Ｃｈｉｃｋｅｎ ａｎｄ Ｂａｍｂｏｏ Ｆｕｎｇｉ Ｓｏｕｐ

Chicken and Bamboo Fungi Soup (Zhusun Jitang)

Ingredients

2 drumsticks

6 dried bamboo fungi

6 xianggu mushrooms

sliced ginger, cooking wine and salt

Method

1. Chop chicken into chunks and blanch. Soften bamboo fungi and xianggu mushrooms. Cut bamboo fungi into sections and xianggu mushrooms in halves.

2. Wash chicken chunks clean, add six cups of water and bring to a boil. Add chopped bamboo fungi, xianggu mushrooms, ginger and cooking wine. Lower the heat and cook till chicken is soft. Sprinkle a dash of salt and serve.

Baiyun Mountain: Located in the northern suburbs of Guangzhou, it covers 20.98 square kilometers. Its main peak, Mount Moxing, is 382 meters above sea level. On the mountain, tourists can take in a panoramic view of the city and the Pearl River. After rain, the mountain is shrouded in white clouds, thus its name Baiyun (White Cloud). It is 15 kilometers north of downtown Guangzhou. Admission fee: RMB 5. Telephone: 020-37229871；020-37222138

Chen Clan Ancestral Temple: Built in 1890, it is an ancestral temple for the Chen clan in 72 counties in Guangdong. Covering an area of 10,000 square meters, its architecture is decorated by stone, wood, brick and ceramic sculptures full of local characteristics. It is located at 34 Enlongli, Zhongshan 7th Road, Guangzhou. Admission fee: RMB 10. Opening hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Liurong Temple: It is one of the four ancient temples in Guangzhou, the other three temples being Guangxiao, Haidong and Hualin. Built in 537, its Liuzu (Sixth Patriarch) Hall houses the bronze sculpture of Huineng (638-713), sixth patriarch of the Chinese Zen sect, and its Guanyin Hall houses a four-meter-tall bronze Guanyin statue. In the courtyard there stands a 57-meter-high tower, the highest ancient architecture in Guangzhou. Many Cantonese regard Liurong Temple as a place to pray for wealth. It is located on Chaoyang North Road. Admission fee for the temple: RMB 5. Admission fee for the tower: RMB 10. Opening hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Huaisheng Mosque: It is one of the earliest mosques in China. It got its name from commemorating Muhammad, founder of Islam. It is said to have a history of more than 1,000 years. It is located on Guangta Street, Zhongshan 6th Road. Admission fee: RMB 10

Shamian: It is the busiest area in Guangzhou. It used to be a sand beach, and later made into an island. In 1861 it became a British/French concession. Foreign consulates were set up here.

Xiguan Houses and Site of the 13 Trade Companies: Xiguan Houses are traditional residences unique to Guangzhou, full of local Lingnan characteristics. These are residences built by merchants in the late Qing Dynasty, located in present-day Liwan District. There are more than 100 such houses left, with more than a dozen worth preserving, located on Longjin West Road and Fengyuan Road. The site of the Qing Dynasty foreign trade companies are located in todays Cultural Park, Shisanhang Road, Renmin South Road and Renji Road. The 13 companies were the only ones that were approved by the Qing Dynasty government to engage in foreign trade. The residences of the 19th century business tycoons and big companies mentioned above are located in this area.

Night excursion on the Pearl River: The Pearl River, 2,129 kilometers long, is the third-longest river in China. Its three tributaries -- the Dongjiang, the Xijiang and the Beijiang -- meet to form the Pearl River at Guangzhou. It takes 90 minutes to cover the 20-kilometer excursion. Ticket price: RMB 48-128. Operation time: 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.. Booking telephone: 020-87768558, 020-83753751. The boarding docks include Tianyu Dock, Dashatou Dock, and Xidi Dock. Please consult the boarding dock and time.

Shenzhen: Shenzhen is 140 kilometers from Guangzhou and is adjacent to Hong Kong. Most Shenzhen people enter Hong Kong SAR via Luohu Port. Opening time: 6:30 a.m.-midnight. Well-known attractions in Shenzhen include Window of the World, with 130 miniature sites from all over the world. It also stages large-scale performances and evening galas. It is located in Overseas Chinese City, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. Admission fee: RMB 120. Opening hours: 9:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Telephone: 0755-26608000. Night show ticket: RMB 50. Opening time: 8:00 p.m. Another well-known attraction is Dameisha Seaside Park, a tourist resort combining leisure, holiday-making, sightseeing and recreation. It is located in Yantian District. Admission is free.

