Zhuhai: The pearl of the Pearl River Delta

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It’s sometimes called the “Chinese Riviera,” with 690 kilometers of palm-dotted coastline, emerald gardens, open spaces, a subtropical climate and comparatively low population density. Located on the western cusp of the Pearl River Delta just opposite Macau, Zhuhai is today’s premier tourist destination in China, and one of the nation’s most liveable places.

Believe it or not, a mere half century ago, Zhuhai was a cluster of fishing settlements. In 1979 it was upgraded to city status, and in the following year, designated as the country’s second Special Economic Zone.

Indeed, it’s one of the fastest growing metropolises in the region. But forget about industry and capital – it’s a conurbation of contrasts well worth your holiday budget.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom boasts what is said to be the world’s largest aquarium. /CGTN Photo

Get some aquatic action

Zhuhai’s number one attraction is Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an award-winning theme park opened in March 2014. For 350 yuan (a regular adult day-pass), marine fans can enjoy world-class animal exhibits including performing beluga whales, and unlimited amusement rides like the Walrus Splash water coaster.

Tourists flock to the must-see Fisher Girl Statue. /CGTN Photo

A romantic getaway

Couples can walk hand-in-hand along the seaside path known as Lover’s Road and watch a scintillating sunset at the landmark Fisher Girl Statue (an angel who sacrificed herself for love). Pop into the Love Post Office for love-themed drinks, souvenirs and postcards.

View from Mount Shijing Park with Zhuhai Opera House in the distance. /CGTN Photo

Sophisticated sounds

Catch a concert or variety show at the iconic, wow-inducing 158 million US dollar Zhuhai Opera House, shaped like sky-scraping scallop shells. The way it lights up at night is a seafood feast for the eyes.

The stairs at Jintai Temple. /CGTN Photo

Make it cultural

Pray with pilgrims at Jintai Temple, tucked into the fertile slopes of Doumen Town and overlooking a turquoise reservoir. Then, check out China’s oldest, largest and best-preserved oyster shell walls at Luyi Tang, an ancestral hall first built almost 600 years ago. Why crustaceans? They were cheaper than bricks, provided natural climate control, and kept the bandits out.

One of the famous oyster walls at Luyi Tang in Doumen Town. /CGTN Photo

Extra time?

Watch how watches are assembled by signing up for a factory tour of the ultra-modern Rossini facility. Said to be the top domestic timepiece brand, the company was founded by a Swiss watchmaker in Singapore and relocated to Zhuhai in 1984.

Multiple worlds intersect at Zhuhai – the old, the new, the conventional, the contemporary, giving it a cool but complex character. This list is far from being exhaustive – there really is something for everyone in the Chinese Riviera, so pack your bags and swimwear and find that pearl of the Pearl River Delta.

Explore Zhuhai with Travelogue host Min-Zhui Lee in the first episode of our epic 10-part series “The Pearl River: Mouth to Source”. It broadcasts on CGTN on Sunday, November 5 at 7:30 a.m. (Beijing Time). Rebroadcast times: Sundays 4:30 p.m., Mondays 2 a.m. and Thursdays 1:30 p.m..

1987km