Zhuhai

Zhuhai is the name of a city in Guangdong Province, China, as well as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The name means Pearl Sea; Zhuhai is the location where the Pearl River (Zhjing) pours into the South China Sea (Nánhi).

Zhuhai, located in the Pearl River Delta, is bordered to the northwest by Jiangmen, to the north by Zhongshan, and to the south by former Portuguese colony Macau. Hong Kong, a former British colony, and Shenzhen, a Chinese boomtown, are only over the Pearl River estuary to the east. Guangzhou, the province capital, is around 150 kilometers to the north.

Zhuhai is recognized for its picturesque long coastline, waving palm palms, wide spaces, low population density, and many islands; Zhuhai’s nicknames include “the city for lovers” and “the city of a hundred islands.” Zhuhai serves as a gateway to Macau, a tourist attraction for Chinese, and a playground for hedonistic Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan tourists seeking Zhuhai’s vibrant nightlife and accessible women at mainland rates.

Zhuhai city inland areas of the terrain from the northwest to the southeast tilt, and diversified topography, including plain (25.5 percent), hills (58.68 percent), and low mountain, tidal flat. Flat landscape, Linhai’s hills, a huge sea area, the hundred islands squat, and qifengyidan’s lovely bay and beach Plains extend inland from Lantau Peak, General Hill’s two main mountain ranges, and coastal hills. Sanzao island is the biggest, covering an area of around 78 square kilometers. Mountain terrain, hills, plains, and terraces are organized in a crisscross design to divide the water network. Coastal alluvial plain formed by the confluence of the Xijiang and Beijiang rivers forming alluvial deposits.

The coastal land of the Pearl River Estuary, the underwater beach coast to slow gradient. The island’s coastline is 690 kilometers long. The highest point inland is Lantau Peak, 437 meters above sea level, whereas the highest point on the sea island is 100 meters above sea level. The crystal’s principal mineral resources include iron, tungsten, tin, manganese, potassium feldspar, and quartz sand. Natural soil types include red soil, rocky soil, coastal sand, and salt swamp soil. Modaomen, Venus doors, Nai bay door, gate, Hutiaomen, prior Hill, Wan Chai River Macao waterway, and Nanshui Lek are the major rivers, with a total length of 135 kilometers.

Zhuhai was incorporated as a city in 1979, one year before it was designated as one of the first Special Economic Zones (SEZ). In 1978, the adjacent city of Shenzhen became one of the first Special Economic Zones. The execution of this strategy is appropriate since Zhuhai is strategically placed facing Macau in the same way that Shenzhen confronts Hong Kong. The Chinese Central Government was able to open another “window” in front of Macau as a result of this. Despite its location at the southern end of the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai is one of the Pearl River Delta’s major cities, according to the State Council’s new general urban plan. The establishment of a Special Economic Zone implies that the city will develop as a strong contemporary port city, a research and education city, a scenic and tourist city, and a regional transportation hub.

The excellent geographic position, a diverse variety of supporting infrastructure, and a deep-water port all serve as important draws for foreign investments. In 2008, utilized foreign investment totaled US$10.344 billion. ExxonMobil, BP, Siemens, Carrefour, and Matsushita are among the top 500 global corporations with investment projects in Zhuhai. Hong Kong is the most significant foreign investor in Zhuhai, accounting for 22% of total used foreign investment in 2002.

Most visitors to China require a visa in advance, which can be obtained in Hong Kong or Macau.

If you are only visiting the Zhuhai area, you can apply for a three-day visa at the border. When you enter the Gongbei immigration building and have passed the duty-free stores, the visa office is behind a green door on the right side of the hall. Follow the stairs and you will find the office on your left. You have to fill out a small white form, pay the fee and have your picture taken with a webcam. The visa is then processed in a few minutes. For most nationalities, it costs ¥160, but Americans cannot use this service and British people have to pay ¥450 (December 2008). Hong Kong dollars are not accepted. Currency can be exchanged at the China Tourist Service office in the main lobby, but usually at a bad rate. Once the visa is issued, go to the immigration hall to complete the entry process.

Zhuhai Sanzao Airport

Zhuhai Sanzao Airport is a modern, medium-sized airport that connects the region to many Chinese cities, but not to international destinations. It is located west of the city center in the Jinwan District.

