# Zhuhai travel guide (珠海) Guangdong Province · South China, China · 13 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/guangdong/zhuhai ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Tangjia Gongle Garden → Meixi Archway → Shijingshan Park → Zhuhai Fisherman Girl → Binhai Swimming Beach ## The feel of the place - **Liveable City:** As early as 1991, Zhuhai was named a tourist city by the State Tourism Administration (now the Ministry of Culture and Tourism), and it has since been recognised by the United Nations as a best-practice example of human settlements. Strolling the city centre, with its spotless streets, clear blue skies and lush, velvety lawns lining the roads, you will understand why Zhuhai is considered one of the most liveable cities. - **Motor Racing:** Zhuhai hosts an international motor racing festival every year, drawing large numbers of visitors. Its street racing is rapidly rivalling that of Macau. Matching it in prestige is the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, held in Zhuhai every two years. - **Island Charm:** Zhuhai offers Dong'ao Island, ideal for water sports; Qi'ao Island, rich in history and culture; Wailingding Island, with clear waters and striking rock formations; and Miaowan Island, with its sea in shifting shades of blue that captivate the heart… Discovering the island charm that suits your own taste will bring you closer to Zhuhai's true spirit. ## The feel of the place ### Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Zhuhai currently operates three sightseeing bus routes, covering almost all of the city's major attractions, and you can also get a close-up view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The buses are very new, with a table and USB charging port beside each seat. Leisure Mountain & Sea Loop: stops include Beili Gong (北理工), Beishi Da (北师大), Changnanjing Ancient Trail North, Putuo Temple, Xiangshan Lake Park, North Sports Centre, Xiangshan Post Station, Youtehui (优特汇) and Riyuebei (日月贝). Romantic Xiangzhou Loop: stops include Yuanming Xinyuan (圆明新园), Fuhuali, Jiuzhou Road, Bailiandong Park, Jiuzhou City, Love Post Office, Zhuhai Fisherman Girl, City Balcony, Xianglu Bay and Riyuebei (日月贝). Couples' South Road Shuttle: stops include Gongbei Pedestrian Street, Gongbei Bay, the Couples' Hand-Holding Spot, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Road Port, Jiuzhou Port, Love Post Office, Zhuhai Fisherman Girl, City Balcony, Xianglu Bay, Riyuebei (日月贝) and Haitian Park. - hours: 9：00—20：00 - ticket: ¥20 per day (unlimited rides) ### Preparation & Enquiries ### Language Cantonese is the main dialect, but most people can communicate in Mandarin. ### Climate & Best Time to Visit Zhuhai enjoys plenty of sunshine, but it is also one of the rainiest areas in Guangdong, with heavy rainfall concentrated from May to October. The climate is warm and humid year-round, with mild winters and cool summers. The city is warmer than the counties and cities around the Pearl River Delta, with an annual average temperature of 22.4°C. March–April and October–December are the best seasons to visit Zhuhai. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There Zhuhai is 137 km from Guangzhou, in the Pearl River Delta, so most visitors travel via Guangzhou and Zhongshan to reach Zhuhai. ### By Air Zhuhai Jinwan Airport is located on Sanzao Island, next to the Aerospace City. It has flights to more than 20 major cities across China, with nearly 200 flights a week to destinations nationwide. ### High-Speed Rail Intercity trains run from Guangzhou South Station to Zhuhai Station, with a departure roughly every 12 minutes. The journey takes about 1 hour and the fare is ¥70. Departures run from 6:10 to 22:34. ### By Road Zhuhai is served by the Jingzhu Expressway (京珠高速), the Western Coastal Expressway (西部沿海高速) and the Jiangzhu Expressway (江珠高速), with direct express coaches linking it to all cities and counties in Guangdong. ### Getting Around Zhuhai's city buses are unmanned: pay by coin when you board. No change is given. The fare is ¥1. Zhuhai taxis come in two classes. Class 1 taxis charge ¥12 for the first 2.5 km, then ¥3 per km. Class 2 taxis charge ¥10 for the first 2.5 km, then ¥2.6 per km. A 30% surcharge applies at night. If a driver takes a longer route or overcharges, you can file a complaint through the official WeChat account “Zhuhai Traffic” (珠海交通) of