Great news stamp enthusiasts; stamping collecting is not limited to Japan! China is also big on stamp collecting, and this post is specific to collecting stamps in Guangzhou. This list is not exhaustive, these are just the ones I managed to collect during my trip, and are the more accessible ones.
In This Guide To Collecting Stamps In Guangzhou
Things To Note & Tips
How To Use This Guide – For Non Chinese Speakers
Many locations do not have an English name, so you can copy the headers for the location name and paste them in Gaode Maps (map app for China). I’ve also linked the locations that are listed on Gaode Maps, click on the address under each location and you’ll be redirected to Gaode maps on your mobile phone.
Asking for Stamps
Stamps are called 盖章 (pronounced Gài Zhāng). Many shops and attractions will have a sign with the words 盖章 printed on it, so if you’re unable to read Chinese, just keep a lookout for these words. If you would like to ask the staff, you can use these 2 phrases:
- Where is the stamp?
盖章在哪 (Gài zhāng zài nǎ) - Is there a stamp here?
这里有没有盖章 (Zhè li yǒu méi yǒu gài zhāng)
Bring Your Own Notebook/Paper
Most stamps locations I’ve visited do not provide paper, so do bring along your own notebook and/or paper.
Many stamps in Guangzhou are quite larger or are multi-layer stamps. This means that if you’re a traveler’s notebook user, many stamps may not fit well in your notebook. It’s best to have some loose paper on hand, or a wider notebook.
Many stamp locations also sell notebooks for stamping. The notebooks, strangely, are very similar to Goshuincho used in Japan, in an accordion style. This is likely due to the multi-layer stamps, because they often require a ‘ruler’ or ‘frame’ when stamping, hence an accordion-style notebook would be easier to use.
1. Yong Qing Fang 永庆坊
There are countless shops in the 永庆坊 area that offer both paid and free stamps. These are the ones I’ve visited, and are just metres apart from one another.
钟书阁 (永庆坊店)
钟书阁 is a bookstore. The stamp is on the second level. Once you’ve climbed up the stairs, turn right and enter the room that looks like a smaller bookstore; the stamp is on a table by the door.
Number of stamps: 2
Price: Free
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 广东省广州市荔湾区恩宁路227号(永庆坊喜茶隔壁)
三生有信 (永庆坊店)
三生有信 is a shop that sells postcards, stickers and various trinkets. It’s also a great spot for souvenir shopping as there are many city-themed postcards and memorabilia. 三生有信 offers both free and paid stamp. Both are on the counter top at the cashier.
There are 2 三生有信 branches in Guangzhou, one in Yong Qing Fang (永庆坊) and the other in Beijing Road (北京路). From what I’ve seen online each outlet has a different paid stamp.
Number of stamps: 2
Price: 1 free, the other requires a minimum spend of ¥19
Address: 广东省广州市荔湾区恩宁路187号-189号(黄沙地铁站B口步行430米)
亚信四季饮 (永庆坊店）
Just a few steps away from 三生有信, is a small drink shop, 亚信四季饮. There are also a number of 亚信四季饮 outlets around Guangzhou. The stamp for the 永庆坊 outlet is placed across the shop, in a basket on a bicycle.
Number of stamps: 1
Price: Free
Address: 广东省广州市荔湾区永庆坊恩宁路149号(黄沙地铁站B口步行480米)
猫的天空之城 (永庆坊店）
猫的天空之城 is a rather large trinket shop in a beautiful alleyway. There are many stamps here, and is on a table next to the cashier.
Number of stamps: 14
Price: Free
Address: 广东省广州市荔湾区恩宁路与蓬莱路交叉口西北100米
趣物语 (永庆坊店）
Yet another trinket shop, but this time a smaller one. The stamps are on a table by the door.
Number of stamps: 2
Price: Free
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 广东省广州市荔湾区恩宁路永庆坊至宝大街1号一层
2. Beijing Road 北京路
Dafo Temple 大佛寺
大佛寺 is a beautiful temple in the Beijing Road area, it’s also impossible to miss. There are a number of stamps on the table at the volunteer area. Just look for the sign that says 义工招募. If you happen to be around during special occasions such as Chinese New Year, there may also be special stamps.