The Airport Express bus connects the airport to Xiangzhen and Gongbei districts for ¥30 (November 2010) per passenger and follows the flight schedule on arrival. The first bus leaves around 11:00am and the last one around 9:30pm. A cab from the airport to Gongbei or Jiuzhou in downtown Zhuhai costs about ¥130 (October 2011), if traffic is smooth. You can also take public bus No. 207, which goes directly to Gongbei border crossing and costs ¥6. However, the trip takes between 1h45 and 2 hours. Please note that this bus does not have a luggage locker on board.

Other Airports

To get to Zhuhai from outside China, one usually flies to Hong Kong, Macau or Guangzhou. All three cities have large, modern airports with many international connections, and all are accessible within one or two hours from Zhuhai; Macau is the closest. Shenzhen is another large modern airport nearby, but with fewer international connections.

From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, there is a regular express bus service to Zhuhai. It costs ¥80 and takes about 2.5 hours, with a stop in the northern part of Zhuhai, before continuing to the Gongbei border gate for Macau. At the Gongbei bus station, which is near the KFC, it is possible to check in for the airport.

From Macau International Airport, the best way to reach Zhuhai is to use the Express Link service, which allows you to avoid entry and customs controls in Macau. Once you get off the plane, do not go through immigration, but look for the Express Link (China) sign and follow it. This will take you past a transit security scanning station where you will need to pick up an Express Link card and walk up the stairs to the departures hall. Go to the ticket booth at Gate 8, present your card and buy a ticket for the bus to the Gongbei Port of Entry. The bus fare is ¥52 and the trip takes only 15 minutes. The departure times of the bus are 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 14:45, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00. If you need to check in luggage for your flight, please remember to mark it with a blue tag when you check in for this express service. The blue tag is not a necessity, but simply a convenience. Present your luggage tags at the above-mentioned bus counter and collect your luggage later at the bus stop.

The option to bypass Macau immigration is not available on the way back. Allow at least three hours for the trip from Gongbei to Macau airport. Entry formalities can take a long time, especially on the Chinese side during weekends. After the Chinese customs (before entering Macau), there is a small ticket booth on the left where you can buy a ticket for the shuttle to the airport for ¥35. Buses are waiting on the left as soon as you leave the Macau immigration hall. They run every 10 minutes.

If you choose to go through Macau immigration at the airport and use the cab service to get to Zhuhai, the trip only takes about 15 minutes. This short trip costs about ¥60-80, but for those (>2 people) who wish to share the cab fare, it is very cheap. The fee includes an extra ¥5 at the airport and ¥5 per piece of luggage. Payment for the cab can be made in patacas, Hong Kong dollars or renminbi. They are all treated equally (i.e. dollar for dollar, although the Macau dollar has the lowest value of the three currencies). Cabs line up at the corner outside the airport.

From Hong Kong International Airport, it is possible to take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station (cost: HK$90), then the free Airport Express K2 transit bus to China-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal (中港城码头; Zhōnggǎng Chéngmǎtóu) to catch a ferry to Zhuhai.

Another option from Hong Kong is to take a ferry from the HKIA Skypier to Macau, then cross the Gongbei border crossing to Zhuhai. Entry and customs formalities can be skipped on the Hong Kong side. The ferry ride takes about 50 minutes and runs (usually) every hour.

The third option is to take long-distance buses from HKIA to Gongbei through the countryside. The trip takes 3.5 hours and costs HK$200. The departure times are 07:00, 08:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 19:00.

A new ferry service has been set up to transport passengers directly from HKIA to Jiuzhou Port in Zhuhai. The ferry leaves at 12:15, 14:04, 17:00 and 20:00. The ferry from Zhuhai to HKIA leaves at 9:30am, 12:40pm, 3:30pm and 6:30pm. The trip takes about 50 minutes.

From Hong Kong: there are several ferries a day from Hong Kong International Airport, HK-Macau Ferry Terminal, China Ferry Terminal and Shekou Ferry Terminal, arriving at Zhuhai Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal (九洲港; Jiǔzhōugǎng). There is a cab stand and bus stops right outside the door. Upon presentation of your ferry ticket, you can take a free bus ride to Gongbei. Visas can be obtained here for most nationalities (except for US citizens). Payment is only in RMB and ATMs are located near the immigration office, so plan ahead.