the Zhuhai municipal transport authority. ### By Water Getting from Shenzhen to Zhuhai is very convenient, taking just over an hour. Luxury high-speed ferries from Jiuzhou Port in Zhuhai run directly to Hong Kong's China Ferry Terminal and HK-Macau Ferry Terminal. - **Gongbei Long-Distance Bus Station** — (17 Shuigang Road, Zhuhai, 0756-8885218) ## Eat & drink Zhuhai's cuisine draws on the flavours of Jiuzhou and the four seas, embracing and borrowing from many traditions. Fresh seafood, local snacks and overseas dining styles bloom together like a garden of a hundred flowers, making Zhuhai a true paradise for food lovers. ### Street Dining Restaurants line Zhuhai's streets, and at dinner time every eatery is packed. The Portuguese-style Western food here is also distinctive and memorable. ### Zhuhai's Top 10 Signature Dishes Romantic Oysters, Deyuelou Dining Co., Ltd.; Cheese-Baked Oysters, Shishen Seafood City; Colourful Butterfly and Coiled Dragon, Dongfang Fishing Harbour at Zhonghan Hotel; Fishermen's Song at Dusk, Zhuhai Resort Hotel; Secret-Recipe Double-Shell Crab, Yili Grand Restaurant; Golden Eel and Yellow Eel, Donghai Fishing Village Dining Co., Ltd.; Huadiao Wine Crabs, Haiwan Grand Hotel; Golden Soup Prawns, Yijingwan Grand Hotel; Birds over Emerald Waves, Junyuelai Grand Hotel; Black Bean Pigeon Fish, Yili Grand Restaurant. ### Night Eats After dark, the crowds at Gongbei Port come and go, and the lanes beside the port are lined with shops. It may be a little chaotic, but it is lively. Zhuhai blends Chinese and Western character, and its charm is complex and hard to put into words; only by getting close can you slowly come to appreciate it. ### Exploring Zhuhai on Foot Zhuhai is a city where you need to walk to appreciate its charm. You don't have to visit every attraction, but simply strolling its streets gives you a sense of how different it is from other cities. Spend a day wandering from Xiangzhou to Jida and on to Gongbei, and you will have seen most of Zhuhai. ### Local Specialties ### Recommended Restaurants - **Shrimp** — Jiwei shrimp, Haima shrimp, Chimi shrimp, Zhujie shrimp, Chun shrimp, Lainiao shrimp, Pipa shrimp, and more. - **Nanping Crispy Grass Carp** — Grass carp raised using a special method, with firm, crisp flesh. It takes its name from being produced in Nanping. - **Zhuhai Roe Crab** — Produced in Doumen, Zhuhai. Known for its plump body and rich roe, with a savoury, creamy flavour and no fishy odour. - **Baiteng Powdered Lotus Root** — Famed for being plump, starchy and soft, with no fibrous residue. - **Hengshan Powdered Kudzu** — Shangheng has an abundance of powdered kudzu, and the best comes from the Xinbu area of Shangheng. It is soft and fibre-free, with a fresh fragrance, and its broth is as creamy as milk. - **Baiteng Water Duck** — Raised at Baiteng Lake, where the ducks feed on abundant, rich food. Clean, fresh flavour, nourishing without being heavy. - **Baijiao Peanut Worm** — Can be stir-fried, deep-fried, smoked, steamed, air-dried, pickled or simmered in soup. Delicious and rich in protein. - **Huangyang Lychee** — Exceptionally large fruit with thick, jade-green, translucent flesh that is crisp, tender and refreshing, with a honey-like sweetness. - **Xiaotuoshan Tangerine** — Traditionally believed to relieve phlegm and coughs, promote urination and aid digestion. - **Huangjin Phoenix Eel** — Found in rivers and coastal waters throughout Doumen District, with the stretch near Huangjin having the longest history of producing this eel. - **Jinyuexuan Restaurant** — If you book a large table, you can enjoy dim sum here with a sea view. There is a great variety of Hong Kong-style dim sum and side dishes, many with creative touches. Reservations are required in advance. (Zone B, Levels 1–3, Rihua Commercial Plaza, 265 Qinglu South Road, 0756-8133133) - **Shishen Seafood City (Gongbei Branch)** — A well-known Cantonese restaurant focusing on seafood. Both the sashimi and the cooking are excellent. Recommended dishes include cheese-baked oysters, durian pastries, shrimp dumplings and roast goose. (1F, Nanyang Seaview Hotel, 108 Gaoshazhong Street, Xiangzhou District, 0756-8132108) ## Nightlife Zhuhai has entertainment venues of every kind, making it a true entertainment hub. The simplest and most rewarding night-time pastime is to stroll along Lovers' Road with a companion, or to take a boat