Shopping(retail /Individual - not wholeshale): Guangzhou Railway Station OR East Railway Station

For Shopping(retail /Individual - not wholeshale), which is better, around:
a) Railway Station(and nearby Yide lu stn & Beijing Rd. stn); OR
b) East Railway Station(Tianhe)?
Please give tips on their differences and specialties.
Where (suggest budget hotels) should I stay if I intend to conveniently visit shopping areas around both GZ Railway stn and East Railway St. using public transportation(metro, subway) ?