Share a Classic Route to Explore Zhongshan, Zhuhai, and Macau in the Greater Bay Area

As a kid living in the Greater Bay Area, I’d like to share this classic route of Zhongshan–Zhuhai–Macau, experiencing the attractions and food of each place.

Day 1: Shenzhen – Zhongshan – Xiangshan Family Banquet – Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street

Take a bullet train from Shenzhen North Station to Zhongshan Station, arriving in about an hour and a half. Check into the Sheraton Zhongshan Hotel. The room is nice, and the hotel is well-located – you can walk directly to Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street and Xingzhong Square.

Dinner was at Xiangshan Family Banquet, a famous restaurant in Zhongshan that many people visit. It’s converted from old houses – a Qing Dynasty and early Republic building complex over 200 years old. It’s the most upscale and luxurious garden restaurant in Zhongshan, where you can enjoy both delicious food and beautiful gardens.

The seafood here is great: salt-and-pepper shrimp, fried oysters, abalone-sauce goose feet, marinated meat platter – all delicious.

After dinner, take a stroll along the popular Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street. It was renamed Sunwen Road in 1925 after Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s death to commemorate him. The street gradually expanded from the Sui and Tang dynasties to 1925, forming today’s layout.

The night scene is quite impressive, with arcade buildings along both sides featuring Nanyang (Southeast Asian) style. Many shops here offer shopping and plenty of tasty snacks.

Day 2: Zhongshan Museum – Zhongshan Zhan Garden – Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen – Zhongshan Film and Television City

Zhongshan is a city rich in history. Visit the Zhongshan Museum to learn about its historical development. There are many stories about Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The museum houses many precious artifacts and is free to the public (closed on Mondays).

Zhongshan Zhan Garden is a national 4A-level scenic spot located in Beitaicun, South District, Zhongshan. The garden is themed on filial piety and blends Jiangnan and Lingnan architectural styles. Enjoy the Lingnan water town charm under a light drizzle. Ticket: 60 RMB.

Lunch was at the famous Yakou Renjia Seafood Restaurant in Zhongshan – a must-visit. It’s featured on CCTV programs. The restaurant is a water house built on a wetland, quite unique. The seafood is excellent, and I also loved the cured meat rice.

The Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is a 5A-level scenic spot, displaying the house where Sun Yat-sen once lived. The Cuiheng Residential Exhibition Area shows his childhood environment. The Farming Culture Area displays local farming traditions. There are also memorials for Yang Yin and Lu Haodong – all free to visit.

Zhongshan Film and Television City, also 5A-level, is located beside Sun Yat-sen’s former residence in Cuiheng Village. Many TV dramas have been filmed here. It’s perfect for renting costumes and taking photos. The area is huge, divided into many different themed sets – you can spend an entire afternoon shooting. Tickets: adults 65 RMB, students 35 RMB.

Spend the night at Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel. The hot spring resort is at the foot of Luosannü Mountain in Sanxiang Town, covering 2.2 square kilometers. It’s a resort complex with a star-rated hotel, natural hot springs, a golf course, and Luosannü Mountain. The hotel opened in 1980, consisting of several distinctive courtyard-style areas. In 2023 it was fully renovated, featuring a newly built Lingnan-style boutique area, greatly improving facilities and services.

The room is great – those on the first floor have a small courtyard. The natural hot springs are among China’s Top Ten Hot Springs, known as the “Famous Lingnan Soup.” Enjoy a soak to relieve travel fatigue.

A must-eat in Zhongshan is Shiqi Pigeon! It’s a local specialty. The most popular is braised pigeon – it’s glossy, crispy-skinned, and tender.

Day 3: Zhuhai Space Center – By-Health Transparent Factory – Dong’ao Island

Zhuhai Space Center is located at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center, with a total exhibition area of 40,000 square meters. Themed “As Big as Your Dream, So Big Is the Space,” it has eight exhibition zones and supporting areas. On my first visit, I was full of curiosity about space. It displays rockets, airplanes, tanks, lunar rovers – you can learn a lot about space here!