with friends to see the night view of Macau. - **Lovers' Road (Qinglu Road)** — Lovers' Road begins at Yuehua Garden in Gongbei and passes Jiuzhou Port, the Seaside Swimming Beach, the Zhuhai Fisher Girl Statue, Xianglu Bay and many other sights. When the sun sets and light dances on the water, the atmosphere is best enjoyed from one of the twin benches by the roadside. - **Yingbin Road** — Scenic at night and one of Zhuhai's busiest districts. Lined with discos, bars and shopping malls of all sizes, it is ideal for those who love shopping and hunting for bargains. ## Shopping Zhuhai is rich in aquatic products. Its main local specialties include Dieshi oyster sauce, Zhuhai roe crab, Huangjin phoenix eel, Hengshan powdered kudzu, Baiteng lotus root powder, water duck, Qianwu soft-boned mullet, Nanping crispy grass carp, Baijiao peanut worm, woven crafts, Xiaotuoshan tangerine, Huangyang lychee, Wanzai fresh flowers and more. - **Nanhai Pearl House** — Gathers pearls from both Beihai and Taihu, offering fresh designs, fine craftsmanship and guaranteed quality. (2F, Zhuhai Department Store Plaza, 222 Jida Jingshan Road, Xiangzhou) - **Wanzai Seafood Market** — Mainly sells dried seafood such as shark fin, abalone, sea cucumber, salted fish, dried scallops and squid. Most of the dried goods are imported from other regions. Besides dried seafood, there are small accessories such as pearl necklaces, unusual shells and distinctive earrings. (Opposite Wanzai Pier) - **Zhizunbao Hong Kong Street** — Home to more than forty shops representing different eras. A must-visit for Zhuhai residents and visitors alike. (301 Zijing Road, Xiangzhou) - **Zhuhai Zhongzhu Collectibles Plaza** — A shopping centre of over a hundred shops selling calligraphy and paintings, seals, jade, antiques and more. (2F, Zhongzhu Building, Yingbin Avenue) ## Where to stay Hotels and guesthouses in Zhuhai offering similar standards are a little cheaper than those in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and the surroundings are often more pleasant. For city-centre stays, Gongbei and Xiangzhou are best, as transport there is convenient. Notably, Zhuhai's hotels are mostly garden-style or villa-style, with elegant, secluded settings and fairly reasonable prices. - **Xiangsilin Holiday Villas** — Dubbed 'the best hotel' on Outer Lingding Island by netizens, it backs onto the mountains and faces the sea, offering a villa-style retreat. (No. 1 Tianxiang Road, Outer Lingding Island, Waidanggan Town, 0756-8855133/13326695368) ## Things to see - **Lovers' Road and the Zhuhai Fisher Girl** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lovers-road-and-the-zhuhai-fisher-girl - **Shijingshan Park** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shijingshan-park - **Tangjia Ancient Town** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tangjia-ancient-town - **Chimelong Ocean Kingdom** (★★★★): Admission ¥395; Opening hours 10：00—19：30; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chimelong-ocean-kingdom - **Dong'ao Island** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dong-ao-island - **Miaowan Island** (★★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/miaowan-island - **Macau Round-Island Tour** (★★★): Admission ¥110 (day tour); ¥190 (6:30 pm, dinner included); ¥130 (8:30 pm, no dinner); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/macau-round-island-tour - **Haibin Beach** (★★★★): Admission Free; recreational activities charged separately; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/haibin-beach - **Qi'ao Island** (★★★★): Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qi-ao-island - **Wailingding Island** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wailingding-island - **Feisha Beach** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Time needed 1–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/feisha-beach - **New Yuanmingyuan Park** (★★★★): Admission Free; performances ¥85; Opening hours 9：00—17：30; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/new-yuanmingyuan-park-zhuhai - **Yeli Island** (★★★): Admission Free; free; ocean hot spring ticket ¥228; Opening hours 9:00 – 1:30 the next day; Time needed 2–3 hours; 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yeli-island --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2361–2377. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.