hall, a film center, an exhibition area, and a venue for the performance of operas. It also houses some of the memorabilias of Sun Yat Sen.

Then, finally, there is the statue serving as the symbol of the City of Guangzho. It is called the Statue of the Five Rams, representing the title of Guangzho as the “City of Five Friends.” Chinese folklore says that the five rams (goats) who were close to each other inhabited the area in ancient times. Eventually, they were transformed into human beings by the gods and became the first inhabitants of Guangzho. The large statue is surrounded by multi-colored flowering plants and green bushes, and can be reached by climbing 101 steps. The statue is the centerpiece of a beautiful park that has been voted as the Best Scenic Area in Good Management by the Guangzho Management Administration Bureau and Gardens Bureaus.