The ferry between HKIA and Zhuhai is operated by Chu Kong, which charges HK$260/¥280 for a one-way trip to/from Zhuhai.

To get from Jiuzhou ferry port, which connects Zhuhai to Hong Kong, to Zhuhai airport, it is possible to take an airport shuttle for about ¥30, with the last bus leaving at 8pm. The trip takes about 2 hours.

From Macau: There is a ferry service from Pier 14 of Macau Inner Harbor to Wanzai. Daily departures approximately every hour from 08:00 to 16:00.

It is possible to cross the border from Macau. Contrary to Macau, the traffic in China is on the right.

Only vehicles with dual registration are allowed to cross the border.

Hundreds of buses arrive from Guangzhou every day, mostly via the Jingzhu (Beijing-Zhuhai) Expressway (京珠高速; Jīngzhū Gāosù). You can catch one at:

From each of these places, the trip costs ¥70-75 and takes about 2.5 hours. Buses leave every half hour for Gongbei. On the way, they usually stop at Xiangzhou (香洲; Xiāngzhōu) and Suidaonan (隧道南; Suìdàonán).

Zhuhai has several bus stations:

From Macau, you can cross the border on foot at Gongbei. The border is open from 07:00 to 24:00. The walking trip usually takes 20 minutes, but be prepared for long lines that can easily add more than an hour to your total border crossing time.

Another border crossing is the Lotus Bridge, in the Cotai district of Macau, towards Hengqin Island. This border crossing is open from 08:00 to 20:00. After crossing to the Macau side, take a shuttle bus to cross the bridge to the Chinese side (ticket price: ¥3, no change, so take the exact amount with you). On the Hengqin side of the border, take bus 14 to Xiangzhou or one of Kee Kwan’s air-conditioned minibuses to Wanzai or Gongbei (¥5).

A valid visa is required for foreigners entering China. Follow the immigration line marked “Foreigner”. As soon as you pass the entry control, you will enter the duty-free area. Here you can buy chocolates or western spirits, especially if you need gifts for the Chinese. Jameson’s at HK$70 a bottle is a good buy, as are some single malt wines and whiskeys. Don’t try to buy ordinary brands of whiskey or cognac; they are readily available in China. Cigarettes are generally cheaper in downtown Zhuhai than in duty-free stores (don’t buy cigarettes in duty-free stores, most are counterfeit).

When you leave the Gongbei Immigration Building, you have reached the border with Zhuhai. If you want to buy a prepaid cell phone card, please leave the immigration building and go down the stairs to the underground shopping mall. There you will find many stalls offering phone services. There you can buy a prepaid Sim card for ¥100, which will be topped up with ¥50. You will need a GSM phone for it to work. Always keep your belongings in your pocket, as pickpockets are very common at the border crossing.

For the return trip from China to Macau, here are some tips for crossing the border from Zhuhai China to Macau via Gongbei port. The immigration building in Gongbei opens at 07:00. If you reached Zhuhai Gongbei Port by cab, you will arrive either in front of the Gongbei Immigration Office building or through the underground tunnel which is connected to the underground shopping mall under the Gongbei Immigration Office building. Please wait in line at the entrance of the building. It is quite cold in the morning, so bring warm clothes if you want to queue before 7am.

When the building opens, enter. Look for the queue marked “Foreigners” (usually queue #15). If you are already late for your connection, go to the express queue (there is no need to wait in line) and present your airline ticket to be processed immediately. Once you have passed the Chinese immigration office, you will enter the duty-free area. Go to the immigration hall. In this hall, as a foreigner, you must fill out a blue form on which you indicate your location in Macau and your departure dates. Stand in line in the queue marked “Foreigner”. Once you have passed the Macau immigration office, leave the building. If you are carrying luggage, the immigration officer may require your luggage to be scanned by an X-ray machine before allowing you to leave the immigration building. The entire border crossing process takes approximately 20-25 minutes, not including the time spent waiting in long lines.

You can take a cab or bus to the airport. The ride to Macau International Airport is only 15 minutes from Gongbei Port. There is an extra charge of Macau$5 and $6 per baggage for the trip to the airport. The cab ride to the airport costs about Macau$70 (including supplements). Cabs accept Macau patacas, Hong Kong dollars or Chinese RMB as payment. These currencies are treated the same when paying (RMB being the most expensive). You can still use your Chinese prepaid phone card until the middle of the Friendship Bridge in Macau. Then the signal stops.

The Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway (Guangzhu ICR) was partially opened to the public on January 7, 2011 and fully opened on December 31, 2012. There are five stations in Zhuhai: Zhuhai North (珠海北) in Jinding, Tangjiawan, Mingzhu (明珠) in New Xiangzhou, Qianshan (前山) and Zhuhai Central Station in Gongbei.

The trip from Guangzhou South Station to Zhuhai takes about 60-90 minutes and costs ¥43 for first class or ¥36 for second class. Trains stop at either Zhuhai North, Tangjiawan, Mingzhu or Qianshan (or any combination of these four stations) before stopping at Gongbei: Different trains stop at different stations, so if you want to get off at an intermediate station, you should find out beforehand if your train stops there. The first train leaves at 07:00 from Guangzhou South to Zhuhai, while the last train leaves at 22:45 from Zhuhai to Guangzhou.

Guangzhu ICR Station is served by several bus lines. Bus lines 3A (to Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal) and 65 (to Zhulinpu in Tangjiawan) as well as a minibus service to Beijing Normal University serve Zhuhai North Station, while bus line 207 (to the airport) stops in front of Zhuhai Station. There are also cab stands in front of all stations.

Zhuhai is quite large. The terrain consists of a coastal plain interrupted by mountains or, seen from the sea, a series of bays and headlands. There are many settlements separated by hills, often parklands.

Zhuhai City itself consists of Gongbei, Jida and Xiangzhou. The other areas mentioned are districts within the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone.

From north to south, along the coast, here are the main districts:

Inland is New Xiangzhou (Xin Xiangzhou), an area that has been heavily developed in recent decades, mainly with medium and high-class residential buildings, but also with commercial and industrial buildings.

There are other districts west of Gongbei:

ISLANDS

One of Zhuhai’s nicknames is “the city of a hundred islands” (146, to be precise), and it has a number of islands accessible by ferry from the ports. An often overlooked aspect is that each of the islands has its own character. Some have beautiful beaches, others are ghostly, quiet fishermen’s islands. Each trip is a sensitive escape from the hustle and bustle of Chinese city life. A trip to these islands is probably like leaving the country. Quality seafood is abundant. It is difficult to get information on where to go or what to do, as most locals do not visit the islands due to high transportation costs. As a result, most tourists don’t even have the opportunity to explore these beautiful places, and most of the information about Zhuhai available on the Internet focuses on the urban areas. Nevertheless, the curious expatriate or adventurous traveler is generously rewarded. From the Xiangzhou Northern Wharf (香洲北堤码头; Xiāngzhōu Běidīmǎtóu), one can travel to the Wanshan Islands (万山群岛; Wànshānqúndǎo):

Henquin Island, Qi’ao Island and Gaolan Island are not very far away and are not part of the Wanshan Islands, but they are all accessible by bus via a bridge. Remember to bring plenty of cash with you on these island tours, as some of the islands do not have ATMs.

