An 8-Day Independent Trip Across Five Cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Macau, and Nanjing

Macau, officially the Macao Special Administrative Region, has been practicing 'one country, two systems' since its return. As of this month, it has been exactly 21 years since Macau’s return to the motherland.

I had always wanted to visit Macau in person. Once I made up my mind, I began researching and planning my trip.

I decided to transit through Shanghai on my way to Guangzhou. On the evening of November 30, I flew from Dalian to Shanghai. Initially, I considered spending the whole next day at Disneyland, but in the end, I gave up the idea. After all, I’m more drawn to culture, history, and natural scenery.

December 1 itinerary: Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling Memorial Hall, Zhou Enlai’s Former Residence (Zhou Gong Guan), Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall, Mao Zedong’s Former Residence, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, and the Bund.

After breakfast, I strolled along the streets and arrived at the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling Memorial Hall at 9 a.m. The museum is well maintained, with excellent service and detailed guided commentary. Walking through the exhibits left me with an involuntary sense of reverence. The large lawn in front of the main building is particularly famous—here, Soong Ching Ling received many Chinese and foreign guests.

Leaving the memorial, I walked for about ten minutes to Zhou Gong Guan. This was the Shanghai office of the Communist Party of China delegation during the first period of Kuomintang–Communist cooperation. Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and other Party leaders once worked and fought here. Because Zhou Enlai was in charge of day-to-day affairs, it’s also called Zhou Gong Guan. The narration was vivid, conveying the tense atmosphere of those times.

The Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence Memorial Hall is very close to Zhou Gong Guan. This is where Sun Yat-sen lived during the last decade of his life, and where he lived together with Soong Ching Ling for eight years—the longest shared residence of the couple. The museum displays episodes from Sun’s life; many of his major thoughts and writings that influenced the Chinese revolution were born here. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside.

Not far from the Sun Yat-sen Memorial is Mao Zedong’s Former Residence. In 1924, Mao lived here with Yang Kaihui while working in Shanghai. Mao visited Shanghai over a dozen times, and this was the place where he stayed the longest. During his time here, Mao’s leadership and working abilities improved, and he also gained a fundamental new understanding of the Chinese revolution—recognizing that peasants and armed struggle were the two essential questions, and that it was imperative to promote the peasant movement, to encircle the cities from the countryside, and to seize power by force. The ideas formed here would later influence the entire nation.

After leaving Mao’s former residence, I took the metro to People’s Square, which is home to both the Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Natural History Museum. I had already visited the Shanghai Museum before, so this time I toured the Shanghai Natural History Museum. It’s quite large, with many exhibits, and I spent over an hour leisurely exploring.

With time still early after the museum, I checked the map and headed towards Nanjing Road. In the early evening, I followed Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street all the way to the Bund. By the time I arrived, dusk was setting in, and all kinds of vessels were bustling back and forth on the Huangpu River. Standing on the Bund and gazing at both banks, I could truly feel the extraordinary charm of the Magic City.

As planned, I flew from Shanghai to Guangzhou that evening. Boarding the plane, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a twin-aisle wide-body aircraft—the second time in my life. The first was over 20 years ago. Time flies; two decades have passed in the blink of an eye. It really is true: time is the most relentless thing in the world.

After arriving in Guangzhou, for convenience I chose a hotel opposite Yuexiu Park. My room was on the 15th floor, spacious, with a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the lush greenery of Yuexiu Park. The view was expansive.

I woke up early and checked the weather: the highest temperature that day was 25°C—neither too cold nor too hot, perfect for sightseeing. Meanwhile, I heard that it had already started snowing in Dalian.

December 2 itinerary: Guangdong Museum, Canton Tower, Sun Yat-sen Marshal Mansion.

In the morning, I took the metro to Huacheng Square, where the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Opera House, and Guangzhou Library are located, surrounded by high-rises. Across the Pearl River stands the Canton Tower, graceful and elegant, truly beautiful.