Besides viewing space-related exhibits, you can also experience simulated driving of planes and spacecraft. With VR goggles, it feels immersive – a great experience!

Zhuhai’s By-Health Transparent Factory is a national 4A-level scenic spot, perfect for family trips with kids. You can tour this fully transparent factory, a globally advanced production base for dietary supplements with strict quality control. The workshop is filled with high-tech smart equipment.

Before entering the factory, you need to change into special clothes, shoe covers, and hairnets, and wash and disinfect your hands. Each person gets an audio guide, and there’s a guide explaining every production step.

The Nutrition Exploration Area has a super cool time-space corridor and various AR interactive games. In the Health Monitoring Area, you can use your ticket to get a free health check at the Cloud Health Center – results are available immediately.

The Nutrition Exploration Hall requires a ticket, but the transparent factory and other areas are free to visit. By the way, the meals at By-Health Nutrition Restaurant are quite good – healthy and balanced.

Take a boat from Zhuhai Hengqin Pier to Dong’ao Island – ticket 80 RMB, about 30 minutes to the island. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great, so I couldn’t capture the island’s best side. But that’s okay – overcast days have their own beauty.

Luckily, the next morning cleared up for a while. At Honeymoon Park, I saw blue skies and white clouds, feeling the mountains and sea. The church at Honeymoon Park is a landmark on Dong’ao Island – many people take wedding photos here. Sitting on the mountain, gazing at the sea and mountains in the cool breeze, it’s a wonderful way to relax.

Day 4: Chimelong Ocean Kingdom – Zhuhai Resort Hotel

I can’t remember when I last came to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, but every time I’m here, I feel like a kid again. The adorable marine animals heal me.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has a huge variety of marine life: manta rays that look like faces, cute jellyfish, playful white whales that spin, polar bears scratching with ice, fast-swimming penguins, smart dolphins, giant whale sharks, and more. The park is huge – besides seeing marine animals, there are also thrilling rides and shows. It’s perfect for a family trip with kids.

We checked into Zhuhai Resort Hotel in the city center, in Xiangzhou District. You can take a stroll along the famous Lovers’ South Road. The hotel was established in 1984, with a strong garden style and beautiful scenery. Known as the “Diaoyutai State Guesthouse of Southern China,” it was China’s first five-star resort hotel. The main building was renovated and reopened in 2021, blending Western influences with Lingnan culture. The rooms are spacious and comfortable.

Day 5: Macau – Coffee Court – GoAirborne Indoor Skydiving – Taipa Hill Water Tower Observation Deck – Casa de Taipa – Rua do Cunha – Coloane – Wynn Palace Cable Car – Studio City

Crossing the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge from Zhuhai to Macau is super convenient, and there are very few people – customs clearance is fast.

At noon, we had a buffet lunch at Coffee Court in Wynn Palace. The European-style design is grand, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the fountain show outside. The buffet has a wide variety, including fresh seafood and many desserts.

While traveling in Macau, you can try indoor skydiving at GoAirborne. It simulates the free-fall sensation of skydiving from a plane. A coach guides you throughout. First, a theory class, then change into special indoor skydiving gear and wear a helmet. Then the coach takes you through the skydiving experience – it’s very safe, and the coach protects every participant. The experience lasts 90–120 minutes per session, charged per flight. The first session is low-level; the second lets you fly higher.

Packages are 799 and 999 MOP for 1 or 2 flights respectively. All experiences start at low altitude (about 1.5–1.6 meters) to help participants adapt to the wind speed and get the feel. High-altitude flying is an additional option you can purchase on-site with the coach. Thrill-seekers shouldn’t miss it. Afterward, you get a challenge certificate.

I found a great spot to overlook Macau: take a small elevator up to the Taipa Hill Water Tower Observation Deck. The view is excellent – you can see the scenery of Taipa and the grand facades of major hotels.

