Aussies can now fly directly from Adelaide to China

China Southern Airlines just dropped direct flights to the birthplace of yum cha and dim sum.

According to a Chinese proverb, to live life to the fullest, one simply needs to eat in Guangzhou. This energetic city – China’s third-largest – is the birthplace of beloved Cantonese dishes, yum cha and dim sum. And now, thanks to China Southern Airlines, Aussies are just a nonstop flight away.

If you prefer to let your taste buds plan your trip, we suspect they’ll direct you right to Guangzhou. And what better way to do it than with a free stopover and city tour?

How to get to Guangzhou

Take advantage of China Southern Airlines’ new route.

The Adelaide to Guangzhou route will initially operate four flights a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) from 16 December 2025 to 3 March 2026. Yes, that means you can fly direct to China just in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

If you’re unfamiliar, China Southern Airlines has fallen into favour with Aussies thanks to its broad-reaching connections, modern planes and generous checked baggage allowance (two pieces of 23 kilograms in economy, and two pieces of 32 kilograms in Business Class). They travel to over 200 destinations across China and the world with seamless, high-tech transfers.

Plus, if you fly with China Southern Airlines to, say, Europe, and your stopover is between six and 24 hours, you’re up for one night’s free stay, free breakfast and free transport to and from your accommodation in Guangzhou.

A food guide to Guangzhou

Yum cha is a must in Guangzhou.

The avant-garde city is a tapestry woven from old and new. Skyscrapers pierce the sky, towering above historic tea houses that hum with conversation. Down alleyways, tendrils of fragrant incense float through silent temples.

If you’ve visited China, you’ll know that no itinerary is complete without multiple daily stops to try the best local specialities. So, do as the locals do and build your itinerary around Guangzhou’s famous dishes.

There’s a saying about people from Guangzhou: “boiling water for enjoyable tea, one cup and two pieces.” It is difficult to translate into English, but at its core, it speaks to taking your time and keeping life blissfully relaxed – one cup of tea and two orders of yum cha at a time.

There’s no better place to see this philosophy in action than at one of the city’s many teahouses and yum cha spots.

With nothing but visions of glistening, plump har gow, your paper order sheet and a tiny pencil in hand, ordering yum cha is a test you can’t fail. Go for classics like cheung fen (layers of thin, delicate rice noodles ladled with sauces and meat), crispy and chewy turnip cake and siu mai.

Guangzhou restaurants to try

Treat your taste buds. (Image: Mulan Sukrisno)

Guangzhou Restaurant has a simple name but is considered hallowed ground by locals. You’ll find locations dotted across Guangzhou, but the Wenchang South Road location is the original and best. It even comes complete with a 100-year-old banyan tree that coils around the indoor balcony rails.

For Michelin-starred yum cha, join the queues at Hongtu Hall. You’ll find it inside the five-star White Swan Hotel with sweeping views of the Pearl River and dim sum that looks like art. Doors open at 8 am, but you’ll find queues of yum cha loyalists in line from 7 am. Order their swan pastries, if for no other reason than to photograph their beauty.

If the early mornings aren’t for you, stop by Panxi Restaurant, where you’ll find yum cha served late into the evening. The restaurant is an attraction in its own right, complete with pavilions, ponds and sprawling gardens. Panxi is a sight to behold, with space for 3000 guests and 1000 staff working the floor. Even if you’ve satisfied your yum cha intake for the day, visit for the spectacle.

Tao Tao Ju is technically the oldest restaurant in Guangzhou. Its legacy is visible in the queues of local, elderly customers who wait at the door for tea each day before the shop is open. You’ll find an endless selection of tea available here, as well as their signature mooncakes.

Explore Guangzhou beyond the table

Join a free city tour to see the best of Guangzhou. (Image: Cindy Hwang)

If you’ve only got time for a stopover, take advantage of Guangzhou Municipal Culture’s free city tour. To qualify, your stopover needs to be over eight hours. You don’t need a visa, as China currently offers visa-free travel for up to 30 days for Australians (until December 2025).

You’ll visit spots like the Canton Tower. The 600-metre tower sits above Guangzhou’s skyline and looks like a vision from the future. If you dare, try the skywalk and outdoor observatory at the top.

Dotted through the city’s modern architecture, you’ll find Tao and Buddhist temples and even ancient mosques. Once the sun has set and the city sparks to life, visit the 1,000-year-old Dafo Temple near the famous Beijing Street (best seen after dark!).

To see the history of Guangzhou, visit Shamian Island. Here you can spend days strolling tree-lined pedestrian streets set against European architecture. Feel a world away from the bright lights and high-tech skyscrapers of downtown Guangzhou.

It’s only right that before you leave Guangzhou, you make the pilgrimage to the childhood home of Bruce Lee, too.

Book your direct flight from Adelaide to Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines at csair.com/au/en.