Xiaobei, Guangzhou: The Area Called Arab Street

Last checked November 10, 2026 against official sources. How we check

Exit C of Xiaobei station (小北站), Guangzhou Metro Line 5

Quick answer

Xiaobei (小北) is a commercial district in Yuexiu, Guangzhou. Some people call it Arab Street, but no official page uses that name. Take Metro Line 5 to Xiaobei Station. Halal restaurants are on the streets around it, hotels are on and near Xiaobei Road, and Xianxian Mosque is near Guangzhou Railway Station.

Next step

Halal and Vegetarian Food in Guangzhou: Where and PhrasesEat & Drink

Key facts

Metro	Xiaobei Station 小北站, Line 5
District	Yuexiu, in the area of Dengfeng Subdistrict (登峰街道)
Name “Arab Street”	Used by some people; no official page uses it (شارع العرب)
Halal food	Restaurants on the streets around the station; see our halal guide
Hotels	On and near Xiaobei Road; four listed below
In Chinese	小北路广州市越秀区小北路小北路广州市越秀区小北路 Xiaobei Road area, Yuexiu

What is Xiaobei?

Xiaobei (小北, Xiǎoběi) is a commercial district in Yuexiu District. It lies in the area of Dengfeng Subdistrict (登峰街道).

Some people call the area Arab Street (شارع العرب). We found no official page that uses this name. An official Yuexiu report from December 2022 says residents from some countries live in large numbers in the Dengfeng and Hongqiao parts of the Xiaobei commercial district. It does not name Arab residents.

How do you get to Xiaobei by metro?

Take Metro Line 5 to Xiaobei Station (小北站, code 5-07). The station opened on December 28, 2009.

Exit B of Xiaobei station with the pillar sign 小北站 — Exit B of Xiaobei Station, 2022. This photo does not show which exit is closest to Xiaobei Road.

The photo at the top of this page shows Exit C and the photo above shows Exit B. Check the exit signs in the station, or use the metro planner.

See the metro guide for gates and payment. For a taxi, show: 广州市越秀区小北路

Where do you eat halal food?

A halal guide says the streets and alleys around Xiaobei Station hold most of the city’s halal restaurants. Small restaurants are busy and loud at mealtimes and are effectively cashless, so set up Alipay or WeChat Pay first (see the Alipay and WeChat Pay guide).

Our halal food guide lists the kinds of food, the 清真 sign and what to ask in Chinese.

Where can you stay near Xiaobei Road?

Booking sites list these hotels on or near Xiaobei Road. We give no prices because no price is dated.

Hotel	Where, according to the listing
Tianxiu Hotel 天秀酒店	Corner of Xiaobei Road and Huanshi Road, about 280 m from the metro
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson	About 310 m from the metro. One guest review says it is very near the “xiaobei muslim street”
Qicheng Hotel (Xiaobei Subway Station Branch)	223 Xiaobei Road
Yuebei Hotel	219 Xiaobei Road, about a 13 minute walk from the metro

For check-in documents, read the hotel check-in guide. For hotels near the fair, read Canton Fair hotels. For other districts, read where to stay in Guangzhou.

Which mosques can you visit in Yuexiu?

Xianxian Mosque (先贤清真寺) is on Jiefang North Road, near Guangzhou Railway Station on Lines 2 and 5. Huaisheng Mosque (怀圣寺) is on Guangta Road, near Ximenkou Station on Line 1. The two are in different places. Our mosque guide gives addresses, what is known about visits and why no Friday prayer time is published.

Other places our guides cover, and the trip to the Canton Fair

Yuexiu Park. A free hillside park with the Five Rams statue. Read the Yuexiu Park guide.
Wholesale markets. Guangzhou Railway Station on Lines 2 and 5 is a common starting point for clothing markets. Read the wholesale markets guide for visitors.
Canton Fair. The fair is at Pazhou. Plan the ride with the metro planner and read Canton Fair by metro. A halal guide says the ride from Xiaobei takes about 30 minutes.

Practical notes

Carry your passport. At a hotel, hand it over at check-in: the hotel checks it and registers you. If you stay in a private flat, read the accommodation registration guide. For money, read the cash and ATM guide.

For a lost passport or other help, the nearest police station is Dengfeng Police Station (登峰派出所), 广州市越秀区麓景路139号 (139 Lujing Road), phone 020-83593202 or 020-83593317, according to the Yuexiu government.

How reliable is this page?

The area facts come from Yuexiu government pages. The subdistrict profile does not mention Xiaobei Road or foreigners. The halal and travel-time facts come from traveller guides. The hotel facts come only from booking sites.

We found no official page for the name “Arab Street”, and no official source for the metro exit letters, bank branches or money changers on Xiaobei Road, shop hours or hotel prices. Check these before you travel.

Traps and how to avoid them

Avoid Searching only for “Arab Street” on a map app
The name has no official source. Search Xiaobei Road (小北路) or Xiaobei Station (小北站), and show the Chinese name to a taxi driver.
Avoid Expecting to pay in cash in small restaurants
A traveller guide says small restaurants are effectively cashless. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go.
Avoid Thinking Xianxian Mosque and Huaisheng Mosque are in the same place
They are in different places. Xianxian Mosque is on Jiefang North Road. Huaisheng Mosque is on Guangta Road.

FAQ

What is Arab Street in Guangzhou?

Some people use it as a name for the Xiaobei (小北) area in Yuexiu District. No official page uses the name. An official Yuexiu report says residents from some countries live in large numbers in the Dengfeng and Hongqiao parts of the Xiaobei commercial district. It does not name Arab residents.

How do I get to Xiaobei by metro?

Take Line 5 to Xiaobei Station (小北站). Follow the signs for Xiaobei Road (小北路) in the station.

Where can I eat halal food near Xiaobei?

A halal guide says most of the city's halal restaurants are on the streets and alleys around Xiaobei Station. Our halal food guide lists the types of food and how to check a restaurant. Look for the sign 清真.

Where can I stay near Xiaobei Road?

Booking sites list Tianxiu Hotel (天秀酒店), Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Qicheng Hotel and Yuebei Hotel on or near Xiaobei Road. We give no prices because none are dated. Check the current rate before you book.

How do I get from Xiaobei to the Canton Fair?

Take the metro from Xiaobei Station to Pazhou Station (琶洲站) or Xingangdong Station on Line 8. Which one you need depends on your hall. A halal guide says the ride takes about 30 minutes. Use our metro planner for the route and the Canton Fair by metro guide for the halls.

Where is the nearest police station, for example if I lose my passport?

Dengfeng Police Station (登峰派出所), 广州市越秀区麓景路139号, phone 020-83593202 or 020-83593317, according to the Yuexiu government page. The page has no date.

Sources

Update history

November 10, 2026: First version, from Yuexiu government pages and booking-site listings

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