Taojin Bei Xiaoqu is one of the earliest highrise-building based communities in Guangzhou to embrace the concept of porous, public access alleyways and walkways with security at building entrances rather than at a gated perimeter. In addition, shops and other services have been allowed to operate at ground level floors, and several of the interior streets have been pedestrianized. The result is an interesting and attractive area to wander around. The elevated inner ring road along Hengfu Lu built with World Bank loan funding in the 1990s is thankfully blocked off from the community by a nearly continuous row of highrise buildings fronting the elevated road. As a result, even though Hengfu Lu - one of the least attractive streets in Guangzhou - is only 50m away to the north, the area is quiet, mostly free of traffic and pedestrian friendly.
The eastern perimeter of the Taojin North Community (Taojin Bei Xiaoqu) features three larger towers which present an oddly unattractive streetfront, considering the appeal of the other towers. Still, it's a pleasant enough walk traversed by thousands each day accessing Hengfu Lu to the north, and the lack of shopfronts on the east combined with the under-utilized park on the west makes for a good place to look around.