The Amazing Race – Guangzhou-style

The Amazing Race – Guangzhou-style

by Team B (Mathew, Kyle, Dorothy, Emily)

We received our challenge to head to Dongxiaonan and a quick check of the subway map showed that several line changes would be required so, like all good MBA students, decided a planning session would be in order.

We headed to the nearest coffee shop on the way to the station, a place called 'Even Coffee' which was a surprising find.

The coffee was excellent, and the décor was very western, even down to the "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters on the wall.

With our planning duly completed and three line transfers needed, we set off for Tancun subway station, finding the subway system very user-friendly and well organised, especially the orderly way the arrows directed you to get on and off trains.

We made it to Dongxiaonan in one piece and with no wrong turns, emerged from the subway station into a semi-suburban and not particularly affluent area outside the CBD, and headed to McDonald’s as one of the few dining options in the local area.

It was clear the familiar McDonald's brand and food had been adapted to the local culture, with a layout accommodating smaller groups of one to two people, and spaces designed so that people were encouraged to stay longer -- fast food slowed down for the local culture.

After lunch, we explored the local area and found a mall that seemed to have been built on the 'build it and they will come' principle -- but the people hadn’t yet come.

Shops of the same type were located close together and there was very little differentiation between shops, and the lack of customers and general atmosphere was very noticeable.

We finished our day of exploring with a trip to the Canton Tower which was memorable for the world’s highest (and slowest) bubble tram.

Due to the pollution, our views of the city were limited, but the sheer scale of the city was hugely impressive, especially when you consider how new most of it is.

The Canton Tower was also the only place we found all day where postcards and other souvenirs could be purchased; there definitely seems to be scope for Guangzhou to market itself more as a tourist destination rather than just an industrial hub.