The Guangdong Museum, with its square appearance and large scale, is affectionately nicknamed the 'Candy Box.' It’s a comprehensive museum covering nature, culture, history, astronomy, and geography. One of its star exhibits is a crinoid fossil, the second largest in China.

Inside, I ran into a tour group of elderly ladies with southern accents. I tagged along, listening to the very detailed commentary as we viewed the exhibits. As the tour ended and the guide said goodbye, a bespectacled granny in the group began earnestly lecturing everyone about the philosophy of life for about 20 minutes. The guide was stunned, nodding along awkwardly yet politely the entire time.

After the museum, I took the metro under the river directly to Canton Tower. At 600 meters, the Canton Tower is currently the tallest sightseeing tower in China and the third tallest in the world—a new landmark of Guangzhou, often called 'Slim Waist.' There are several ticket packages to go up; I bought the 150-yuan package. The weather was clear, offering panoramic views of both sides of the Pearl River and the lovely scenery of the City of Rams. A wonderful experience!

Then I took a bus to the Sun Yat-sen Marshal Mansion. This was the headquarters of the Military Government when Sun established the revolutionary regime in Guangzhou. The exhibits gave me a detailed understanding of the revolution’s course.

Guangzhou is not only economically vibrant but also a city of cuisine. That evening, I found a buffet and enjoyed a hot pot dinner.

December 3 itinerary: Monument to Sun Yat-sen, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Room, Whampoa Military Academy Memorial, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Guangzhou Liberation Monument, Museum of the Nanyue King’s Tomb, and the Five Rams Statue.

Early the next morning, I walked about 20 minutes to Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, which was very close to my hotel. A nucleic acid test within seven days is required for entering Macau from the mainland. The hospital was crowded, and the test cost 70 yuan. I had taken a test at Dalian Central Hospital before, which I recall cost 105 yuan—a bit more expensive than Guangzhou.

After the hospital, I headed to the Whampoa Military Academy Memorial. The site is quite far from the city center, so I first took the metro, then a ferry, and walked over ten minutes. The Whampoa Military Academy is a renowned institution in modern Chinese history, often mentioned in films and TV series about the War of Resistance and the Liberation period. Being a cadet there was an honor for soldiers of that era.

Founded during the first KMT–CPC cooperation, the Academy trained many generals on both sides, including Ye Jianying, Chen Yi, Chen Geng, Xu Xiangqian, and Lin Biao. Chiang Kai-shek served as its commandant, and Zhou Enlai as director of the political department.

This is the Commandant’s Office, where Chiang worked during his tenure.

After visiting the Academy, I returned downtown by metro and first went to the Sacred Heart Cathedral (Stone House). This is a relatively large church in Guangzhou and a popular Instagram spot. Built in Gothic style entirely from granite, it was unfortunately closed due to the pandemic.

Not far from the cathedral is the Guangzhou Liberation Monument. After seeing it, I took the metro back to Guangzhou First People’s Hospital to collect my test report.

Leaving the hospital, I walked about 20 minutes to the Museum of the Western Han Nanyue King’s Tomb.

This is the site of the second Nanyue king’s tomb. The burial chamber, covering about 100 square meters, is open to the public—my first time ever stepping inside an imperial tomb.

What shocked me were the fifteen human sacrifices buried with the king. They had no coffins; their bodies were simply placed in various parts of the chamber. After more than 2,000 years, except for a few tiny bone fragments from one consort, all the sacrifice victims had vanished into dust—barely any human outline remained. Truly, 'dust to dust, ashes to ashes.' Time can destroy everything, no matter how much wealth or glory you once had. So, what’s money, what’s official rank? In a hundred years, all turns to dust. Eating, drinking, and traveling when you feel like it—that’s the true way!

The museum displays burial objects, rich and exquisite. The star exhibit is a jade suit sewn with silk thread—not the more common gold-thread jade suits typical of Han royalty.

By the time I left the Nanyue King Museum, it was getting dark. I crossed the street and strolled through Yuexiu Park, where the famous Five Rams Statue stands.

