Unique Souvenirs from Guangzhou to Bring Home from Your Trip

Traveloka MY
23 Jun 2025 - 5 min read

When your Guangzhou trip winds down, there’s no better way to wrap it up than by collecting souvenirs that tell your travel story.

From tasty local snacks to handcrafted treasures and quirky keepsakes, Guangzhou’s shopping scene is full of delightful surprises.

Activities to Enjoy With Friends in Guangzhou

If you're buying gifts for loved ones or looking for something special to remember your trip, here’s your guide to the city’s most unique souvenirs.

Local Treats & Traditional Snacks

Guangzhou is a goldmine when it comes to edible souvenirs, tasty, affordable, and often beautifully packaged. Either you’re treating loved ones or simply stocking up on delicious travel snacks, here are ten must-try delights that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

1. Wife Cakes (Laopo Bing)

These classic Cantonese pastries have a flaky exterior with a sweet, chewy winter melon filling in the centre. Light, delicately sweet, and individually wrapped, they’re ideal for sharing, or keeping all to yourself.

2. Almond Cookies

A buttery, crumbly favourite found in many Chinese homes, these almond-infused biscuits are rich in nutty aroma and perfect for pairing with tea. Pop them into a decorative box and you’ve got an elegant gift ready to impress.

3. Preserved Plums

Tangy, chewy, and packed with bold flavour, preserved plums are a nostalgic treat for many locals. They’re brilliant as a mid-journey snack or as a conversation-starting gift for friends who love trying something unique.

4. Herbal Tea Cubes

Perfect for tea lovers or health-conscious mates, these cubes melt into hot water to create a soothing herbal brew. They’re known for their cooling properties, especially handy if you’re bringing them back to tropical climates like Malaysia or Singapore.

5. Osmanthus Jelly

Delicately floral and lightly sweet, osmanthus jelly is a refreshing dessert with an elegant vibe. A favourite in Cantonese cuisine, it makes for a subtle yet stylish addition to any souvenir spread.

6. Dried Mango or Pineapple

Naturally sweet and chewy, dried tropical fruits are always a hit. They come in resealable packs, making them convenient to travel with and perfect for gifting or grazing on the go.

7. Peanut Brittle

Crunchy, caramelised, and downright addictive, Guangzhou’s version of peanut brittle often comes in tidy, portion-sized packs. It’s a great gift, or a cheeky stash for your desk drawer back home.

8. Traditional Mooncakes

Though often associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes are available all year round. With fillings ranging from lotus seed paste to salted egg yolk, they’re rich, indulgent, and full of cultural meaning, an elegant and thoughtful gift.

9. Rice Crackers

Light, crispy, and often flavoured with soy, seaweed, or sesame, rice crackers are easy to pack and fun to snack on. They’re also great for gifting in bulk, especially when you don’t want anything too sweet.

10. Dried Seafood

Not for the faint-hearted, but a true taste of Cantonese culinary culture. Dried scallops, shrimp, or squid can be found at traditional markets like Qingping and are cherished by home cooks for their deep umami flavour.

You’ll find most of these goodies at Qingping Market or in supermarkets near Beijing Road, where they’re usually pre-packed and ready for gifting. Just don’t forget to bring an extra bag, you’ll definitely want a few of these for yourself too!

Cultural & Handmade Treasures

For gifts with soul and story, Guangzhou’s traditional crafts are your best bet. These locally made treasures showcase the city’s artistic roots and cultural pride, perfect for meaningful souvenirs or thoughtful presents.

1. Embroidered Silk Fans

Delicate, foldable, and full of old-world charm, these fans are stitched with colourful motifs like cranes, flowers, or phoenixes. A graceful gift that fits easily in any suitcase.

2. Paper Cuttings

These intricate red paper artworks symbolise good fortune and happiness. Framed or slipped into a greeting card, they add a special, traditional touch to any gift.

3. Silk Scarves

Elegant, lightweight, and often hand-painted or printed with scenic designs. Silk scarves are both a fashionable accessory and a nod to Chinese textile artistry.

4. Calligraphy Scrolls

Available with poetic phrases or custom names, these scrolls are a visual celebration of Chinese writing. They’re beautiful wall décor and make for a personalised, artistic souvenir.

5. Porcelain Chopstick Sets

Stylish and functional, these sets usually come in decorative boxes, ideal for dinner party hosts or foodie friends.

6. Mini Opera Masks

Bold and quirky, these mini replicas of Cantonese opera masks are packed with personality. Each colour and expression tells a story rooted in local heritage.

7. Bamboo Lanterns

Lightweight and lovely, these lanterns are great for creating ambient lighting or as decorative keepsakes from your travels.

8. Cloisonné Pendants

These hand-crafted enamel jewellery pieces blend colour, craftsmanship, and culture. Dainty yet full of detail, ideal for someone who appreciates artisanal touches.

