Located at the southern estuary of the Zhujiang Delta in Guangdong Province, Zhuhai has an advantaged setting between the two Special Administrative Regions, Macau to the south and Hong Kong to the east across the South China Sea. The city boasts its amiable climate, beautiful beaches and convenient transportation, and has been entitled as the Model City for Environment Protection by the United Nation.
Zhuhai has no special place in history: It was nothing more than a small agricultural town under changing administration. Things changed in 1979 with Deng Xiaoping's economic policies and the economic boom began. In the following year, approved by the fifth People's Congress, Zhuhai, along with other three cities (Xiamen, Shenzhen and Shantou) was established as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Zhuhai encompasses three separate townships. Gongbei on the border with Macau, is the most thriving place and the major tourist area. Jida district to the north-east is where harbor, as well as holiday resorts locate, and finally Xiangzhou district to the east-which is also where the airport locates. Though full of new offices, immensely wide roads and tasty economic incentives, Zhuhai still lags behind Shenzhen (the SEZ on the border with Hong Kong).
But Zhuhai is definitely growing. A large amount of foreign capital is being invested and there is a significant increase in visitors both from inland and Macau or Hong Kong. Local tourist sights includes the New Yuan Ming Palace and Jiuzhou Cheng . Zhuhai is also the venue of an annual air show. Off the coast there are many small islands and Zhuhai itself has a few pretty beaches.
Zhuhai's mineral resources are quartz sand, granite and building sand. The Wanshan Fishery is one of the biggest in Guangdong. Major industries include electronics, food, chemical industry and textiles. Local specialties are seafood (crab, lobster, oyster, squid), fruit and flowers.
It is located in the north of Jingshan Rd , the Jiuzhou Shopping Centre (Jiuzhou Cheng) resembles an ancient Chinese palace typically covered with glazed roofs.
The main wall of the palace is 16 meters in height and 70 meters in width. The shopping area is also enclosed in a moat with marble bridges bending over it.
There are over 30 shops. Opposite the center on the other side of Jingshan Rd is the Zhuhai Duty-free Shopping Center .
How to get there : Take taxi in downtown Zhuhai.
The Meixi Royal Stone Archways is located at Mei Xi Village in Qianshan town, Zhuhai City. It occupies 126,000 square meters. Its main sceneries are the first Chinese consulate in Hawaii at the end of Qing dynasty, the oversea Chinese millionaire Mr. Cheng Fang's hometown, Cheng family's history, Chinese stone archways exhibition, Zhuhai famous people's waxwork, art gallery and articles, and so on. It put the famous people, folk-custom and cultural relic protection together. It is an ideal place for relaxation and very popular for sightseeing.
Now, there are three stone archways left, which were built in 1886 and 1891. They were built by Guangxu Emperor in honor of Cheng Fang and his families. The stone archways are built from granite. It combines the architectural art of the west and east and it has many wonderful engravings. It is regarded as a major artistic treasure of Zhuhai. So highly regarded by the Zhuhai government is this building that it was pointed as the 'Special protection item of old architecture' by Guangdong provincial government in 1989.
The Meixi Royal Stone Archways area has a very beautiful garden scenery, and its service facilities are excellent. It is not far from the city, and making your way there and back easy. It is a good place for you to visit.
It is located at the foot of the Lanpu Dashilin Shan, covering an area of 1.4-square-kilometer, the New Yuan Ming Palace is a reproduction of the imperial Yuan Ming Yuan in Beijing, one of the favorite gardens of the late emperors of the Qing dynasty. It was burnt down and completely destroyed by British and French troops in 1860. The New Yuan Ming Palace was built as a reminder of the glory and the bitter history of ancient China and has been set up as a patriotism education site. Walking around the theme park can take you about 2 hours and English-speaking guide can be hired at the gate.
The park is enlivened by performers dressed up as soldiers and court ladies. In the evening, there is always a great show at a big outdoor theatre behind the Lama Temple which can hold as many as 5,000 people. The show is made up of several episodes including an Accession to the Throne, Concubine Picking and Burning down of the Palace. There is also a nice restaurant in the park where you can find some 'imperial Qing food'.
How to get there: Take taxi from downtown Zhuhai.
Cost: RMB100.
The Statue of fisher girl has become the landmark in the city of Zhuhai, located at the scenic Xianglu Bay. She holds a pearl high in the air with both hands in an elegant pose, admiring its bright luster that also symbolizes the brightness of Zhuhai.
The statue is composed of granite and stands 8.7 meters high weighing 10 tons. The legend is that a beautiful fairy maiden fell in love with a young fisherman. He believed some fabricated rumors and asked the girl for the bracelet she wore as proof of her love.
Although she knew she would die if the bracelet were removed from her body, she still took it off and presented it to show her deep love for him. The girl died and the fisherman was bitterly remorseful, crying all day and all night.
An Immortal named Jiuzhou Elder was moved by their love and helped the young man resuscitate the girl. They offered this huge precious pearl to their benefactor during their marriage ceremony as a token of their appreciation for his kindness. |
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