There's a new vessel docked on the Pearl River. As you approach the waterfront of Guangzhou’s bustling Liwan District, a modernist structure emerges on the skyline, looking like an ocean liner at its berth: set for a journey to showcase southern China to the world.

The new Bai’etan Greater Bay Area Art Center is a showcase of Lingnan –southern Chinese – culture in all its forms. It comprises three distinct yet interconnected venues with more than 40,000sqm of exhibition space: the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, Guangdong Literature Museum and the Guangdong Museum of Art (GDMoA).

The buildings rise in a tiered formation, gradually ascending from the riverbank to the skyline, their forms evoking the image of a ship’s bow cutting through the waves. The design was dreamed up by Dongguan-born architect He Jingtang, whose impressive portfolio includes the China Art Museum in Shanghai. It’s a combination of form, function and history, combining contemporary design with traditional Lingnan elements and motifs that pay tribute to the city’s history as a major commercial hub along the Maritime Silk Road.

Holy trinity of culture

At the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, Cantonese opera, shadow puppetry and art forms like traditional embroidery and tea ceremonies are preserved through exhibitions, interactive workshops and performances. Meanwhile, the Guangdong Literature Museum showcases the region’s literary heritage through artefacts and multimedia exhibitions.

But the crown jewel of the Bai’etan GBA Art Center is the GDMoA. At this cultural institution, whose original outpost was established on Ersha Island in 1997, artworks are dispersed throughout the venue, allowing visitors to immerse themselves simultaneously in art and architecture.

Wandering through the Future Garden public art exhibition (until 31 October), each turn offers a new surprise – a sculpture nestled in a sunlit nook, a painting framed by panoramic views of the river outside the window, or an installation that blends into the building itself.

“We want to educate the public by broadening their definition of art and developing their sense of aesthetic,” says Wang Shaoqiang, director of GDMoA. “By blending the artworks with the architecture, we hope to immerse viewers in this artistic world and facilitate a deeper dialogue about art in the city.”

Wang’s vision for this new branch of GDMoA is to create a venue that resonates with both local and international visitors, and continues to push the envelope and establish Guangzhou as a major player in the global art scene.

“The Bai’etan GBA Art Center symbolises an important milestone for the cultural development of Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area,” he says. “As an integral part of the complex, GDMoA is committed to bringing more world-class exhibitions to the city and creating more opportunities for artists from different backgrounds to collaborate.

“We want people to leave with a piece of Lingnan culture in their hearts.”

Getting there

Take Guangzhou Metro Line 1 to Fang Cun Station; Bai’etan GBA Art Center is an eight-minute walk away. Looking for information on how to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong? Read our detailed guide here.

Visitors’ voices

Eric Chu, an art-loving Hongkonger who helps youngsters from his hometown explore professional opportunities in the Chinese Mainland, believes this new landmark in Guangzhou’s cultural scene strikes the perfect balance between the modern and the classic.

“It’s not just an ordinary art venue,” says Chu.

“The art centre’s exhibitions have high-tech features that inject excitement into age-old traditions. It’s a dynamic art-viewing experience that resonates with young people like me.”

Wang Shu, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect and cultural critic, is impressed by the connection between the complex’s architectural and artistic vision. “The art centre is a landmark of cultural renewal. Its design encapsulates the spirit of Lingnan culture while propelling it into a modern context. The architectural form, resembling a ship ready to set sail, perfectly symbolises Guangzhou’s historical and ongoing role as a gateway to the world. This centre doesn’t just house art – it embodies the dynamic energy of the Greater Bay Area.”

3 more art destinations around Guangzhou

Kui Yuan Gallery

Installed within an early 20th-century villa, Kui Yuan Gallery is a cultural keystone that hosts contemporary art exhibitions in an intimate space, fostering a close connection between the art and its audience.

He Art Museum

This Tadao Ando-designed museum in Foshan is dedicate to showcasing both contemporary and traditional Chinese art. Its proximity to Guangzhou makes it an essential stop for anyone looking to explore the Greater Bay Area’s art scene.

The Cantonese Opera Art Museum

Fans of traditional performance art should visit this Cantonese opera-themed museum, whose immersive displays and performances offer insight into this iconic art form.

127 Enning Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou