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A Day in Guangzhou on a Bad Stomach: Osada's Trip from Shenzhen to "the City of Food"

osada /おさだ【海外ひとり旅】 · ▶ 1:11:26 · 16 min read
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Overview

Osada, a Japanese travel vlogger, continues a China series with a day trip from Shenzhen to Guangzhou. Guangzhou has a reputation for food, which Osada repeats throughout the day with the phrase "food is in Guangzhou," and they wanted to eat their way through the city. The day starts badly, though. After deliberately ordering something spicy the previous night in Shenzhen "for the adventure," Osada spent the morning stuck in the bathroom. The video follows how they get through a full day of transport, dim sum, sightseeing, a luxury hotel, and a spicy hot pot dinner while paying close attention to their stomach. Along the way it gives practical detail about tickets, mobile payments, and prices.

16 min read

Starting Out Unwell at Futian Station

The video opens at Futian Station in Shenzhen. Osada explains that the previous video covered Shenzhen as a high-tech city that has grown enormously, and that they enjoyed it. That night, though, they chose a spicy dish specifically to capture the "spicy" part of the trip on camera. Soon afterwards "something strange" started happening to their stomach. They describe being in pain in both the stomach and, jokingly, the backside, and they say they will spend the day watching their stomach closely.

They had not really eaten breakfast, only a banana, even though they were staying at a hotel. At a FamilyMart in the station they looked for something light with protein, and they remark that eggs apparently are not allowed through the security check these days and would be thrown out even if they were. In the end they bought a coffee from a Costa counter and wondered on camera whether it was sweetened. They also remind viewers that purchases in China are made with Alipay or WeChat, so visitors should be prepared.

Taking the High-Speed Train to Guangzhou East

Osada took a high-speed train they call the "HSRT" from Futian to Guangzhou. They say tickets can probably be bought at the station, but they booked in advance through Klook for a little over 2,000 yen. The ticket appeared to be linked to their passport, so they entered by showing it. Their train was the B7568, departing at 9:35 a.m. for Guangzhou East Station from Platform 1.

Finding the platform took some effort. The HSRT signs suddenly disappeared, and Osada says they could only get by with "subtle body language" because communication happened in Chinese. At the entrance they went through a baggage inspection and a passport check. Local passengers walked through the gates quickly, and Osada guesses their cards or IDs are linked to the ticket system, noting that they seemed to be the only person using a passport.

Osada says there were about three seat types to choose from, including first and second class, and that they chose first class. At first they thought they had no seat number. They then found it on the Klook booking page: seat 01A in car 8, which turned out to be at the very back of the train. On the way through the train they noticed that the toilets in second class were squat-style, while first class had Western-style toilets, which they called an upgrade. Seat 1A was a little more spacious than the other seats. The ride from Shenzhen to Guangzhou took about an hour and 20 minutes.

Using the Guangzhou Metro with Alipay

At Guangzhou East, Osada transferred to the orange Line 3. They explain the process for riding the ordinary subway with Alipay. The city setting in the app needs to be Guangzhou. It usually switches automatically. From there you open the mobility section, choose subway, and a QR code appears that you scan at the gate. You scan the same QR code again when exiting. At one point they entered Line 1 by mistake before finding Line 3. They then rode two stops west to Tiyu Xi.

On the train Osada says they were "overwhelmed by the strength of the ladies on Chinese trains" and that they would "get stronger." They describe Guangzhou as, as far as they understand, China's third-largest city after Shanghai and Beijing, and very developed.

First Impressions: Warm Weather and Sidewalk Traffic

Above ground, the first thing Osada noticed was the heat. They give the date as around 20 December, with a high of 26°C and a low of 18°C, which matched the warmth they had found in Shenzhen. Many people wore short sleeves, and those in jackets wore only thin ones. Osada adds that their own layered outfit was part of why their stomach hurt.

They also noticed electric vehicles riding on the ordinary sidewalk. A lane exists for them, but Osada says in practice it seemed "completely irrelevant." They said they wanted to try a rental bike that day because a previous attempt had ended with a flat tire, and they looked at the color-coded bikes on the street.

