Zhongshan

Zhongshan (中山; Zhōng​shān​) is a city in Guangdong Province in China, located just north of Zhuhai.

Not to be confused with the Zhongshan District in Taipei.

Understand

Zhongshan is in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province, on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary. It is connected by road and rail to Guangzhou (capital of Guangdong Province) to the north and Zhuhai to the south. Macao can be reached via Zhuhai and Hong Kong by ferry.

Zhongshan covers an area of 1,800 sq km and has a permanent population of some 1.4 million. The city is located in a subtropical humid zone with an annual average temperature around 23.0°C.

Zhongshan has nurtured numerous prominent historical figures throughout its history. On November 12, 1866, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (also Sun Zhongshan) the great leader of China's republican revolution, was born at Cuiheng village of Zhongshan. In memory of him, the county of Xiangshan, which was set up in 1152, was renamed after Dr. Sun as Zhongshan in 1925.

Zhongshan was also the location of a strong guerrilla force during WWII, and the villages that hid the guerrillas are a short drive away through wooded lanes.

Zhongshan has a vibrant downtown river area, some beautiful Buddhist temples. It is a affordable place to live and work with housing being about 1/3rd that of its bigger sister cities nearby.

Many expats have come to visit and now call Zhongshan home.

Get in

By plane

If you are a newcomer to Zhongshan you may wish to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport.

Hong Kong allows travelers from many nations to enter visa-free, and Chinese entrance visas are easy to obtain at many locations. This will generally involve one or two nights' stay in Hong Kong.

The closest airport to Zhongshan City is the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).

(Please note: You will have to have your Chinese visa organised before departure from your country of origin. This can be done at any consulate.)

Travelers have easy access to airport shuttle busses.

The schedule for buses between CAN and Zhongshan is as follows:(Price:CNY68/per, 150 minutes)

CAN→Zhongshan

Departure location: A and B airport lounge of CAN

Departure times: Once an hour from 8:50 am to 7:50 pm at the A lounge; Once an hour from 9AM to 8PM at the B lounges.

Zhongshan→CAN

Departure location: Zhongshan Seasons View Executive Hotel, No.93, Dongyu Road, Eastern District. (Take bus 1, 6, 9, or 12 to get to the hotel)

Departure times: Once an hour from 6AM to 10AM as well as from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm Tip: leave at least two and a half hours before your plane is scheduled to depart.

By ferry

Zhongshan has a ferry between Zhongshan and Hong Kong. Zhongshan Port is just 93km from Hong Kong.

Five high-speed ferries sail between Zhongshan and Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, and the Macau ferry terminal.

The trip from Zhongshan to the Hong Kong International Airport takes about an hour and ten minutes, while the other journeys take about an hour and a half.

Hong Kong→Zhongshan

Hong Kong→Zhongshan: 7:30, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00

Hong Kong International Airport→Zhongshan: 15:40

Macau ferry terminal→Zhongshan: 9:00, 17:30

Zhongshan→Hong Kong

Zhongshan Port→Hong Kong: 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 17:30, 19:30

Zhongshan Port→Hong Kong International Airport: 10:30, 15:00

Zhongshan Port→Macau Ferry Terminal: 18:00, 21:00

Buses to Zhongshan Port are the Numbers 1, 25, 037, 060, 062 and 063

By bus

Most visitors and locals rely on the bus system for both everyday and travel transport.

The Zhongshan Main Bus Station connects to Hainan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan and Henan provinces. 15 bus routes connect to other parts of Guangdong Province as well.

The Zhongshan Main Bus Station is located on the corner of Fuhua Road and the 105 National Highway.

Buses to Guangzhou depart once every 25 minutes; buses to Shenzhen depart once every 20 minutes.

The ticket office is open from 06:00-21:00, and tickets are available four days before your departure date. The Zhongshan Station for these services is located on the corner of Fuhua Road and Zhongshan 1st Road.

By train

Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Rail was put in to use in January 2011.

There are two train stations in Zhongshan called Zhongshan Station and Zhongshan North Station.

Zhongshan Station is located in Zhongshan Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Zhongshan North Station is located between the north part of Shiqi and the port area.

Shiqi is considered to be the city center, so Zhongshan North is closer to the city center.

Passengers to Shiqi, West District, South District and the Port District should get out the train at Zhongshan North Station, while those who go to East District, Wuguishan District and the industrial development zone should get off at Zhongshan Station.

There are about forty trains leaving from Guangzhou South to Zhongshan through to Zhuhai and the return Zhuhai to Zhongshan and through to Guangzhou South.

Trains are available at Guangzhou South from 06:30-23:00 and at Zhongshan or Zhongshan North at 07:20-23:00.

It takes about 35 minutes from Guangzhou to Zhongshan North and 45 minutes to Zhongshan Station.

The full ticket price to Zhongshan North is CNY24 for the first class seat and CNY20 for the second class. CNY26 and CNY22 are the full price to Zhongshan Station.

Get around

By bus

You can travel around Zhongshan easily on the city buses. At present, over 80 bus lines operating in Zhongshan, most of which are self-service so have correct change of 2CNY when you board each bus.

The sights of Zhongshan are wide spread and no special tour lines and sightseeing buses are available. However, there are city buses running to some scenic spots.

For example, Bus No.2 passes Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall.

Bus 33 can help you getting to the beautiful water town in Minzhong Town.

The highly praised green cascade of the Yangtze River can be visited by Bus No.006. Get off the bus at Changjiang Leyuan. Zhongshan Spring and gulf course are easy of access with Bus No.11 A and B,

Bus 12 Zhongshan-Zhuhai Bus can take you there straight from the city center. You need to change at the Zhuhai terminal to Zhuhai Bus 10.

