Project

Guangzhou and I did not get along at first. My earliest trips to this southern Chinese city were all about work—exhibitions, supplier visits, and the usual hotel-to-business routine. The city mostly rushed past my window as I moved from one obligation to the next. The only time I really stepped out was when a supplier took me to a park and the Canton Tower. That short outing made me realize something surprising: even locals often do not take the time to explore, caught up in the pace of daily life.

It was also the very first city I visited in Mainland China, and back then, I was not impressed. My view was limited to the business circuit, which does not exactly reveal a city’s soul. But the more I returned, the more I started to notice its scale and energy. Once I ventured beyond the business districts, I found vibrant streets, historic neighborhoods, and striking modern architecture that showed me a completely different side of the place.

I could even see myself living in Guangzhou. The city’s location is a big part of its appeal. It is close enough to Hong Kong that you can hop on a train and be there in just a few hours, yet far enough to feel like its own world. That mix of accessibility and independence makes it feel both connected and self‑sufficient, offering the energy of a major hub without losing its unique character.