From the observation deck, you can walk to Casa de Taipa – one of Macau’s must-visit spots. The green Portuguese-style buildings were once the homes of wealthy Portuguese. You can tour their former living environment. This fresh mint-green architecture is very photogenic.

Along the way, there are other photo spots: the Macau Marriage Registry, the Our Lady of Carmo Church – all famous landmarks. Keep walking down to reach the lively Rua do Cunha, full of food and cute little shops.

I’ve been to Coloane many times. At dusk, the warm and cool tones make Coloane incredibly beautiful, like a movie scene. Opposite Coloane is Zhuhai’s Hengqin, separated only by a river – very close. There’s a famous egg tart from Lord Stow’s Bakery in Coloane – definitely try it if you go!

In the alley, there’s a Michelin-starred Portuguese restaurant called “Restaurante Lisboa em Macau.” The building looks vintage, giving a nostalgic feel. Portuguese cuisine is a matter of taste, but you must try Macau’s famous Portuguese dishes.

In the evening, ride the Wynn Palace cable car – it’s free. But go early because there’s usually a long queue at night. The night view of Wynn Palace from the cable car is stunning, with music fountain shows.

We stayed at Studio City Hotel. The room is filled with movie elements, and from the window you can see the Eiffel Tower at Parisian Macau. Macau’s night view is really beautiful. Studio City’s water park is huge – the indoor water playground is so much fun!

Day 6: Bishop’s Hill Church – Moorish Barracks – A-Ma Temple – Macau Tower – Macau Grand Prix Museum

Bishop’s Hill Church is on Penha Hill. It’s a popular spot for wedding photos. Years ago, I also took wedding photos here for someone. The church offers a great viewpoint, overlooking Macau Tower and the opposite shore of Zhuhai.

From the church, walk down to A-Ma Temple, passing the Moorish Barracks along the way. Comfortable shoes are recommended for Macau, as many streets have slopes.

Finally, it’s time to try the Skywalk at Macau Tower! City walk is simple, but Skywalk is challenging. The Skywalk is on the 61st floor. First, fill in personal information, then put on safety gear. No items in pockets. You can bring your phone, but it must be in a special phone pouch to prevent dropping.

A coach leads the entire walk – very safe! The walk around the tower is 140 meters. The coach stops at 4 spots for photos and videos using a GoPro. A challenge certificate is emailed to you. This experience is super cool! You can lean completely outward!

Skywalk costs 788 MOP per person. You can also try bungee jumping or high-altitude jumping if interested.

Lunch was at the Western Watercress Restaurant on Nam Van Lake. I love this restaurant! Every dish is great – the signature pork chop bun is tiny and super cute! The water crab congee is also a signature, with a very fresh flavor. There’s also a coconut ice cream shaped like the Ruins of St. Paul’s – delicious! If you’re looking for food in Macau, don’t miss this restaurant – highly recommend!

The Macau Grand Prix Museum is really cool! The museum expanded in 2021, now four stories high, offering knowledge about the Macau Grand Prix as well as entertainment, leisure, and learning experiences. It also collaborates with Madame Tussauds for the first time, displaying wax figures of eight famous racing drivers. The museum is next to the Macau Forum in the New Port area. It showcases many awesome racing cars: motorcycles, Formula cars, and famous sports cars. After visiting, I learned more about the Macau Grand Prix.

You can also experience simulated racing on the Macau circuit – motorcycles and Formula cars – a very different experience from arcade games! Ticket price: 80 MOP for non-Macau residents. Closed on Tuesdays.

The Ruins of St. Paul’s is a must-visit in Macau. I’ve been there countless times. Every time, it’s bustling with tourists. It’s also a paradise for shopping and food, with all kinds of delicious treats hidden in every alley.

This Zhongshan–Zhuhai–Macau route really let me experience the unique charm of these three cities. Each has its own style – whether in culture or food, there’s always something for you. If you have the chance, go and experience it yourself – walk through different cities and discover the beauty within.