You can try to come here by train which is frequently between hongkong and guangzhou!second grade is 160rmb/each person.also you can try shuttle bus.but train is the best.most of my customer come here by train.
as hotel i would like to suggest you to live in guangzhou victory hotel.it is located in shamian.it is about 400rmb in west building.i have a customer lived there they said it is good.the places it is located in a island.so you won't feel noisy.and there shops and restaurant there.and close to the metro.as to attraction,it is better to let me know your interest and your time.
thanks
julia

hi Julia....really glad to received a message from u, we prefer for something attractive n fun place n of course most important thing its a place for shopping...may i know how n where can i get a ticket for the train? for the hotel RMB400 per head or per room?

hello,
the hotel i told you is 400rmb for two people in one room.
by the way,i have to remind you that the period you come is canton fair period.
so a lot of room will rise their price.so you have to check it.
as to the ticket from hong kong to guangzhou,you have to check it in train station in hongkong,or you can get help from your hotel in hongkong.
thanks
julia

TQVM to julia for useful information....

you can travel to guangzhou by either bus or by train. Since you are with your wife I suggest you use the bus. There are buses in hongkong airport that goes directly to guangzhou (more than $200-250 HK dollars). But if you want the cheaper route (around $60HK +100RMB)you will have to take a bus from the airport going to the local metro line of hongkong in kowloon to connect to the train line that goes directly to shenzhen(louhu). You pass by local inspection after that you can buy tickets for the high-speed train going to guanzhou east railway station. First class is 100rmb and lower class is 80rmb. I suggest you take first class it is more comfortable and less crowded. From guangzhou east you can take the metro which is connect you to anywhere you want to go. Places for shopping are 13th street(open only up to lunch 1-2pm) and the guangzhou railway station(not east) there tons of stores in the area these are the 2 major shopping areas other places are nothing compared to these 2 (beijing lu is overrated)but most of the sellers are geared towards whole sale rather than retail, visiting Onelink is also a must its near 13th street and foreigners always flock here and the areas surrounding are all commercial areas for electronics dashatou or the electronics area in tianhe are nice too visit. For hotels... I suggest any 7-days INN hotel. They are cheap and clean its like staying in a 3-star hotel with a 2-star price. around 220-250rmb. Great big bed split type air-con, the usual stuff you would find in a 3 star hotel. If it is your first time in china I would suggest to get an interpreter it will really help. As for food my dad had the same problem its harder to find halal food. So he had to settle in eating the shrimp burger in KFC or eat seafood all the time.