Guangzhou's long history of contact with the West sets it apart from other Chinese cities, creating an environment where Western ideas and approaches found earlier acceptance than in other Chinese cities, but where rich cultural traditions have continued to thrive. For those in search of Western-style diversions, there are any number of golf courses, tennis courts and bowling alleys. After dark the city has as wide a range of KTV, pubs, bars and restaurants as you could want, from places where Chinese and foreigners mingle freely to all-expat hangouts.
In the evening, the Pearl River (Zhujiang), rippling with neon reflections, offers an age-old form of relaxation in the form of night cruises on the river: these can vary in price, going all the way up to a luxury cruise with dinner on the water. On land, there are plenty of options for traditional entertainment. Guangzhou is dotted with teahouse that offer wonderful tea ceremonies and the chance to while away a few hours as Chinese people have done for centuries, drinking tea and letting the world slow down.
Guangzhou has three famous bar streets: Binjiang Lu, Huanshi Lu and Bai'e Tan. Binjiang Lu Bar Street is known for its beautiful setting on the banks of the Pearl River (Zhujiang); many of the bars have outdoor seating where you can enjoy dining and drinking al fresco. More centrally located is Huanshi Lu Bar Street, dotted with many Chinese and Western bars, where you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife and the neon lights. For its part, Bai'e Tan Bar Street, located at Changdi Lu on the bank of Bai'e Tan (White