Number of stamps: >10
Price: Free
Opening hours: 6am – 9pm
Address: 广东省广州市越秀区惠福东路惠新中街21号
广百广场
The stamp is on a table right opposite the information counter at Level 1. If you sign up as a mall member, you can also get a special paper to stamp on; though that unfortunately requires a local number.
Number of stamps: 1
Price: Free
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 广东省广州市越秀区西湖路20号
青稚护手霜
青稚护手霜 is a shop specialising in hand creams. Its walls are painted in a beautiful greenish-turquoise colour so it’s hard to miss. The stamps are in the middle of the shop, on one of the display tables.
Number of stamps: 14
Price: Free
Address: 广东省广州市越秀区北京路226号(公园前地铁站出入口步行490米)
弓夫 (北京路店）
弓夫 is an archery experience shop on level 4 of the shopping mall, 天河城. The stamp is located inside the shop, by a wall, after the cafe area. Walk straight into the shop and you should see it on your right once you’ve passed the cafe sitting area. If you can’t find it, just ask the staff. The staff here were some of the most polite and enthusiastic ones I’ve met during my trip.
Number of stamps: 1
Price: Free
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 广东省广州市越秀区北京路168号天河城四楼(北京路地铁站出入口旁)
3. Canton Tower 广州塔
广州塔客服中心
The stamp is located in the information centre in the shopping centre. Follow the signs to 汇礼轩商场 and enter the tourist information centre by the mall entrance. There are 2 stamps here, a ‘Suzhou’ stamp near the information centre’s entrance and another stamp a few steps further in.
Number of stamps: 2
Price: Free
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
4. Grandview Mall 正佳广场
There are a number of stamps you can collect in this ginormous mall and the mall often hosts limited time stamp rallies. These are the 8 spots you can get stamps from and for mall-hosted stamp rallies, they will usually be in these locations:
2F 正佳极地海洋世界 (Level 2, Aquarium)
4F 非洲动物标本展 (Level 4, African Taxidermy Exhibit)
6F 正佳自然科学博物馆 (Level 6, Museum of Natural Sciences)
6F 正佳科学馆天文馆 (Level 6, Science Museum Planetarium)
7F 正佳雨林生态植物园 (Level 7, Rainforest Ecological Botanical Garden)
7F 正佳企鵝冰雪世界 (Level 7, Penguin Ice and Snow World)
7F 正佳大剧院 (Level 7, Grand Theatre)
7F 哇哇哇游乐城 (Level 7, Amusement City)
The current stamp rally is on from 1 October 2024 to 30 November 2024. If you’re able to read Chinese, I would recommend you check out the mall’s Xiaohongshu/RED profile, as you’ll be able to get the latest updates on current stamp rallies.
Price: Free
Mall opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 广东省广州市天河区天河路228号正佳广场
5. Baiyun Mountain 白云山
山顶广场
There are a number spots with stamps around the mountain, but I only managed to visit the open square around the cable car (山顶广场). 山顶广场 directly translates to mall on the top of the mountain, but it’s actually just a square with a few shops.
To get to 山顶广场, take the cable car or walk up from the south gate (南门). You can type 白云索道 in DiDi if you’re getting a taxi to the cable car ticketing counter at the base of the mountain.
Imingchun Valley 呜春好市
This is a small souvenir shop and the stamp is on the cashier counter.
Number of stamps: 1
Price: Free
Opening hours: 9.30am – 5pm
三生有趣
三生有趣 is a drink shop located right next to Imingchun Valley (呜春好市). There are 2 stamps here, both are on the shelf.
Number of stamps: 2
Price: Free
Opening hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Looking For More Stamps To Collect?
Stamps are also a huge thing in Japan and Japan is famously known for its train station stamps, also known as eki stamps.
Read: Collecting eki stamps in Japan
Besides train station stamps, there are also stamps in shops and at attractions all over Japan.