Dim Sum at "Tentoku"

Osada had not eaten since the morning, so the first stop was a dim sum restaurant they call "Tentoku" (later "Tentotoku"). They had trouble finding it inside a building. Even people on the same floor did not seem to know it, until a helpful person pointed the way. It was on the fourth floor. Osada says the restaurant is famous for dim sum and is "probably something like" a Michelin-selected restaurant in China. They chose it because both Google and ChatGPT recommended it.

The staff first asked which tea they wanted. Ordering was done by scanning a QR code on the table. Osada says Alipay accepts Visa or Mastercard, while WeChat, in their experience, accepts only AMEX. They used WeChat. After scanning the menu, tapping the dots in the upper-right corner shows a translation option that makes the menu readable. They ordered a rice-roll ("intestine") dish for 34 yuan, shrimp dumplings because they looked gentle on the stomach, and porridge. They also considered wonton noodles.

The porridge came first, which Osada took as the staff being considerate because they "looked pale." Next came a large shrimp shumai-like item containing meat and a gummy filling, then shrimp dumplings with such a strong flavor that no sauce was needed. Osada called them "the best of the day." The third dish was cheung fun, a thin, crepe-like dim sum made from rice flour. This one had a red skin, and inside it seafood that they thought was shrimp, wrapped in a crispy fried layer. Osada called this one "the best of the day" as well. They joked that it was so good they could not manage a proper food review.

To pay, you scan the same QR code again. The earlier order appears as a bill, and you pay from the bottom-right of the screen. With WeChat they entered a password and received a confirmation. They assumed Alipay works in a similar way.

Checking In at the W Guangzhou

That night Osada stayed at the W Guangzhou, which they describe as a Marriott-affiliated "party hotel." A Christmas tree stood at the entrance for the season. They expected to leave their luggage and come back later, but they were able to check in right away and were told they had been upgraded. Their room was on the 25th floor.

The elevator area was dark and stylish, with a lip motif that Osada connects to the brand's party atmosphere. There was an awkward moment when they got off at the 22nd floor by mistake. They say another guest made the same mistake at the same time. They describe the hallway as the kind of place where "cool, energetic people stay."

They had booked the lowest room grade and believe they received an upgrade. The room had a separate changing area, a spacious bedroom with a desk, and a curtain to cover the window. Motorized curtains opened onto a city view of skyscrapers, including a tall landmark nearby that they planned to visit that night. The bathroom had a bathtub and a TV, and they noticed that the towels were thicker than usual. Osada says the listed price is about 30,000 yen per night and that they stayed on points, while still calling the choice a splurge.

After the room tour, Osada mentioned being told they had access to the club lounge on the 26th floor, open from 12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. They took a quick look. It had snacks such as nuts, soft drinks like cola, a coffee station, and a meeting room. They wondered whether the offering changes in the evening and whether it could serve as dinner, since it stays open late.

Getting Around by Didi

For sightseeing Osada used the ride-hailing app Didi, which they say is built into Alipay and works like Uber: you enter a destination and a car arrives quickly. They stress that taxis in China are cheap. Their ride of about 30 minutes cost 23 yuan, or roughly 500 yen.

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

The first sightseeing stop was the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (Chenjiaci), a historic building. Getting in was confusing. The first entrance Osada found looked like an exit, and the actual entrance was crowded, which they thought was because of tour groups. Tickets were checked at the gate, but they had not bought one. After using a translation function, they found a ticket counter outside in a hard-to-find spot. A ticket cost 10 yuan per person, about 200 yen, and required a passport. They then had to go back to the gate and scan the ticket. A tour guide nearby spoke loudly enough that Osada joked "no need for a microphone."

Inside, Osada describes the site as said to be the finest example of Cantonese architecture and a major tourist draw. They point out the impressive gate and the details on the roof. According to the explanation they read, the building was put up by the family in the 19th century as a school. They wondered whether some of the rooms were study rooms. They highlight the detailed carvings in wood, stone, and brick, and they note rooms displayed as a bedroom and a dining area, plus a blue artifact at the back they found beautiful. The explanation panel was in Chinese only, so they moved on.

Shamian Island

Next was Shamian Island. Osada notes that it does not look like a separate island on the map despite the name. Their research had described it as a quiet European-style area appearing suddenly inside China, and they found the street pleasant, with brick buildings and cobblestones that "don't feel very Chinese" and beautiful trees. Many people, including groups of women in photo shoots, were taking pictures in front of the European-style buildings. Osada's honest verdict was that they "maybe don't really need to come here," and they moved on because they were hungry.