• Fisher Girl statue, Lovers’ Road (bus 9 or 99 or the Sightseeing Bus). Legend has it that one day an angel came down to earth and fell in love with the beauty of the land. Not wanting to return, she turned into a fisherman’s daughter who wove nets and searched for precious pearls to earn her living. In addition, she used her knowledge and powers selflessly to heal the sick villagers, which made her very popular with everyone. She soon met a young fisherman named Hai Peng and they fell in love. However, soon after, Hai Peng heard and believed malicious accusations and demanded that the young fisherwoman give him her magic bracelets as proof of her affection. In tears, the fisherman’s daughter explained the origin of the bracelets. When she was still the daughter of the dragon king of the South Seas, the eight bracelets had been given to her by the eight mistresses of the palace to prevent her from thinking about giving up immortality. She would die if she removed even one of them. Tragically, Hai Peng did not believe her story and turned to leave. To prove her love to Hai Peng, the young fisherwoman removed her bracelets and died instantly in his arms. Hai Peng was filled with remorse and sadness. His great grief moved the elder Jiu Zhou Huan, who taught him how to bring the young fisherwoman back to life. To do this, he had to go to Jiu Zhou Island to find the resurrection herb, which was then to be fed with human blood. After many difficulties, Hai Peng found the herb and grew it with his own blood. Days turned into years and finally the herb was ready and used to resurrect the fisherman’s daughter. From that moment on, the fisherman’s daughter became a true mortal. On their wedding day, all the girls together found a huge magic pearl by the sea. The fisherman’s daughter gave it to the venerable elder as a thank you.
• Lovers Street (情侣路; Qínglǚlù). Take a walk along the coastline. It offers a majestic view of the Macau skyline across the border, but the sea is rather brown and muddy.
• New Yuanming Palace (圆明新园; Yuánmíng Xīnyuán) (at the foot of the great Shilin Mountain on Jiuzhou Road, northwest of Zhuhai City, with buses 1, 25, 30 or 60, 15-minute ride from Gongbei Road). Closes at 11 pm. The park is based on the Yuanming Palace in Beijing and covers an area of 1.39 km². Inside the park is also a lake of 80,000 square meters. Along the lake, there are many places where you can rent motor boats and pedal boats. The park offers many attractions, from artifacts and clothing of ancient emperors to floating restaurants and traditional Chinese architecture. With the mountains in the background, the photo opportunities are fantastic and there are many small pagodas for entertainment. In the evening, impressive stage shows take place on the north side of the park, with traditional Chinese dances and stories in a Broadway-style musical presentation. This is a must-see show. In the northernmost part of the park, a naval battle is also reenacted, with real ships, explosions and a cavalry troop for added realism. These shows are included in the entrance fee, although premium tickets for good seats can be purchased for ¥5. When leaving the park, you also have the opportunity to dress up in the emperor’s clothes and have your picture taken for ¥40, which is quite expensive. You can take the pictures with your own camera. Entrance to the park costs 120 yen before 6:30 pm and 60 yen after.
• Jintai Buddhist Temple (金台寺; Jīntáisì) (in Doumen; take bus K4 or 609 from Xiangzhou bus station, then a rickshaw to the temple entrance). This picturesque temple was built in the late Song Dynasty, is more than 1,000 years old, and is worth a visit if you are in the area.
• The many islands of Zhuhai. One of Zhuhai’s nicknames is “the city of a hundred islands” (146 to be precise), and there are a number of islands accessible by ferry from the ports.

• Zhuhai International Circuit (珠海国际赛车场; Zhūhǎi Guójì Sàichēchǎng). Here you can watch and enjoy the atmosphere of international car and motorcycle races, including the FIA GT Championship, A1GP (World Cup of Motorsports), the Asian Formula 3 series, the Asian Festival of Speed, and ZIC’s own Pan Delta Super Racing Festival. You can also have the race of your life by strapping yourself into Asia’s only two-seater formula car and letting yourself be driven by a professional ART Motorsports race driver. For HK$1,500, you will receive expert instruction and spend half an hour in a formula car on the circuit. Enjoy driving alone or with a group of friends in a full 30-minute session where everyone does 2 or 3 laps. You can also rent go-karts and motorcycles on a separate circuit.
• Play golf. There are several golf courses in the area. These are popular with Hong Kong players who come here on weekends, as they are cheaper and less crowded than the Hong Kong courses.  Jida also has a driving range. This is accessible by bus line 4. Golf equipment is readily available and cheap in Zhuhai, but all the branded clubs are imitations of varying quality. There are several small golf stores in the underground shopping complex on the Macau border, several on Lianhua Lu (Lotus Road) in Gongbei and two larger ones across the street from the driving range in Jida.
• Imperial Yuwenquan Hot Springs (in Doumen district, take bus 609), +86 756 5797128. The first Japanese-style open-air hot springs in China. There are over 20 different hot springs, massage rooms and sauna rooms. It is considered one of the best spas in China. From Gongbei, it takes about two hours by bus, one hour by cab and ~¥130 for a one-way trip.
• Swimming, sunbathing or diving. On a series of islands located about 50 minutes by ferry.

Cantonese cuisine is widespread, but it is easy to find street stalls and restaurants serving dishes from all over China. Seafood is a local specialty.

Budget

Street meal

Restaurants

For a cheap and filling snack, go to the small noodle restaurants run by Muslims.

• Muslim restaurant (next to Wanzaisha bus station in Xiangzhou). A good one.