The Five Rams Statue is a symbol of Guangzhou, embodying the city’s spirit. Legend has it that over 2,000 years ago, five immortals riding five rams with grain in their mouths descended upon Guangzhou, bestowing the grain on the people. The rams then turned into stone, and the city became a prosperous land, hence its nicknames 'City of Rams' and 'City of Grain.'

December 4 itinerary: Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain in Zhaoqing.

Not far from Guangzhou lies the Seven Star Crags, a 5A-rated scenic spot. I’ve known about it since childhood as a famous tourist destination in Guangdong, so visiting was part of my plan. Checking the map, it’s in Zhaoqing, about an hour by intercity high-speed train, and my hotel was very close to the railway station, making travel easy.

In the morning, I took the high-speed train to Zhaoqing Station, then a bus for about five minutes to the Seven Star Crags. Looking at brochures, Zhaoqing has two 5A attractions: Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain, collectively called Xinghu Scenic Area. They are 16 kilometers apart, connected by shuttle buses. A combo ticket is 120 yuan.

Seven Star Crags has been a popular tourist destination since the Tang Dynasty. It features typical karst landscapes—peaks, lakes, caves, and cliff inscriptions—earning it the title 'Number One Wonder of Lingnan.'

Inside, I first took a cruise to several main spots, then a bamboo raft to view the seven crags up close. Riding the raft and admiring the lush scenery on both banks felt wonderful!

This type of tree grows naturally in the water, and there are many in the scenic area. According to the guide, the leaves change color throughout the year.

This is the Sleeping Buddha, said to be Asia’s second-largest natural reclining Buddha. Taking a close look, it really does resemble one.

This is a karst cave inside the scenic area, not very long. Riding a boat in and listening to the boatman’s commentary along the way was quite interesting.

Afterward, I took the shuttle bus at the entrance to Dinghu Mountain.

Dinghu Mountain Scenic Area, established in 1956, is China’s first nature reserve. It’s best known for its rich plant diversity and is called a 'giant natural oxygen bar.' There’s a giant cauldron weighing 16 tons and a 2-ton Duan inkstone, both Guinness World Records.

This is the central lake area, with a heart-shaped islet in the middle. Viewed from the top, it’s stunning.

Downstream from the lake is Butterfly Valley, also called Lover’s Valley. The scenery is lovely, and the air is especially fresh and pleasant to breathe. The concentration of negative ions here is reportedly the highest ever measured in China.

Here is Feishuitan Waterfall, a fine sight. Sun Yat-sen visited Dinghu Mountain three times and once swam in this pool with Soong Ching Ling.

Following the path from Feishuitan, I walked about half an hour to Qingyun Temple. Sun Yat-sen visited this temple as well and left a commemorative inscription.

December 5: Gongbei Port, Macao SAR Government Headquarters, Macau Historic Centre Walking District, Ruins of St. Paul’s (Macau’s landmark).

After sightseeing in Zhaoqing, I took the high-speed train to Zhuhai early the next morning. Right outside Zhuhai Railway Station is Gongbei Port—only a 2–3 minute walk. So convenient!

Before exiting the mainland, I first bought a 3-day data package (27 yuan). Using a regular mobile plan in Macau isn’t possible; you need international roaming, which can be very expensive. The data package connects you to Macau’s local provider CTM—just configure your phone settings, and you save a lot on internet charges. After setup, my phone screen immediately changed.

Next, I prepared my Macau Health Code by converting my Guangdong Health Code, which automatically attached my negative nucleic acid test result, so I didn’t need to show a paper certificate when crossing the border.

Finally, I exchanged 350 Macau patacas (also formerly called Portuguese dollars). There are many exchange booths on both sides of Gongbei Port; the mainland side felt a bit more official. The exchange rate that day was 100 RMB for 116 patacas or 113 Hong Kong dollars. The Macau side also had plenty of exchange shops, but they were small street-side booths, offering 118 patacas for 100 RMB.

