Without Visa Possibilities?

The 72 hour Transit Without Visa is availible at MOST airports, including Guangzhou. You have to be flying in from country A and to country B, which country C=China. Hong Kong airport counts as a country. Crossing the land border does NOT.

If you make 2 stops in China, then you are limited to 24 hours in China. Example, Tokyo to Shanghai to Guangzhou to Hong Kong. You would be limited to 24 hours between landing in Shanghai and leaving Guangzhou.

So yes, you can fly in from Tokyo, stay for 72 hours, then fly to Hong Kong. Your friend can fly from London, stay for 72 hours, then fly to Hong Kong.

Also any tips for what to do in our 72 hours in Guangzhou, especially given language barriers!

It's Guangzhou. Why do you want to go to Guangzhou in the first place? There are a ton of Chinese cities half it's size have more to offer for a first time tourist. If at all possible I would pick a different city.

Thank you so much for your reply, very useful. The only reason I chose Guangzhou is because it is only for 72 hours and is near HK, Macau (so saves my friend and I hassle of losing time) and also I assume as it is southerly the weather will be warmer in Feb so we can do more touristy thnings outside? Happy for further advice though?

Hong Kong and Macau with a friend for about 8 days in February/March 2018.

Understand that Feb 14~24 is Chinese lunar new year or Spring Festival. The entire country will be on holiday. Hundreds of millions of people will be on the move. Tourist sites will be crammed with people, many restaurants and shops will be closed. Hotels will be more expensive.

Thank you so much for your reply, very useful. The only reason I chose Guangzhou is because it is only for 72 hours and is near HK, Macau (so saves my friend and I hassle of losing time)

To use the TWOV you need to fly, so really anywhere in China is 'close' to Hong Kong.

and also I assume as it is southerly the weather will be warmer in Feb so we can do more touristy thnings outside?

Guangzhou is kind of cool and moist in februray. It's well south of the Huaihe river so buildings do not have central heat, only space heaters. That time of year I try to avoid places in southern China because of that. Far better to be up north where there is heat.

Hmm Guangzhou Guangzhou Guangzhou. There is the Chen Clan family ancestral hall, which is in the Minnan architectural style, very popular in Taiwan but now fairly uncommon in China. There is the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall. There are the contents of the mausoleum of the Nanyue King. There are a some other museums. I guess you wont really be outside very much anyway.

Hi rp
Thank you again for your advice which has created a rethink and am now looking at Shanghai as
1. its not too cold
2. can stay there for up to 6 days without a visa
3. easier to coordinate timescales with my friend
4. there is more to do
5. more people use English!

So my plan would be to go from Tokyo to Shanghai for 5/6 days and then fly onto either HK & Macau (if my friend joins me) or Bangkok .....penny for your thoughts now it looks like I have improved things?

Thank you again for your advice which has created a rethink and am now looking at Shanghai as

Shanghai is a much better choice. The city itself is a little more interesting, but also you are allowed to take trips to Suzhou, Hangzhou or small water towns while on a TWOV. You might even be able to go to Nanjing. So much to do you could easily fill 6 days with interesting things to do.

penny for your thoughts now it looks like I have improved things?

In my mind it improves things immeasurably. I'm not even that big a fan of Shanghai, but it will be much better for a short trip than Guangzhou.

+1 that Shanghai is a much better choice for this kind of trip than GZ.

Shanghai will be cold in February. And it's ALWAYS wet.

I love Guangzhou and try to include a few days in any trip to China. Go to Shamian island and the nearby fish and spice markets. Walk up through the old quarter to Chen Clan academy, walk along the river, especially in the evening when there are so many activities going on ( perhaps fewer in February) walk around the old buildings near Dongshankou and eat. There is always some food stall nearby wherever or whenever you are and Yum Cha is something of an institution here. The fact that it's not a tourist destination is part of what makes it such a good place to stay. I would tend to avoid the newer centre, which is rather boring, and busy, go to different parks and go on the river, day or night.

My vote also for Shanghai area. And move the trip into early March both for holiday avoidance and weather reasons.