Middle class

Azur Restaurant – Tel:8813197 Address656:珠海市南屏海鲜街坪岚路号香槟小镇D6区号铺 中蓝海 (南屏海鲜街)email: [email protected] Very good Mediterranean cuisine with a Croatian chef. The menu is quite small and changes constantly depending on the season and what is fresh and available in the market. Most of the menu items are handmade, including bread, pasta, gnocchi, etc. Main dishes range from ¥60 to ¥130. The restaurant also organizes excellent events with great musicians from around the world. They are associated with the Hong Kong Jazz Festival, and from time to time, bands that play in Hong Kong also perform at Azure.

Cantonese

Other Chinese

Dishes from other regions of China are also offered. Hunan and Sichuan dishes are very common.

North of Jusco, on the main street of Xiangzhou, there are many restaurants within walking distance:

There is a good Xinjiang restaurant on bus line 4, one stop north of the Jida ferry terminal. It is one of a group of at least a dozen mid-range restaurants in a newly developed area.

Other Asians

There are a number of good, inexpensive Thai restaurants near the shopping center at the border.

Pizza

There are several good pizzerias that are popular with the local foreign community:

Pizza can also be found in other local restaurants, including a chain called Pizza Coffee, but pizza is not very appealing to Western tastes.

Splurge

Chinese

Meals in bars

Indian

Japanese

There are several famous Japanese restaurants in Zhuhai:

Other

Always check the product before paying for it and leaving the store. Also note where you bought the item. You will never get your money back, but Gongbei store owners are surprisingly conscientious about protecting their reputation, so they will most likely exchange defective goods.

The main street of Jida is Jingshan Road (景山路; Jǐngshānlù) with two blocks of beautiful department stores:

• Xiangzhou (from the border, take bus 2 or the sightseeing bus). There are many stores and it is generally less touristy than in Jida or Gongbei. Many locals buy their Chinese branded clothes here. On the main street is the Japanese department store (and grocery store) Jusco. Along the road north of Jusco, there are also a number of other stores and several fairly large shopping complexes.
• Computers and electronics (second corner, south of Jusco (Wanzaisha bus stop)). Two big buildings full of computer and electronics stores. This is the place to go in Zhuhai for anything computer or electronics related.

If you wish to purchase imported foods such as cheese, chocolate and milk, you must

Zhuhai is known for its nightlife, as it is a tourist destination for Chinese and a playground for businessmen from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan looking for female company. Whether you want to enjoy the Chinese street life, meet all kinds of people on Walking Street, sip cocktails on Bar Street or let loose in the wild electro discos, Zhuhai has it all!

A truly unique experience is to have a beer or coffee at one of the many open-air bar stalls along Linhua Road (莲花路; Liánhuālù; literally Lotus Road; also known as Walking Street (步行街; Bùxíngjiē). It runs parallel to and one block east of Yingbin Road, starting on the west side of the Gongbei Bus Station, facing the northeast exit of the underground shopping complex at the Macau border. During the day, it is a busy shopping street, accessible only to pedestrians, with many stores.

At night, it transforms into a spectacular atmosphere that must be seen. There are many small open-air bars, 3 or 4 meters square, with half a dozen stools on each side. In the middle is an open area for bar girls. These girls earn a commission on the drinks, so their goal is to get you to buy as much beer as possible, partly by helping you put it back, and often by winning various games where the loser has to drink. They are experts; don’t expect to win. Don’t expect to take any of them home either; they are professional pickup artists, not prostitutes.

There are many street girls in the area and offers from them are common, but be aware that prostitution is illegal in China. There are also beggars who offer to sing or shine your shoes, show you their little monkey or just sadly show you their baby.

There are two groups of open-air bars, the southern one, closer to the border, specializes in food (nothing special), while the one a little further north specializes in drinks. Between the two areas there are a number of stores. Drinks are cheap (¥18 for a bottle of beer, a fresh juice or a cup of coffee) and you meet all kinds of travelers, expats, Hong Kong and Macau residents passing by for shopping or cheap entertainment, would-be locals and working girls. Hanging out here is by far one of the most interesting things you can do in Zhuhai. Late at night, you have to use your common sense, as things can get pretty wild. Most of the stalls are open until 3am, but a few stay open longer for eager customers.