I crossed from Zhuhai into Macau around noon, which seemed to be peak time. The crowd surged like a tide. Departure from the mainland was via self-service gates, but on the Macau side, since it was my first entry, I had to go through manual clearance. Contrary to my expectation that the immigration officer might ask questions, she just glanced at me for about three seconds and that was it. Due to the queue, the whole border-crossing process took around 20 minutes.

Once in Macau, I took a bus to my hotel. All bus routes in Macau cost 6 patacas. Riding through the streets, I noticed that because Macau is small with limited land, the streets in the old town are quite narrow. Even the buses are compact and packed inside. Used to the big buses on the mainland, I found it a bit hard to get used to.

Also, vehicles in Macau are right-hand drive, and traffic keeps to the left—totally opposite to the mainland. It took me a little while to adjust.

Macau consists of three parts: the Macau Peninsula, Taipa Island, and Coloane Island. Studying the map, I saw that the city center and most historical and cultural sites are on the Macau Peninsula; Rua do Cunho and several famous hotels are on Taipa; and Coloane mainly has beaches and natural scenery.

For convenience, I chose a hotel on the Macau Peninsula, about a 5-minute walk from the city center, 10 minutes from the historic quarter, and 15 minutes from the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Across the lake is the Macau Tower, and next door are the residence of the Portuguese Consul-General and a Portuguese-style villa area—a really lovely environment.

Most importantly, this being an overseas trip, I wanted to see how good Macau really is, so I booked a five-star hotel—my second stay at this level. When I entered the room, it even had a small private courtyard. The facilities were excellent, absolutely exceeding expectations. Very impressive; I wished I could stay a few more days.

This is the Macao SAR Government Headquarters. Modest in size, it’s completely different in style from mainland government buildings.

After leaving the hotel, I walked about ten minutes along the street to the historic quarter, which is full of well-known historical sites and many tourist shops.

I’d long heard that pork chop buns are a local specialty. While wandering the historic quarter, I bought one for 20 patacas. It was quite big and filling.

This is what a trash bin looks like in Macau.

And this is Macau’s iconic landmark: the Ruins of St. Paul’s. It is the remaining façade of St. Paul’s Church, originally built in 1604. The church was destroyed by fire, leaving only the front wall.

On the way back to the hotel, I came across some street performers and watched for over 20 minutes. They sang in Portuguese, with a soulful and cheerful style.

A random shot of Macau’s nightscape. Not quite comparable to the Bund, but still very beautiful.

December 6 itinerary: Maritime Museum, Moorish Barracks, Mandarin’s House, Dom Pedro V Theatre, St. Augustine’s Church, Municipal Affairs Bureau Building, St. Dominic’s Church, and Macau Tower.

This is the Moorish Barracks. During the Portuguese era, the government hired many Indians as police, and this was their camp, built in Islamic architectural style.

This is the Dom Pedro V Theatre, inaugurated in 1860—China’s first Western-style theatre.

This is St. Augustine’s Church, founded in 1591. Built in European Renaissance style, it’s the largest gathering place for the local congregation.

When I entered, I saw about 300 worshippers already inside. I quickly found the only empty seat in the last row. Despite the crowd, the church was unusually quiet—quieter even than a large company meeting. The congregation listened in silence as the choir sang hymn after hymn; I heard 'Hallelujah' several times.

Shortly after the singing stopped, suddenly, without warning, everyone stood up (I quickly followed), bowed their heads in reverence, and listened to one person speak at the front—not in English or Cantonese, probably in Portuguese. Then, all of a sudden, everyone made the sign of the cross and exclaimed 'Amen' in unison. After that, they all spoke and sang together; after one hymn, they listened again to another speaker, then burst into repeated 'Hallelujahs' with a beautiful melody.

There were also a rite of sprinkling holy water and several kneeling prayers. The whole service lasted about an hour, and I participated fully—listening and praying with everyone. The atmosphere was fantastic; my heart felt much more peaceful. Wonderful.

