Zhuhai (珠海) occupies the western side of the Pearl River Estuary — a mid-sized city that sits between Guangzhou to the north and Macau to the south, connected by the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HKZM Bridge, opened 2018, 55km). It’s the most resort-like of the Pearl River Delta cities, with a 90km coastline, a liveable scale compared to Guangzhou or Shenzhen, and the advantage of being the Chinese gateway city to Macau.
Fisher Girl Statue (珠海渔女)
The Fisher Girl (珠海渔女) — a bronze statue of a Zhuhai woman holding a pearl aloft — is the city’s emblem. Placed on a rock in the bay along the central promenade, it’s the most photographed image of Zhuhai. Deng Xiaoping viewed it during his 1992 Southern Tour and called it beautiful; that endorsement helped establish Zhuhai as a symbol of reform-era China.
The surrounding Lovers’ Road promenade (情侣路) — 28km of seafront walkway from the Gongbei border with Macau to the northern harbour — is the city’s defining leisure space.
Macau Gateway
Zhuhai is the land-side entry point for Macau — the Gongbei border crossing (拱北口岸) is one of the busiest land borders in the world. Visitors staying in Zhuhai can cross to Macau on day trips.
HKZM Bridge: Opened 2018, the bridge connects Zhuhai (Zhuhai Port) to Macau and Hong Kong Lantau Island. Cross-border travel requires booking shuttle buses (the bridge is closed to private vehicles for non-local drivers). Shuttle buses operate every 15–30 minutes.
Logistics: Staying in Zhuhai and day-tripping to Macau is cheaper than staying in Macau — Zhuhai hotels are 40–60% cheaper than Macau equivalents.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (横琴长隆)
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom on Hengqin Island (part of the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone) is the largest oceanarium in the world and the anchor attraction of Zhuhai’s resort development. Whale sharks, manta rays, polar bear exhibits, and the world’s largest underwater tunnel.
On Hengqin Island, adjacent Chimelong Resort also has the Chimelong International Circus (世界级马戏团) and Chimelong Theme Park — three days of attractions, extensive enough for family holidays.
Old Fishing Villages
Zhuhai’s original identity as a fishing port is preserved in several harbour villages:
Tangjiawan (唐家湾): Heritage village with Qing dynasty architecture, now an arts and dining district. The ancestral hall complex is well-preserved.
North Fishing Harbour (斗门渔港): Active fishing port where the daily catch is sold at the morning market (6–9am). The freshness and variety of Pearl River Estuary seafood — yellow croaker, mud crab, hairy crab in autumn, various shellfish — is extraordinary.
Getting to Zhuhai
From Guangzhou: Subway Line 18 connects Guangzhou South station to Zhuhai in 1 hour.
From Hong Kong: HKZM Bridge shuttle bus from HK Airport to Zhuhai/Macau. Or ferry from Hong Kong.
From Shenzhen: Buses from Shenzhen Nanshan/airport area.
Also see: Macau Complete Guide | Shenzhen Modern City Guide | Guangzhou Travel Guide