Enquiring of any place of interest in Guangzhou where I can visit. Thanks

Hi, I will be staying in Yanling Hotel, 29 Yangling Road, Tianhe District. It is my first visit to China. So, as a beginner, can you recommend me any place of interest close-by the hotel area where I can just walk on foot Or other place of interest to do shopping? For a tourist like me travelling to the city, I plan to bring along my laptop with me. Do I need any custom clearances at the airport upon entering and exiting China to Malaysia or vice versa? Thanks.