The White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou is located at the southern tip of Shamian Island in Liwan District, occupying a core position where the three rivers converge. It was jointly built by Mr. Ho Ying-dong and the Guangdong Provincial Government and opened in 1983. It is the first Sino-foreign joint venture five-star hotel in China and also the first modern large-scale hotel designed, built and managed by the Chinese themselves. It is hailed as "a milestone in China's hotel industry". The hotel building was designed by Lingnan architectural masters such as Mo Bozhi and She 畯 nan. The exterior facade integrates Lingnan elements like arcades and eave walls, while the interior takes the "Hometown Water" waterfall landscape as the core, complemented by Manchu Windows, wood-carved screens and bluestone steps, creating an immersive cultural experience of "a new scene at every step".
There are 843 guest rooms and suites distributed in the main building and the courtyard villa area, ranging in size from 30 to 200 square meters. Some of the riverside rooms offer direct views of the Bai 'etan River and the European-style buildings on Shamian Island. The guest room design adheres to the concept of "the integration of tradition and modernity" - wooden furniture, bedding with Guangzhou-embroidered patterns and an intelligent temperature control system coexist. The bathrooms are equipped with Hansgrohe sanitary ware and BYREDO amenities. Some suites retain the retro decorative details of the 1980s, such as brass switches and hand-cranking gramophones, allowing you to feel the texture of The Times as you walk.
The dining space is known as the "golden Palace of Cantonese cuisine" : The one-Michelin-starred "Yutang Chunnuan" is renowned for its Cantonese dim sum and classic Cantonese dishes. Signature dishes such as Sachima, shrimp Dumpling King, and Iberian black pork char siu, paired with custom-made rosewood tableware and Lingnan window glass, create a "Lingnan aesthetic on the tip of the tongue". "Hong Tu Fu" restaurant offers Cantonese dim sum. Steamed shrimp dumplings, 豉汁 chicken feet and lychee jelly are popular choices in the city. The "Liu Fu Ge" cafe combines Western cuisine with Cantonese tea and snacks, and its open kitchen showcases the art of cooking. The hotel lobby bar offers a view of the "Hometown Water" waterfall. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, you can savor Cantonese shrimp dumplings and British afternoon tea, making it a cultural check-in landmark.
The recreational facilities include a 25-meter indoor heated swimming pool (with a glass curtain wall design, allowing you to enjoy the European-style architecture of Shamian Island while swimming), a 24-hour fitness center (equipped with Tainojian equipment), a spa and a sauna, offering a combination of traditional Chinese massage and aromatherapy treatments. The hotel specially offers the "Lingnan Culture Experience Officer" service, allowing guests to make reservations for Guangxiu workshops, Cantonese opera mask painting, guided Tours of historical buildings on Shamian Island, and night Tours along the Pearl River. From Friday to Sunday, Cantonese opera performances and tea art displays are held, with continuous surprises in the interactive sessions.
Within a three-kilometer radius, there are many scenic spots such as the historical architectural complex of Shamian Island, the Guangdong Customs Museum, Liwan Lake Park, and the Yongqingfang Intangible Cultural Heritage Street. It is within walking distance of the Huangsha Station of Metro Line 6 and the Wenhua Park Station of Metro Line 1, meeting the needs of cultural exploration and shopping. The hotel implements a sustainable environmental protection policy. It does not proactively provide disposable plastic products in guest rooms and is equipped with anti-virus cleaning products, highlighting the green concept.
