I am nearing the end of my Guangzhou series. My month long trip in 2016 had me exploring a lot on my own and getting familiar with the city. I still consider myself foreign to the place despite coming back for trips multiple times. This is also to add to the fact that I find myself getting lost from time to time. I remember places I've encountered before, but I don't know how to find my way back. Sometimes names on the maps confuse me because even when I follow it, the place either no longer exists or is really hidden deep inside. Of course, never believe everything you read, but some of the maps and information needs heavy updating. Even the places I put in my blog posts I try to include a full address so that I can reference it in the future. Who knows, maybe it'll be gone next year. So on one day near my last week in Guangzhou, I was trying to locate a restaurant along Beijing Road, but couldn't quite find it.
It was a rainy day to top it off. I did a lot of shopping knowing that I wouldn't have time to come back. I went to Minsou to get sheet masks, a Kiirotori plsuh toy, and some souvenirs for co-workers and friends. Then I went to the Union Bookstore to get the rest of the Rilakkuma books to complete my series. So here I am with large and heavy bags waiting for the heavy rain to stop. The rain that day was really heavy. Guangzhou is normally hot in general anyways so the rain somewhat lowered the 90 degree weather. I went in and out of stores to get out of the rain, but I really wanted to sit down somewhere. Plus I needed to find a restroom.
Walking on the streets at this time was not a good idea. My feet were getting really soaked from the rain and I was running out of ideas where to stay at. All the restaurants were full so I kept walking. As I walked on Beijing Road, I made a turn at one point. This was the Gourmet Street that people had talked about where only restaurants and eateries open shop. Even these restaurants were filled with people. Where am I suppose to go now?
As I neared the end of Gourmet Street, a two story building appeared. At least that's what I thought it was until I went inside. Even when I think back and look at the map today, I don't know how I managed to find this place. The streets here are not aligned to a grid. You find that they can criss-cross diagonally, but when you are actually walking on the street itself, some of the walkways are now blocked. The building I found is actually called Metro Mall. I went in through one of the back entrances. The mall itself is actually several floors and looks really nice inside. Again I discovered another place on my own.
I needed to dry myself from the rain so I needed to find the restroom. To the best of my ability, I followed the signs that point to a restroom and it pointed me to something else completely unexpected. I was led to some preserved remains of an aqueduct left behind some thousand years ago in the Nanyue Kingdom. The entire thing can be visible through the foggy glass. When you make it through the little exhibit, the restrooms are right at the very end.
As I made my way upwards the Metro Mall, I found a cool jewellery store, but too bad they were closed for business that day. There was a little pet shop displaying guinea pigs, rabbits, and a chinchilla. Watching the little rabbits hop about was really entertaining. When they grew sleepy, I left them in search for food. They have really large restaurants within the mall itself. However due to the hour, very few people are in the mall itself making it terribly empty. Eventually I took my chances at a place called Cafe Ubiquity.
When I walked in, I realized that "cafe" was a highly misleading name. This place was huge complete with a faux balcony for guests that want to dine in decorated setting. The menu was a another whole thing in itself. You had a section for dim sum, Chinese small dishes, sushi and Japanese small plates, western styled dishes, and pastries and desserts. Just how many different chefs did you employ for this place? I didn't want to take my chances with non-Chinese cuisines so I went with the dim sum that they claimed was freshly made on the spot.
Lo and behold, my steamed spare rib and chicken feet combo, and steamed rice sheets came piping hot as I waited. Apparently if you come to dine past roughly 2-3pm, you get a discount. Sounds good to me. The steamed rice sheets I had were doused heavily in a salty and sweet peanut sauce. It made for an interesting combination of tastes. While they charge 6 RMB for a tea fee, the place is really comfortable to eat and relax in. I actually recommend this spot for couples who want to go here for a date for its environment and decor.
By the time I finished my meal, the rain had finally stopped. I wanted to look for a temple that was supposedly located near the mall, but it was getting late and I was growing exhausted.
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Places Travel
Metro Mall 光明广场／Cafe Ubiquity 纯再餐厅63 西湖路，北京路，越秀区，广州市，广东省，中国，510000
63 Xihu Rd, BeiJingLu, Yuexiu Qu, Guangzhou Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China, 510000
Take Line 1 or Line 2 to Gongyuanqian 公园前 and use Exit D 天河城百货北京路店.
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