Zhuhai Chimelong, Macau Trip

From Dalian to Zhuhai Chimelong, Macau Trip

Outbound: 7:15 Dalian - 10:55 Guangzhou

Return: 19:40 Shenzhen - 23:05 Dalian

Hotel: Zhuhai Chimelong Penguin Hotel 3 days 2 nights

Macau Sheraton Hotel 2 days 2 nights

Alright, back to the main topic, let me talk about my terrible itinerary.

Why did I plan it this way? First, I don’t like stopovers. The direct flight from Dalian to Zhuhai has a stopover: 9:50 Dalian - 14:50 Zhuhai, with a 50-minute layover in Jinan.

Second, I didn’t do my homework properly. I naively thought that with the car ride I would arrive in Zhuhai earlier than the flight, but I was completely wrong.

After arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport at 10:55, I got my luggage around 11:10. Following the airport signs, I reached the bus station at about 11:20 (this time is based on my own walking speed).

There are three ways to buy a bus ticket: 1. WeChat mini program 'Airport Express', 2. Self-service vending machine, 3. Manual ticket window.

I bought a ticket from the vending machine. The screen showed three destinations: Guantang, Gongbei, and Xiangzhou. I didn’t know which one to choose, so I asked the staff nearby, but they didn’t know either. Then I contacted Zhuhai Chimelong’s customer service, who told me to buy a ticket to Xiangzhou. But actually, the drop-off point was Gongbei, which was also the last stop. After three hours, we arrived at Gongbei Port, and then we had to take a taxi to Zhuhai Chimelong Penguin Hotel, which cost 74 yuan.

In summary, this outbound trip was absolutely terrible. The bus fare + taxi fare + time—all were the price of not planning carefully.

We arrived at Zhuhai Chimelong Hotel around 4 PM. The check-in queue was massive; we waited about 15 minutes for our turn. If you are a Gold Card member, there is a dedicated channel that saves a lot of time. We had the 5 PM circus show, so after dropping off our luggage, we hurriedly entered around 3:30 PM (entry starts at 3:30). If you don’t buy a VIP ticket, it’s better to go early to get a seat.

I have to say, Chimelong’s circus is truly spectacular. I recommend everyone to watch it.

Special note: If you stay at the Chimelong Circus Hotel, the theater is right at the hotel exit. We stayed at the Penguin Hotel, so we had to walk about 10 minutes.

After the circus, we went back to the Ocean Park and played a few rides, then watched the nighttime light parade and fireworks show. Personally, I didn’t find the light parade particularly impressive—maybe because I’ve seen too many—but the kids were very excited. The fireworks show is well worth watching because it was the first time I saw people participating in the fireworks display, which was truly stunning. As for drones, lights, and fountains, I’ve seen them all in Dalian, so they felt ordinary. Also, it’s important to arrive early to secure a good spot—location matters a lot. I didn’t get a good spot, so I don’t know where is best.

The next day, we went to the restaurant for the buffet breakfast. Go before 8 AM; after 8:10 it gets crowded. The restaurant has penguins, so if you have kids, find seats near them—the kids love it. At 8:30, there is also a show in the restaurant, which kids enjoy too. If you don’t want to eat at the restaurant, you can order takeout. There is a takeout locker at the hotel bus stop; the delivery guy puts the food inside, very convenient. You can give it a try.

Since we were hotel guests, we entered the park at 8:30. We rushed to finish the popular rides and shows. As for what the popular rides are, you’ll have to search online and decide for yourself. I’m very sensitive to weightlessness, so I’m not really interested in amusement rides. As for the marine animal shows, I’ve seen them all in Dalian, so they weren’t new.

Overall, after a day of playing, I felt it was like Dalian’s Tiger Beach + Discovery Kingdom (but Discovery Kingdom has fewer and less fun rides) + an upgrade of Universal Studios (but the visual effects aren’t as good as Universal).

On the third day, we took the hotel shuttle bus at 8:45 AM to the Chimelong Spaceship. If you stay at the Spaceship Hotel, you can walk directly there. The Spaceship Hotel has indoor rides, which is a matter of personal taste. I won’t go into details.

After the park visit in the afternoon, we picked up our luggage from the hotel and took a taxi to Hengqin Port to cross into Macau.

The taxi from the hotel to Hengqin Port cost 17.27 yuan.

It was my first time going to Macau, and with two kids, I was amazed at myself.

At the port, don’t panic—just follow the signs.

After exiting customs, the first thing to do is find the free shuttle bus (called "faat choi che"), which will be your main transportation in Macau.

We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel, so we took the Londoner’s free shuttle bus right to the hotel. After arriving, we checked in quickly—though the crowd was huge. I forgot to mention earlier: after crossing the border, you will receive a small ticket. Do not throw it away, as you need it for check-in.

Let me talk about the Macau Sheraton Hotel.

It’s a high-end Marriott property, great value for money, excellent location, convenient shopping, clean and hygienic, and with superb service. The only downside is that it’s a bit old.