Tianhe district - East part, Gangding

Tianhe district is a very large district where you find many modern buildings, skyscrapers, parks, roads and shopping malls. In the west part you find the CBD (Central Business District). In the East part you find the Gangding area and Canton Fair, where our hotel, YuTong was. Gangding was our nearest metro station, from where we had to take a bus from the hotel. It is situated between our hotel in the Canton Fair area and the skyscrapers of Tianhe's first CBD, north of the new town, Zhujiang. The busy Zhongshan Avenue/Tianhe Road is dividing the area into two. Here you will find modern highrises/skyscrapers, hotels, shopping centers, neon lights, nightclubs small messy electronic stores and militaries patrolling the streets in typical Chinese manner. Gangding is an area that is very much alive at night.

YuTong Hotel, our 4-star hotel along Zhongshan Avenue in Tianhe district's East part. This 28-storey postmodern building houses a modern traditional Chinese hotel with 270 rooms, 2 restaurants (a Chinese and an international), pool, sauna and conference rooms. The lobby is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style, the rooms were nice but a bit impersonal in international style with fresh bathrooms. The best feature about our room, that was on the 21st floor, was the view over Guangzhou's skyline, especially impressive at night with all the lights. The staff was very nice and helped us buy metro cards in the local store. However, they didn't speak much English. Last day we wanted to eat breakfast and paid for it, it was very expensive by Chinese standards, but once we had taken our food and wanted to eat, we were told that they will close in 5 minutes. So we wanted the money back for the breakfast. We got it, but why didn't they tell us they were about to close? One other negative thing is that you have to take the bus or taxi to get to the nearest metro station, Gangding (there is a large bus stop outside the hotel) since it is a bit off from the immediate city center (still in central Guangzhou but closer to the fair area then downtown), but it worked. Once you reach the nearby Gangding, there are two large shopping malls, restaurants, shopping malls etc, and just few blocks to the skyscrapers of Tianhe's "old" CBD.