This is the Municipal Affairs Bureau Building, originally the Leal Senado, built in 1784 in Baroque style.

This is St. Dominic’s Church, founded in 1587. Also Baroque in style, it houses over 300 precious artifacts.

A service was also underway inside. The priest leading the prayers was a foreigner, and there were over a hundred worshippers, many also expatriates. Everything was in English.

There was singing as well. The female soloist sang in English, with what sounded like a classical trained voice. The ethereal hymns echoed through the church, solemn and sacred.

At noon, I went specially to a five-star hotel to sample Macanese cuisine. Service was excellent, with a rich variety of refined dishes. I ate quite a lot—almost too much.

In the afternoon, I took a leisurely walk along the lakeside to digest the heavy lunch. After half a circuit, I reached the Macau Tower. I went up to the revolving restaurant at the top, enjoying afternoon tea and the view. The weather was very clear, offering a sweeping panorama of Macau.

December 7 itinerary: Rua do Cunho, PLA Macau Garrison Military Exhibition Hall, The Venetian, The Parisian, Studio City, A-Ma Temple, Wynn Wealth Tree, Fortaleza do Monte, Macao Museum.

In the morning, I took a bus to Taipa Island. My first stop was Rua do Cunho, a pedestrian street famous for Macau souvenirs. I arrived too early, and most shops hadn’t opened yet.

About ten minutes’ walk from Rua do Cunho brought me to the famous Venetian Macao. The hotel features a replica of the Grand Canal, a popular photo spot. Inside, it was almost empty because of the early hour, and the gondolas waited quietly for the boatmen.

This is the Parisian Macao, with an accurately scaled replica of the Eiffel Tower at the entrance, very eye-catching.

And this is Studio City Hotel, with a striking figure-eight Ferris wheel in the middle, truly unique.

After visiting these renowned hotels, I took a bus back to the Macau Peninsula. The A-Ma Temple, founded in the Ming Dynasty, is Macau’s oldest temple.

After the temple, I strolled to the Wynn Macau downtown, home to the famous Wynn Wealth Tree inside a large globe. It’s said to rise from the globe on the hour in a spectacular, dazzling display.

But I waited until the hour, and the Wealth Tree never rose. Perhaps it was due to the pandemic.

Leaving Wynn, I walked about 20 minutes to Fortaleza do Monte. Built in 1617, it was the core of Macau’s old defense system, with around 30 cannons.

Originally I planned to fly back to Dalian from Zhuhai after Macau, but the airline notified me of a flight change, so I had to transit through Nanjing.

On the afternoon of December 7, I returned to the mainland via Gongbei Port. Compared to noon, the crowd was much smaller, and crossing took only about 10 minutes. Before entering the mainland, I specially visited the duty-free shop: a carton of Chung Hwa cigarettes was 320 Hong Kong dollars—quite a bargain.

December 8 itinerary: The Oriental Metropolitan Museum, Jiangsu Provincial Art Museum, Pilu Temple, and the Confucius Temple Scenic Area.

I’ve been to Nanjing many times. After landing, I first took the metro to the Oriental Metropolitan Museum. It’s not very big, primarily introducing the history of the Six Dynasties.

Next door is the Jiangsu Provincial Art Museum, with a vast collection of paintings. I popped in for a look.

Afterwards, I walked about ten minutes to Pilu Temple, famous for its ginkgo trees. I was a bit late; most of the golden leaves had already fallen, creating a scene of fading beauty.

In the afternoon, I received another notice from the airline: my flight to Dalian was delayed until the evening. With plenty of time on my hands, I ambled along the street towards the Confucius Temple Scenic Area.

Around midnight, the plane landed safely in Dalian. Stepping out of the airport, I immediately felt the chill—the temperature was already below freezing. Now that’s a dramatic transition from summer straight into winter!

And that’s the story of my trip to Macau. It left a very good impression; I think I’d like to go again.

Thanks for reading!