About 300 meters long, Bar Street (酒吧街; Jiǔbājiē) is a well-established modern strip with upscale bars, some of which feature live music. For newcomers to Zhuhai, this is definitely the first place to experience the energy and vibrancy of Zhuhai life after dark. This place is mostly frequented by Chinese businessmen, Chinese yuppies, and tourists both solvent and not. It is one block inland and a 20-minute walk from the Gongbei border. Follow the street with the clock tower until it becomes Bar Street.

Zhuhai is heavily populated by pickpockets and Bar Street is one of their favorite areas. Beware of couples of well-dressed young men who discreetly follow groups of revelers; they usually have razor blades to cut up bags,

The best thing to do is to go to the bar of your choice first and then ask around. Nightclubs are generally large, intense, heavily focused on generic Chinese imitation of Euro-trance music and popular with young people and rebels. Drinks are expensive for Chinese standards (usually ¥30 or more). Be careful with your belongings, as these places are infamous for pickpocketing.

Zhuhai has many nightclubs where you can party until the early morning. There are several in Gongbei, a few minutes by cab from Bar Street or Walking Street:

• (On Walking Street, near the food stalls, closer to the Macau border, look for the escalator down from the street). Open until 6am. Disco with lots of action.

Directly on Bar Street, there are several smaller dance clubs.

There are also popular nightclubs in Xiangzhou and Jida.

If you wish to sing and drink with your friends in private rooms, the following establishments charge the hourly cost of the room and drinks are purchased separately at the establishment’s mini-supermarket.

GongBei

Jida

Across the street from McDonald’s, there are also a handful of karaoke bars.

XiangZhou

There are many KTVs in Xiangzhou.

Visit Jinding Barbeque for a unique dining experience and plenty of beer (see the Eating section), then head to Jinding Karaoke Bar Street, an off-the-beaten-path strip with a dozen karaoke bars located northeast of Jinding’s main street. Come here if you want to see real, grounded, working-class Chinese getting their drinks and yelling into a microphone at high decibels. It’s not easy to get there on foot if you don’t know where to go, but it’s easy to approach one of the locals and get a ride on their motorcycle (it takes about 3 minutes and costs ¥5) or take one of the cabs parked all over the middle of the main street. Just say you want to drink and sing and point east from the middle of the main street to get the message across. You will be very popular here and may be encouraged to sit at a table and drink for free, as most locals will be surprised to see a stranger come here. Drink plenty of beer or bring earplugs to dull the volume of the screaming.

The Holiday Inn‘s Blarney Stone offers a variety of beers on tap. It is located in Jida. On some nights (usually weekends), there is live Western music, especially from Filipino bands. German draught beers are quite expensive, at ¥58 (+15%), but ¥23 (+15%) for a Filipino draught San Miguel is a good deal, especially during happy hour (every day from 6pm to 8pm), where a beer is offered. While the Irish establishment is pretty average, it’s a great, comfortable spot for those who want a quieter evening. This is one of the cheapest hotel bars I’ve been to so far, and it enjoys a reasonable mix of patrons for a Western hotel bar.

The Dragon Union Opera House, also located in Tangjia, is a large entertainment center that occasionally presents live variety shows, perhaps a bit kitschy, with acrobats, jugglers, tightrope walkers, singers, etc. During the shows, beer is expensive. There is also a floor for massages. There are several karaoke rooms equipped with furniture, beds, food, drinks, a choice of girls and optional adult entertainment to meet even the most unusual needs. Even in Hong Kong, it is known as a destination for those looking for an “all-inclusive” karaoke experience, as it can be as tame or as involving as you like.

In general, Zhuhai is a safe and welcoming city. However, pickpockets are common, especially in crowded shopping areas and on buses. A popular tactic is to use a razor to retrieve your wallet from the back pocket of a bus.

Zhuhai is known for its sex industry, but this is not Thailand. Prostitution is illegal in China, and if you are caught by the police with a prostitute, the consequences can be dire.

As everywhere in China, do not drink tap water, avoid uncooked meat, beware of counterfeit bills (especially 50s) and be very careful on the road.

As everywhere in Asia, some tour guides will take you to stores for which they earn a commission. These stores are often prohibitively expensive, and the usual advice is not to let any local, except a trusted friend, take you to a tourist store. A variation in Zhuhai is to buy outrageously expensive herbs from a Chinese medicine company called Bai Chao Tang (百草堂).