Gangding is a neighbourhood in the East part of Tianhe district. This is where our hotel, Yutong, was situated, this is the view from our room on the 21st floor on a foggy day, with Gangding closest and Tianhe's CBD in the distance. Nearby is the large Canton Fair. Gangding is a neighbourhood in the East part of Tianhe district. This is where our hotel, Yutong, was situated, this is the view from our room on the 21st floor on a foggy day, with Gangding closest and Tianhe's CBD in the distance. Nearby is the large Canton Fair. Guangzhou skyline 01Gangding is a neighbourhood in the East part of Tianhe district. This is where our hotel, Yutong, was situated, this is the view from our room on the 21st floor on a sunny day, with Gangding closest and Tianhe's CBD in the distance. Nearby is the large Canton Fair. Tianhe Road, near Gangding Station. To the left is Nanfang International Mansion, a 48-storey hotel built in 1998 with a green glass exterior.  With a height of 201m to the spire, this was the second tallest building in Guangzhou upon completion. YuTong Hotel, our 4-star hotel along Zhongshan Avenue in Tianhe district's East part. This 28-storey postmodern building houses a modern traditional Chinese hotel with 270 rooms,  2 restaurants (a Chinese and an international), pool, sauna and conference rooms. The lobby is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style, the rooms were nice but a bit impersonal in international style with fresh bathrooms. The best feature about our room, that was on the 21st floor, was the view over  Guangzhou's skyline, especially impressive at night with all the lights. The staff was very nice and helped us buy metro cards in the local store. However, they didn't speak much English. Last day we wanted to eat breakfast and paid for it, it was very expensive by Chinese standards, but once we had taken our food and wanted to eat, we were told that they will close in 5 minutes. So we wanted the money back for the breakfast. We got it, but why didn't they tell us they were about to close? One other negative thing is that you have to take the bus or taxi to get to the nearest metro station, Gangding (there is a large bus stop outside the hotel) since it is a bit off from the immediate city center (still in central Guangzhou but closer to the fair area then downtown), but it worked. Once you reach the nearby Gangding, there are two large shopping malls, restaurants, shopping malls etc, and just few blocks to the skyscrapers of Tianhe's "old" CBD. YuTong Hotel, our 4-star hotel along Zhongshan Avenue in Tianhe district's East part. This 28-storey postmodern building houses a modern traditional Chinese hotel with 270 rooms,  2 restaurants (a Chinese and an international), pool, sauna and conference rooms. The lobby is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style, the rooms were nice but a bit impersonal in international style with fresh bathrooms. The best feature about our room, that was on the 21st floor, was the view over  Guangzhou's skyline, especially impressive at night with all the lights. The staff was very nice and helped us buy metro cards in the local store. However, they didn't speak much English. Last day we wanted to eat breakfast and paid for it, it was very expensive by Chinese standards, but once we had taken our food and wanted to eat, we were told that they will close in 5 minutes. So we wanted the money back for the breakfast. We got it, but why didn't they tell us they were about to close? One other negative thing is that you have to take the bus or taxi to get to the nearest metro station, Gangding (there is a large bus stop outside the hotel) since it is a bit off from the immediate city center (still in central Guangzhou but closer to the fair area then downtown), but it worked. Once you reach the nearby Gangding, there are two large shopping malls, restaurants, shopping malls etc, and just few blocks to the skyscrapers of Tianhe's "old" CBD. YuTong Hotel, our 4-star hotel along Zhongshan Avenue in Tianhe district's East part. This 28-storey postmodern building houses a modern traditional Chinese hotel with 270 rooms,  2 restaurants (a Chinese and an international), pool, sauna and conference rooms. The lobby is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style, the rooms were nice but a bit impersonal in international style with fresh bathrooms. The best feature about our room, that was on the 21st floor, was the view over  Guangzhou's skyline, especially impressive at night with all the lights. The staff was very nice and helped us buy metro cards in the local store. However, they didn't speak much English. Last day we wanted to eat breakfast and paid for it, it was very expensive by Chinese standards, but once we had taken our food and wanted to eat, we were told that they will close in 5 minutes. So we wanted the money back for the breakfast. We got it, but why didn't they tell us they were about to close? One other negative thing is that you have to take the bus or taxi to get to the nearest metro station, Gangding (there is a large bus stop outside the hotel) since it is a bit off from the immediate city center (still in central Guangzhou but closer to the fair area then downtown), but it worked. Once you reach the nearby Gangding, there are two large shopping malls, restaurants, shopping malls etc, and just few blocks to the skyscrapers of Tianhe's "old" CBD. The lobby of the YuTong, our 4-star hotel, is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style Entrance at the YuTong Hotel. YuTong Hotel, our 4-star hotel along Zhongshan Avenue in Tianhe district's East part. This 28-storey postmodern building houses a modern traditional Chinese hotel with 270 rooms,  2 restaurants (a Chinese and an international), pool, sauna and conference rooms. The lobby is a postmodern 2-storey atrium in Asian style, the rooms were nice but a bit impersonal in international style with fresh bathrooms. The best feature about our room, that was on the 20th floor, was the view over  Guangzhou's skyline, especially impressive at night with all the lights. The staff was very nice and helped us buy metro cards in the local store. However, they didn't speak much English. Last day we wanted to eat breakfast and paid for it, it was very expensive by Chinese standards, but once we had taken our food and wanted to eat, we were told that they will close in 5 minutes. So we wanted the money back for the breakfast. We got it, but why didn't they tell us they were about to close? One other negative thing is that you have to take the bus or taxi to get to the nearest metro station, Gangding (there is a large bus stop outside the hotel) since it is a bit off from the immediate city center (still in central Guangzhou but closer to the fair area then downtown), but it worked. Once you reach the nearby Gangding, there are two large shopping malls, restaurants, shopping malls etc, and just few blocks to the skyscrapers of Tianhe's "old" CBD. Our room at YuTong Hotel. Bathroom, YuTong Hotel. Elevator area, YuTong Hotel. Corridors of YuTong. Elevator at the YuTong, going up to our room at the 21st floor. Ultramodern highrises seen from an overpass of Zhongshan Avenue near our hotel. Bus station seen from an overpass of Zhongshan Avenue near our hotel. The bus stations in Guangzhou (here at Canton Fair near our hotel) are very long and features special gates to ticket desks. There is one spot for each line, and only buses are allowed in this area in the middle of the roads. Despite the large number of buses, they are often over crowded with people! Overpass over Zhongshan Road at Gangding, looking towards Tianhe's CBD. Nanfang International Mansion, a 48-storey hotel built in 1998 with a green glass exterior.  With a height of 201m to the spire, this was the second tallest building in Guangzhou upon completion. Tianhe Road towards the skyscrapers of Tianhe's CBD. A pink/yellow skyscraper complex, a shopping mall and a cinema complex at Zhongshan Road. View towards Tianhe's "old" CBD (1990s) from our hotel. The bus stations in Guangzhou (here Gangding) are very long and features special gates to ticket desks. There is one spot for each line, and only buses are allowed in this area in the middle of the roads. Despite the large number of buses, they are often over crowded with people! Tianhe's "old" CBD seen from Gangding. Back street where we visited a small, very messy computer store to buy a new cheap memory card for may camera (to the right is a luxury hotel). Tianhe Road seen from a KFC. The cars are very modern, many of European models. The toilets, even in KFC, are just holes and never have soap or toilet paper! Tianhe Road with large shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment. The bus long station of Gangding, typical for Guangzhou with its ticket area. This is Tianhe Road with large shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment. Large shopping mall in Gangding. Noodles at a typical modern Chinese restaurant inside the mall. Neon lights around Gangding station. Tianhe's Canton Fair area from our hotel. Traffic jam at Zhongshan Road, seen from our hotel. YuTong Hotel, our postmodern 28-storey 4 star hotel with 270 rooms, at night. YuTong Hotel, our postmodern 28-storey 4 star hotel with 270 rooms, at night. View at night from our hotel room at YuTong in Tianhe's Canton Fair area. See more in the skylines and night sections. View at night from our hotel room at YuTong in Tianhe's Canton Fair area. See more in the skylines and night sections. View at night from our hotel room at YuTong in Tianhe's Canton Fair area. See more in the skylines and night sections.