9. Carved Stone Seals

Traditional stone chops that can often be customised with your name or initials in Chinese characters. It’s a unique gift that feels both personal and timeless.

10. Hand-Painted Fans

Less formal than silk fans but no less beautiful. These fans feature painted flowers, animals, or scenery, like walking around with a wearable piece of Chinese art.

You’ll find these gems at Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street or near Chen Clan Academy. Don’t be shy to ask if personalisation is available, it really adds a thoughtful touch to your gift.

Quirky & Affordable

Looking for something cheeky, cute, or totally TikTok-worthy? Guangzhou has loads of playful souvenir options that are perfect for Gen Z, young travellers, or just the young-at-heart.

1. Mini Lion Dance Figurines

Bright, bouncy, and full of character, these colourful lions are symbolic of luck and bring festive vibes to any shelf.

2. Lantern-Shaped Magnets

Tiny but vibrant, these mini lanterns light up your fridge (in spirit, not literally). A cheerful reminder of your trip.

3. Douyin-Style Phone Charms

Trendy and aesthetic, these phone accessories reflect the current Chinese street fashion scene. Popular with Gen Z across Asia.

4. Bubble Tea Plushies

Cute, cuddly, and shaped like your favourite boba drink. These plushies are fun gifts with universal appeal.

5. Cartoon Keychains

From dim sum dumplings to sleepy pandas, these keychains are full of local flavour and make easy, low-cost gifts.

6. Gacha Capsule Toys

Twist, pop, and be surprised! These capsule toys offer a mix of randomness and collectability, making them fun souvenirs to bring home in multiples.

7. Enamel Food Pins

Mini badges shaped like bao buns, skewers, or bubble tea. Wear your foodie pride on your jacket or backpack!

8. Canton Pop Posters

Retro, stylish, and full of nostalgic charm, these posters are perfect for music fans and vintage lovers alike.

9. Neon Tote Bags

Loud, fun, and highly Instagrammable. These totes often feature playful Chinese slogans and street-style designs.

10. Vintage Coin Purses

Tiny, kitschy, and practical. These purses come in floral prints, embroidered silk, or old-school patterns, easy to carry and hard to resist.

Look for these modern treasures at Dongshan Department Store or trendy stalls around Haizhu Square. They’re budget-friendly, full of personality, and guaranteed to bring a smile.

Explore Guangzhou with Traveloka

Planning your souvenir hunt is easy when Traveloka’s got your back. Book comfy hotels near your favourite shopping zones, snag flexible flight deals, and discover activities like cultural tours or market crawls, all in one go.

Best Hotels to Stay in Guangzhou

If you're mapping out a full-day shopping spree or squeezing in a quick snack stop, Traveloka helps you do it all stress-free. Your Guangzhou adventure deserves the perfect ending, and that includes the perfect souvenir.

Book it all in one app with Traveloka: your journey, your memories, your way.

Discover flight with Traveloka

Wed, 2 Jul 2025

Scoot

Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Guangzhou (CAN)

Start from RM 371.17

Tue, 15 Jul 2025

AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)

Johor Bahru (JHB) to Guangzhou (CAN)

Start from RM 486.49

Fri, 25 Jul 2025

AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)

Penang (PEN) to Guangzhou (CAN)

Start from RM 338.69

In This Article

• Local Treats & Traditional Snacks
• 1. Wife Cakes (Laopo Bing)
• 2. Almond Cookies
• 3. Preserved Plums
• 4. Herbal Tea Cubes
• 5. Osmanthus Jelly
• 6. Dried Mango or Pineapple
• 7. Peanut Brittle
• 8. Traditional Mooncakes
• 9. Rice Crackers
• 10. Dried Seafood
• Cultural & Handmade Treasures
• 1. Embroidered Silk Fans
• 2. Paper Cuttings
• 3. Silk Scarves
• 4. Calligraphy Scrolls
• 5. Porcelain Chopstick Sets
• 6. Mini Opera Masks
• 7. Bamboo Lanterns
• 8. Cloisonné Pendants
• 9. Carved Stone Seals
• 10. Hand-Painted Fans
• Quirky & Affordable
• 1. Mini Lion Dance Figurines
• 2. Lantern-Shaped Magnets
• 3. Douyin-Style Phone Charms
• 4. Bubble Tea Plushies
• 5. Cartoon Keychains
• 6. Gacha Capsule Toys
• 7. Enamel Food Pins
• 8. Canton Pop Posters
• 9. Neon Tote Bags
• 10. Vintage Coin Purses
• Explore Guangzhou with Traveloka

Flights Featured in This Article

Wed, 2 Jul 2025
Scoot
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Guangzhou (CAN)
Start from RM 371.17
Book Now
Tue, 15 Jul 2025
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
Johor Bahru (JHB) to Guangzhou (CAN)
Start from RM 486.49
Book Now
Fri, 25 Jul 2025
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
Penang (PEN) to Guangzhou (CAN)
Start from RM 338.69
Book Now
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