A Tale of Two Cities: Practical One-Day Tour Guide for Hong Kong and Zhuhai, Vibrant City Sights, and Stunning Performances

Hi, Hong Kong, how have you been?

After three years, I embrace Hong Kong again. The same streets and trams, the same vintage and prosperity. The breeze of Victoria Harbour gently brushes through my hair. At this moment, I don’t know if the next bus stop is Tin Hau or Causeway Bay. I only know that today’s Hong Kong has an especially tender wind that makes one feel lost in a romantic haze.

This is my third time visiting Hong Kong. Departing from Zhuhai, an hour later, the Hong Kong from the movies slowly unfolds before me. High-rises and bustling alleys intertwine—this is a unique romance belonging to Hong Kong. The vibrant and lively city is also filled with warmth and the simple pleasures of everyday life.

From Zhuhai to Hong Kong, separated only by a river, the two cities have very different charms. Zhuhai is serene and comfortable, while Hong Kong is bustling and full of energy. Spending one day in both cities, during a city walk through Zhuhai and Hong Kong, you can feel the vitality and allure of these two cities. Here is a practical one-day tour guide for the tale of two cities, tested firsthand.

From Zhuhai to Hong Kong, take a ferry from Jiuzhou Port to China Hong Kong City Ferry Terminal. The fare is 153 yuan, and the journey takes about an hour. How to buy tickets: Search for "Jiuzhou Passenger Port" on WeChat, then select Online Booking → Ferry Tickets → Jiuzhou Port to China Hong Kong City Ferry Terminal, and choose your date to purchase. After buying the ticket, remember to get a paper ticket from the self-service ticket machine before boarding. Once you disembark, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Victoria Harbour.

From Hong Kong to Zhuhai, take a bus:

Daytime tickets (06:00–23:59): 58 yuan

Nighttime tickets (00:00–05:59): 63 yuan

Riding on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, you can enjoy the coastal scenery along the way.

Tip: The 188 bus-ferry combo ticket is very cost-effective. You can freely choose to go by bus and return by ferry, or go by ferry and return by bus—both are very convenient.

Our first stop in Hong Kong is Victoria Harbour. Here you can take in the full splendor of Hong Kong. Victoria Harbour is the geographical and economic heart of the city. Enjoy the fresh sea breeze and watch the high-rises on the opposite shore complement the endless coastline. The beautiful harbour is an endless tenderness that this bustling metropolis offers to its visitors.

Victoria Harbour is incredibly scenic and also a great place for Hong Kong residents to relax and unwind. I saw many people enjoying the morning sunlight here—reading, exercising, or just chatting leisurely.

The Avenue of Stars is right next to Victoria Harbour and is one of the popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong. Here, you can find the handprints of your favorite celebrities and take photos with them.

I found the handprint of my favorite singer, Jacky Cheung, and took a photo—it felt like getting a little closer to the person I admire.

There are many reasons to love Hong Kong. This city’s character is vintage, trendy, bustling, and unforgettable. The New York Times once praised the aesthetics of Hong Kong’s neon lights, saying they "perfectly combine the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy with modern commercial advertising." That might be one of the reasons we love Hong Kong.

Speaking of Hong Kong, how can we forget shopping? The K11 Art Mall is a complex that integrates fashion, art, and creativity. Whether it’s luxury goods or trendy items, everything is available here. Stepping inside feels like entering a temple of fashion, filled with dazzling lights and avant-garde designs. I also bought Hong Kong refrigerator magnets, as well as local cosmeceuticals and face masks.

Hong Kong is warm-hearted. High-rises intertwine with bustling alleys, allowing us to find the unique romance of Hong Kong during our city walk. The vibrant city is also filled with warmth and the simple pleasures of daily life.

During your trip, remember to try some of Hong Kong’s signature foods, such as dim sum, roast meats, and authentic cha chaan tengs.

At 3:30 p.m., we board a bus to return from Hong Kong to Zhuhai. The bus travels across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, where we can admire the beautiful coastal scenery. The bridge is 55 kilometers long, starting from the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities island near Hong Kong International Airport in the east, crossing the Lingdingyang waters of the South China Sea westward to connect with Zhuhai and Macau artificial islands, and ending at the Hongwan Interchange in Zhuhai. It is a bridge of fulfilled dreams, unity, confidence, and rejuvenation. The scenery along the way is stunning.

After returning from Hong Kong to Zhuhai, as night falls, we can enjoy a spectacular maritime live-action light show: Jiuzhou Boat Story: Meeting the Sea. This is one of Zhuhai’s most distinctive performances. From here, we can get a close-up view of Zhuhai’s landmark, the Sun Moon Shell, and watch an amazing maritime light and shadow drama. The grand stage and wonderful performances offer us an exquisite visual feast at sea.

The maritime live-action light and shadow show, Jiuzhou Boat Story: Meeting the Sea, departs from the Jiuzhou Port Ferry Terminal in Zhuhai. Watching the night scenery of Zhuhai from the sea is quite atmospheric. There are also artistic photo spots on the boat.

Can you imagine the thrill of watching a maritime live performance while sitting on a boat? The real stage on the sea, with boats and lights weaving through, tells a touching story spanning a hundred years. From the integrity of keeping a promise to love of family and country, to romantic tales, we enjoy the charm of maritime live theater amidst the visual feast of sound and light.

After the maritime light show ends, you can also join other performances on the boat. On the third deck, magic shows and saxophone performances are quite exciting.

Rather than just dreaming, it’s better to set off and meet. Zhuhai and Hong Kong—one quiet, one bustling—each exude their own charm. Spend a day traveling between Zhuhai and Hong Kong and enjoy the endless allure of these two cities.