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street and Wonton Noodles

Osada then went to a nearby famous shopping street, the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. It was a lively street lined with shops and souvenir stores. They pointed out a novelty balloon that bursts into smoke when you hit it, first calling it "incredible" and then taking that back as "not a big deal." They also sampled some sweets they found fairly good. They admit the footage may not show well what the street feels like.

For a meal they walked away from the main street to a restaurant down a narrow alley, stopping on the way to film a sleeping cat. They describe the restaurant as rustic, with a river running behind it. At first no staff member seemed to notice them. They joked about the staff's "ability to ignore things," then sat by the entrance until someone came. They were shown a menu and told the place was known for wonton noodles, so they ordered them for 13 yuan, about 250 yen. The soup had a light seafood and shrimp flavor. Osada thought the wontons themselves were "very ordinary," though reasonable at that price. They noticed other diners eating noodles topped with a large piece of braised pork and guessed that might have been the dish to order.

The Pudding Shop

Still not satisfied, Osada went to another popular nearby shop known for pudding. Almost everyone inside was eating it. The menu offered plain pudding, pudding topped with red beans, and mango. Osada chose the red bean pudding, served cold, for 17 yuan. They ordered by QR code and shared a table with strangers. The pudding came heavily topped with red beans, and Osada said it "might be the best pudding I've ever eaten."

Canton Tower: A Long Wait and a Skipped Ferris Wheel

The evening plan was Canton Tower. Osada had bought a ticket through Klook in advance and received a QR code. They arrived at 5:51 p.m., hoping to watch the sunset from the top in about ten minutes. The ticket area was confusing. The QR code did not scan, so they entered the number manually to get through.

Osada explains the ticket options as they understood them. Going up the tower alone costs about 3,400 yen. A ticket that includes the Ferris wheel-like ride at the top of the tower, which they describe as one of the tallest structures in China, costs about 8,000 yen, or about 6,300 yen through Klook with a 20% discount. They had bought the more expensive Ferris wheel ticket.

Then came the lines. Osada describes the route as an elevator from the first floor up to around the 107th floor, one flight of stairs to the 108th, and another lift to the 111th floor at the top. They waited about an hour for the first elevator. By the time they got up, it was fully dark and the sunset was over. They complained about the noise in the line, saying that standing in lines like this was making them "start to hate China." On the 108th floor they found another line for the lift to the 111th floor, which looked like another hour's wait. At that point Osada gave up and said they didn't need the Ferris wheel anymore.

They filmed the night view from the 108th floor instead. Support poles blocked the view from most spots, and the photo spots without poles had long lines of their own. After a few tries, Osada found angles they liked and called the view from one side "amazing," fitting for the third-largest city.

Dinner: The Beef Hot Pot They Missed Last Time

For dinner Osada went to a beef hot pot restaurant they call "No. 8 Village." They had given up on hot pot in the previous video and ended up with the spicy dish that upset their stomach, so they wanted to end the trip with it. Ordering meant choosing a broth, meat, and vegetables. Even though they said they were "going all out," they chose a half-and-half pot, one spicy side and one mild, because they felt their stomach needed rest. They ordered what they believed was good-quality beef, plus shimeji mushrooms, and considered noodles, though some of the menu items were unclear to them.

Diners make their own sauce at a sauce station. A staff member helped mix garlic, green onions, and various sauces, finished with a squeeze of something sour for freshness. Osada says they added too much garlic but still found it delicious, even poured over rice. They also learned to rinse their chopsticks and utensils with tea first. At one point they remarked that, to their surprise, nobody in China eats the spicy soup, and wondered whether they had made a mistake.

The mild broth, with radish and corn, was light and tasted like stock. The spicy side had an intense smell and quickly turned what Osada called "a strange color." They talked themselves into adding more to the spicy side with a line to themselves, "Don't run away… You came here for spicy food, didn't you?" and admitted that nobody else was pushing them. They said they would deal with whatever happened tomorrow. In the end they found it so spicy that they had to dilute the food in the mild broth before eating, calling it "crazy." The video ends there, with Osada asking viewers what they thought of the China episode.

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