Your guide to Guangdong's autumn blooms

While trees in northern China shed their leaves in November, Guangdong is bursting with color. Pink silk floss flowers brighten city streets, bougainvillea spills over pedestrian bridges and blooming flowers sway in the breeze. Here are some floral sights worth seeking out.

Bougainvillea

Few flowers make a bolder statement in Guangdong this season than bougainvillea, in shades ranging from red and pink to white, yellow and orange. In Guangzhou, bougainvillea drapes more than 200 pedestrian bridges and overpasses, turning city crossings into colorful corridors. A bougainvillea exhibition is also underway at the South China National Botanical Garden in Guangzhou. Elsewhere, Shenzhen's Wuzhiba Park, Foshan's Chencun Flower World and other spots offer spectacular "cascades" of flowers.

Recommended viewing places:

• Across Guangdong: Pedestrian bridges and overpasses in various cities
• Guangzhou: South China National Botanical Garden (华南国家植物园), Hongcheng Park (宏城公园), Maling Flower Botanical Garden (马岭观花植物园)
• Shenzhen: Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园), Gankeng Ancient Town (甘坑古镇), Wuzhiba Park (五指耙森林公园(光明片区))
• Foshan: Wuwu Village (吴屋村), Xianlu Island (贤鲁岛), Shengxin Garden (晟欣花园)
• Jiangmen: Chikan International Tourism Resort (赤坎·广东华侨国际旅游度假区), Changdi Historical and Cultural Block (长堤历史文化街区)
• Zhongshan: Xijiang Huazhou Park (西江花洲公园)
• Shantou: Shiding Village (石丁村), Zhongshan Park (中山公园)
• Huizhou: Huizhou West Lake Tourist Attraction (惠州西湖风景名胜区)

Silk floss tree

Silk floss trees are a familiar sight in Guangdong in autumn and winter. As their leaves fall, clusters of pink blossoms appear on the branches, adding splashes of color to roadsides and parks. For something unusual, head to the Shipai Campus of South China Normal University, home to a white silk floss tree. Its snow-white blossoms stand out among the more common pink-flowered varieties.

Recommended viewing places:

• Across Guangdong: Roadside green spaces and urban streets
• Guangzhou: Jufang Garden at Luhu Park (广州市麓湖公园-聚芳园), area near Chigang Pagoda (赤岗塔-A口), Shipai Campus of South China Normal University (华南师范大学(石牌校区)), South China Agricultural University (华南农业大学), Jiaomen Park (蕉门公园), Modiesha Park (磨碟沙公园)
• Shenzhen: Lixin Lake Park (立新湖公园), Shangmugu Community Service Center (上木古社区党群服务中心)
• Hengqin: Station No. 1 along Hengqin Flower Corridor (花海长廊一号驿站)
• Dongguan: Dongguan Botanical Garden (东莞植物园), Guangdong Memorial Hall of East River Column (广东东江纵队纪念馆)

Sunflower

This may be one of the last chances to see this season's sunflowers in bloom. At Haixinsha Asian Games Park in Guangzhou, thousands of sunflowers create a broad sweep of yellow. Each plant produces several blooms over a long flowering period, and the flowers are set off by the blue sky and the nearby Canton Tower

Recommended viewing places:

• Guangzhou: Haixinsha Asian Games Park (海心沙亚运公园), Yunxi Botanical Garden (云溪植物园), Yuntai Garden (云台花园)
• Shaoguan: Gaolian Village (高莲村)

Golden rain tree

Even after their yellow flowers fade, golden rain trees remain a colorful part of Guangdong's autumn landscape. Clusters of pink, lantern-shaped seed capsules hang from the branches, standing out against the green leaves. When sunlight shines through their papery shells, they seem to glow.

Recommended viewing places:

• Shenzhen: Lianhua Hill Park (莲花山公园), Xiangmi Park (香蜜公园), Cuihu Cultural and Sports Park (翠湖文体公园)
• Foshan: Minghu Park (佛山明湖公园), Zhihu Park (智湖公园)
• Dongguan: Foling Lake Country Park (佛灵湖郊野公园)
• Shantou: Xinghu Park (星湖体育公园运动场)

Plumed cockscomb

Plumed cockscomb is now in full bloom, its layers of bright red and yellow flowers forming dense, torch-shaped plumes. From a distance, the plants form striking carpets of red and yellow, making a great backdrop for photos.

Recommended viewing places:

• Shenzhen: Moshanghua Park (陌上花爱情主题公园)
• Foshan: Wenhua Park (文华公园)

Globe amaranth

Globe amaranth is easy to recognize by its small, round flower heads. Pink and purple blooms grow in clusters, adding color to garden slopes and landscaped flower beds

Recommended viewing places:

• Shenzhen: Bauhinia Garden (深圳前海紫荆园), Greenway around Xili Lake (环西丽湖绿道)
• Foshan: Shijilian Flower Sea Park (世纪莲花海公园)
• Hengqin: Station No. 5 along Hengqin Flower Corridor (广东省珠海市横琴花海长廊5号驿站)
• Zhanjiang: Nanguo Tropical Garden (南国热带花园)

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum lovers can look forward to two major displays in Guangdong this autumn. Shantou will host a chrysanthemum exhibition at Zhongshan Park from November 21 onwards. Around 20,000 pots of chrysanthemums and companion flowers in nearly 100 varieties will fill 6 themed zones across the park.

The 2026 Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Show will run from November 27 to December 14 at Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Garden in Zhongshan. It will feature 350,000 pots of chrysanthemums in more than 1,000 varieties, set out in 22 themed displays.

Recommended viewing places:

• Shantou: Zhongshan Park (汕头中山公园)
• Zhongshan: Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Garden (小榄菊花园)

Giant reed

In Xiajie Community, Wuyang Town, Wuchuan, Zhanjiang, giant reeds grow more than 1.5 meters tall, with fluffy white plumes tinged pale purple. They ripple in the wind across the open fields along the river, and visitors can follow paths through the tall grass to take in the views.

Recommended viewing place:

• Zhanjiang: Hillside behind Xiajie Community, Wuyang Town, Wuchuan (霞街村后山坡一带)

Author | Huang Xinying
Poster | Lai Meiya, Huang Manshi (intern)
Source：South南方国际传播中心