Tianhe district - CBD, West part (city center)

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). Tianhe means "river in the sky", a name for the milky way in Chinese. As late as in the 1980s the majority of the district was composed of rice fields, but today it is the most central of the 10 districts of Guangzhou, together with Yuexiu.
Just south of Tianhe district, Pearl River, China's 3rd longest river, is flowing. Here you find many nice illuminated river boats, great bridges and amazing views of the skyline.Pearl River is a popular place to take a cruise after dark.

The first development was the Tianhe Sports Centre in the 1980s. In the 1990s the large Guangzhou East Railway Station, the station were we arrived, was constructed. In 1996 CITIC Plaza was constructed, a blue glass skyscraper with 80 floors (391m tall to the spire) that was Asia's tallest building for 3 years. Also other skyscrapers, like the golden glass towers of Metro Plaza, were completed the same year. New roads, large chain hotels and shopping malls have also been constructed since then.

South of the Sports Center and North of Pearl River is Zhujiang New Town (ZNT), a huge new CBD that was built in the 2000s. Here IFC has beaten CITIC Plaza in height in 2010, and there are several skyscrapers, parks, pounds, trees and malls. ZNT is very pedestrian friendly as there is a long promenade boulevard in the middle, flanked by skyscrapers. You can read more about ZNT in it's own section. Opposite ZNT, across the Pearl River, Canton Tower has became Guangzou's tallest structure.

Our hotel, the 4-star Yutong, was in the East part of Tianhe, an area called Gangding, where the huge Canton Fair complex is situated with large fairs and exhibitions. In this part there are many malls, hotels and fast food restaurants. In the US, where it is believed the chopsuey recipe originated, Chinese food is sometimes considered fast food since it is quick, cheap and reliable. While the recipe for chop suey originated as a way to use up leftovers, other Chinese-American favorites like General Tso’s Chicken and Sesame Chicken are more American fast food than authentic Chinese cuisine. The skyscraper cluster stretches from ZNT and the bordering the West part of Tianhe, to Gangding.

Skyline of the Tianhe district's West part, that is bordering Zhujiang New Town (ZNT) to the North. Before ZNT was built in the 2010s, most skyscrapers were situated in this area. CITIC Plaza, the blue skyscraper to the right, was then, in 1996, the tallest building in Asia and the tallest in Guangzhou until 2010. The golden glass building to the left is Metro Plaza (48 floors), also built in 1996. CITIC Plaza. Upon completion in 1996, this was the tallest building in Asia (until 1998) and the tallest in Guangzhou until 2010. It has 80 floors and is 391m tall to the spire (322m to the roof).It was also the world's tallest building built of reinforced concrete until 2012 and was designed by Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects. CITIC Plaza. Upon completion in 1996, this was the tallest building in Asia (until 1998) and the tallest in Guangzhou until 2010. It has 80 floors and is 391m tall to the spire (322m to the roof).It was also the world's tallest building built of reinforced concrete until 2012 and was designed by Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects. Metro Plaza is a skyscraper complex with two gold coloured glass towers, built in 1996. Tthe tallest one has 48 floors and is 199m tall. Tianhe district Northwest with Metro Plaza. Sinopec Tower or Bercy Plaza from 2008 has 50 floors. Tianhe district Tianhe district with ZNT and Guangzhou's new tallest ones in the background. Teemtower Office Bldg (195m, built 2007) and Sheraton Hotel (built 2008). Metro Plaza and CITIC Plaza. Marriott Hotel Tianhe. Teemtower Office Bldg (195m, built 2007) Victory Plaza (223m) from 2007. The tallest of these glass towers has 52 floors. Marriott and Tianhe Sports Center Tianhe skyline. This was the foremost skyline of Guangzhou between 1996 and around 2010, when the tallest skyscrapers of nearby Zhujiang New Town were built. CITIC Plaza (right), once tallest in Asia, is now only 3rd tallest in Guangzhou. Tianhe district Street scene of Tianhe district on a rainy day, towards CITIC Plaza. Street scene of Tianhe district on a rainy day Zhujiang New Town is also part of Tianhe district (see it's separate page). The pyramid shaped top of Metro Plaza Tianhe district CITIC Plaza. Upon completion in 1996, this was the tallest building in Asia (until 1998) and the tallest in Guangzhou until 2010. It has 80 floors and is 391m tall to the spire (322m to the roof).It was also the world's tallest building built of reinforced concrete until 2012 and was designed by Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects. Tianhe district Sinopec Tower or Bercy Plaza from 2008 has 50 floors. Tianhe district Tianhebei Road passing Metro Plaza Tianhebei Road passing CITIC Plaza Tianhe district Citycreation building (29 floors) from 2003. Goldsun Building & Jianhe Center Mansion, built in 1996. Shopping mall in Tianhe. Tianhe district Tianhe district Tianhe district Tianhe Stadium (Tianhe Sports Centre) was built in 1987 and has a capacity of 58500 visitors. It is mostly used as a football stadium. Sheraton, Tianhe district Greenery in Tianhe district Victory Plaza (223m) from 2007. The tallest of these glass towers has 52 floors. Victory Plaza has a shopping mall beneath the skyscrapers. Victory Plaza (223m) from 2007. The tallest of these glass towers has 52 floors. Skyline of Tianhe district Tianhecheng Boulevard Tee Mall Tianhe district Tianhe Sports Center Tianhe district Teemtower Office Bldg (195m, built 2007) Teemtower Office Bldg (195m, built 2007) and Sheraton Hotel (built 2008). Tianhe district Tianhe Sports Centre. Some American movies are shown in China. Tianhe district, near the stadium and CITIC Plaza. Tianhe district. Guangzhou has many roads with beautiful green trees hanging over to protect from the sun. Tianhe district Tianhe district Tianhe district Tianhe district Haizhu district (right), Jiefang Bridge and Tianhe district (left) seen from Haizhu Bridge, a bridge across the Pearl River.