Sweltering outside? Skip the sun and chill out in a world of cool air and culture. From ancient Chinese medicine to immersive fragrance experiences, these fascinating museums in Guangdong offer the perfect summer escape.
1. Guangdong Chinese Medicine Museum, Guangzhou
Guangdong Chinese Medicine Museum in China. Photo: Getty Images
Nestled within the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, this museum provides a deep dive into the rich legacy of Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine. Its most striking feature is a soaring “crystal palace” of over 600 herb specimens suspended in liquid, spanning three floors.
Visitors can explore themed halls dedicated to ancient medical tools, acupuncture, herbal therapies, wellness regimens and more, each weaving together stories of healing traditions from Neolithic stone needles to Qing dynasty bronze models.
232 Waihuan East Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou. Free admission, reservation required via the museum’s official WeChat account
2. Xuelei Fragrance Museum, Guangzhou
Xuelei Fragrance Museum in Guangzhou, China. Photo: Handout
This is the world’s largest fragrance museum, an immersive 75,000 sq ft space blending scent, technology and art. From ancient Egyptian incense rituals to Song dynasty court aromas and the rise of modern perfumery, this museum takes your nose on a time-travelling adventure. Visitors can sample over 300 unique scents, interact with digital scent installations and marvel at a treasure trove of aromatic artefacts.
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1 Ketai 2nd Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou. Tickets cost US$14, book via Meituan or Dianping
3. Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum
The Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum in Guangzhou, China, looks at the legacy of the area’s hongs, or merchant houses. Photo: Handout
In the 18th and 19th centuries, during the Qing dynasty, Guangzhou was the sole Chinese port engaged in foreign maritime trade. The Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum, located on the original site of the bustling trading zone, brings this golden era to life. With more than 5,000 artefacts and rare documents, including Cantonese porcelain, reverse-glass paintings, ivory carvings and other export treasures, the museum vividly showcases the prosperity and global connections of the area.
