Traveler 07 · The Night Owl · Thank You, Guangzhou

July 4, 2026

The night I started keeping score

The others get tired around ten; that's when my day actually starts. Tonight I stood by the Pearl River and watched Canton Tower run through her whole wardrobe — pink, then blue, then a violet that slowly slid into gold. One of the volunteers caught me typing notes and asked, very carefully, whether I was writing a review of the tower. I am. Five stars, final colors pending.

So it's official: I now keep a ranking of Canton Tower color combinations. Current standings: violet-to-gold in first, ice blue second, and that flashing rainbow mode a distant last — it tries too hard. The teachers say we have five nights left, which means five more chances for an upset.

Back at GCC I was, as usual, the last one awake. From the dorm window the city never fully switches off — a red dot blinking on a far rooftop, a late bus sliding past, the river out there somewhere still carrying all that light. I like knowing Guangzhou stays up with me.

Canton Tower glowing over the Pearl River — the night the ranking began.

One last look before lights out

Last full night in Guangzhou, so I did the only responsible thing: stayed up for it. I found a quiet spot and watched the tower one more time, and she went violet-to-gold — my number one — like she knew. I'm not saying the city planned it, but I'm not saying it didn't.

Final rankings are locked: nine nights of data. Between us, though, the colors were only half of it — the list gave me a reason to stay out a little longer, to listen to the river, to let the others walk ahead while I memorized a skyline I might not see again for a long time.

Tomorrow it's Baiyun Airport and a morning flight, which is frankly an insult to a night owl. So tonight I'll sit by the window a bit longer and work one last shift. Thank you, Guangzhou — you're the only city that ever kept my hours.