Liannan Yao Ethnic Folklore: Liannan Yao Autonomous County is in the northwestern part of the Yuebei Mountainous Area, 270 kilometers from Guangzhou. The Yao are a typical mountain minority people, with a population of 2 million. The Liannan Yao people are called “Pai Yao” (pai means “row” in English) since their dwellings are arranged in rows on mountain slopes. The most celebrated festival is called “Panwang Festival,” held in November every year. All the villagers go out to hold worship activities during the festival. Famous attractions include Babaizuo (Eight Hundred) Stone Mountains, Sanpai (Three Rows) Yao Village, and Panwang Temple. A double room in Liannan costs RMB 40-60 per night. Hotels in the scenic area are more comfortable, but also more expensive, with the highest nightly rate reaching RMB 350.

Danxia Mountain Scenic Area: It is located 53 kilometers northeast of Shaoguan City, and is among the first group of geological parks in China. It is divided into the Main Peak Scenic Area, the Xianglong Lake Scenic Area, the Jinjiang Scenic Area, and the Yangyuan Mountain Scenic Area. Admission fee: RMB 65. Telephone: 0751-6291683

Kaiping Watchtower Houses: They are on the list of UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites. Built in the early Qing Dynasty, they reached their zenith in the 1920s and 1930s. Most watchtower houses were built by returned overseas Chinese, mainly used to prevent flood and robbery. Now there are 1,400 such buildings. Famous ones include Yinglong Tower, Liyuan Garden, Fang Clan Lantern Tower, Zili Village watchtower houses, Shilu Cottage and Ruishi Tower of Jinjiangli. There are buses between Guangdong Provincial Bus Station and Kaiping. The first bus starts out at 6:30 a.m., and the last bus at 7:30 p.m. Buses operate at 35-minute intervals.

Guangzhou Morning Tea: Actually it refers to breakfast accompanied by tea. Guangzhou morning tea is available in big hotels and restaurants with luxurious décors. It includes all kinds of dishes and pastries, totaling more than 100 varieties. Usually whole families go out to have breakfast, lasting from 6 in the morning till 10, chatting while eating. On weekends, restaurants providing such foods are always crowded. Famous restaurants offering morning tea include Taotaoju, Luming Restaurant, Guangzhou Restaurant, Dongfang Hotel, and Garden Hotel. Average price is RMB 50 per person.

Guangzhou Afternoon Tea: Guangzhou afternoon tea usually starts at 2:30 p.m. Famous restaurants providing such food include Xingyun (Lucky) Tower on Renmin Road and Taikang Road; Yunxiang Restaurant on Donghua East Road; and Xinchao Tower on Weiduoli Square, Tianhe Road.

Guangzhou Snacks:

Donghua Xifuji Roasted Oysters: Located at the end of Zhonghua Square East Gate Road. It starts serving at 5:00 p.m.

Liwan Famous Gourmets: Xiguan is famous for its snacks, and Liwan Famous Gourmets has every variety of snack available in Xiguan. Many Guangzhou natives come back to patronize it. The chefs are veterans from various time-honored restaurants, ensuring that the culinary level is the highest. It is located at First Floor, 99 Dishifu Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-81391405

Shahe Rice Noodles Village: This eatery has a history of over a century. Recommended varieties of noodles: Shahe rice noodles in soup, and stir-fried Shahe rice noodles. Shahe Rice Noodles Village is located beside Yuntai Garden, Baiyunshan, Guangyuan Middle Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-37226888, 37227888

Qiangji Chicken Porridge: Located at 56 Baohua Road. Telephone: 020-81815766

Famous Restaurants

Dongjiang Seafood City: A well-known and time-honored seafood restaurant in Guangzhou, located at 9 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-84297510.

Guangzhou Restaurant: A representative Guangdong cuisine restaurant, known as the “No. 1 Restaurant in Guangzhou,” located at 2 Wenchang South Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-81380803

Kejia (Hakka) Restaurant: Specializing in Hakka dishes, characterized by a combination of Central Plains old tradition and southern style, which is different to Guangdong cuisine. It is located at First Floor, Meizhou Building, 338 Hengfu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-83592881

Garden Hotel: A five-star hotel located at 368 Huanshi East Road. Booking telephone: 020-22361555. Rates: RMB 1,718 for a double room. www.gardenhotel.com.cn

White Swan Hotel: A five-star hotel located at 1 Shamian South Street. Booking telephone: 020-81886968. Rates: RMB 1,500 for a double room.

www.whiteswanhotel.com.cn

Home Inn (Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, Guangzhou): An economy chain hostel located at 259-263 Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. Telephone: 020-81958828. Standard rooms: RMB 589 per night.