By taxi

There are more than one thousand taxis in Zhongshan. The fare is about CNY7 for the first 2 kilometers and then CNY2.48 for every additional kilometer. The other rate is for trips further than 10 kilometers. The same start-rate is the same as the former, but each additional kilometer is CNY2.6.

During the night from 22:00 to 05:00, twenty percent of basic fare per kilometers is additionally charged if the distance is more than 2 kilometers.

There are also motor cycles available for the more adventurous on short hops and the fair for these is negotiable.

A great form of travel available is the electric rickshaw if you are heading out for dinner or just want to enjoy the night air on a short distance ride. The price is negotiable.

See

Downtown area

The main sights in Zhongshan's downtown area are not far apart and could possibly be covered in a single day on foot.

Museums

• 🌍 China Radio Museum (Zhongshan) (中山·中国收音机博物馆), Zhongshan Museum Annex Building, 197 Sunwen Middle Road, Shiqi District (中山市孙文中路197号中山市博物馆副楼) (Nearby bus stops include Fengyuan Road (逢源路), Gongchen Road (拱辰路) and Sun-Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂). Take bus no. 001, 002, 005, 009, 021, 032, 050 or 209), ☎ [phone]. 09ː00-17ː00, closed on Mondays. Contains what is quite possibly the largest and most diverse collection of old radios in China. Of the more 2000 items in the collection, just over 200 are on public display at any one time. Captions are in Chinese only but that should be no deterrence, particularly if you happen to be a radio enthusiast. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (孙中山纪念堂), 188-192 Sun Wen Middle Road (孙文中路188-192号) (Bus routes 001, 002, 005, 009, 021, 050 and 209), ☎ [phone]. 08ː30-17ː00. Not to be confused with the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum (listed below). The first floor contains a photographic exhibition of Zhongshan's recent economic development, while the second floor contains a photographic exhibition of Sun Yat-sen's life and legacy. Captions are in Chinese only. Free. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Xiangshan Commercial Culture Museum (香山商业文化博物馆), 152 Culture & Tourism Pedestrian Mall, Sunwen West Road, Shiqi District, Zhongshan (中山市石岐区孙文西路文化旅游步行街152号) (The museum can be found in the middle of the pedestrian mall. The nearest bus stop is Fengming Road (凤鸣路), which is served by bus routes 001, 002, 006, 009, 016, 017, 018, 035, 050 and 201), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09ː00-17ː00, closed on Mondays. From the 1920s to the 1940s, this building served as the offices of the Shiqi Town Chamber of Commerce. Today it is a museum about the commercial history of the city. The museum occupies three floors. The ground floor gives a general overview of Zhongshan's commercial history and culture, the second floor introduces some business people who were prominent in Zhongshan during the early 20th century, and the third floor focuses on some Zhongshan natives who established department stores in Shanghai. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Cartoon Museum (中山漫画馆), Inside Yixian Lake Park, Hubin Road, Shiqi District (中山市石岐区湖滨路 逸仙湖公园内) (Bus routes 005, 018, 021, 032, 035 and 209. You will find the museum on the northern side of the lake), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 9AM-5PM, no entry after 4ː30PM, closed on Mondays. Zhongshan is the hometown of several of China's most prominent cartoonists. This museum displays some of their works, as well as works by cartoonists from other parts of China. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Museum (中山市博物馆), 197 Sunwen Middle Road, Shiqi District, Zhongshan (中山市石岐区孙文中路197号) (Nearby bus stops include Fengyuan Road (逢源路), Gongchen Road (拱辰路) and Sun-Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂). Take bus no. 001, 002, 005, 009, 021, 032, 050 or 209), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09ː00-17ː00, no entry after 16ː30, closed on Mondays. This museum, which is housed in a 1930s hospital building, is mainly used for hosting temporary exhibitions. Information and captions are usually in Chinese only. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Museum of Art (中山美术馆), Qi River Park, West District, Zhongshan (中山市西区岐江公园内) (The museum can be found in the middle of the park. Bus routes 12, 024, 047, 211, 216, and b10), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09ː00-17ː00, no entry after 16ː30, closed on Mondays. A small art museum focused on displaying works by local artists. Free. (updated Dec 2017)

Parka and nature

• 🌍 Qi River Park (岐江公园, Qijiang Park), Intersection of Zhongshan Yi Road and Xidi Road, West District (西区中山一路与西堤路交叉口) (On the west bank of the Qi River, a short distance south of the Qi River Bridge. Bus routes 12, 024, 047, 211, 216, and b10). This was once the site of the Central Guangdong Shipyard (粤中造船厂). At the end of the 20th century, the shipyard was converted into a park. While most of the old industrial structures were removed, some have been retained or reconstructed for artistic effect. The Zhongshan Museum of Art (listed above) can be found in the middle of the park. Free. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Yixian Lake Park (逸仙湖公园), Hubin Road (湖滨路). (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Park (中山公园), Gongyuan Avenue (公园大道) (You may find the south entrance on Sun Wen West Road and the north entrance on Guangming Road). Occupies a hill in the middle of the city known as Yandun Hill (烟墩山 Yandunshan). The hill has various other names, including Fu Peak (阜峰 Fu Feng) and Shiqi HIll (石岐山 Shiqishan). The Fufeng Pagoda stands on the hill. Free. (updated Dec 2018)

Religious sites

• 🌍 Baiyi Temple (白衣寺, 白衣古寺, Baiyi Ancient Temple), 8 Lianyuan Road East, Shiqi District (石岐区莲园东路8号). (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Fufeng Pagoda (阜峰文塔), Zhongshan Park, Shiqi Distirct (石岐区中山公园). Also known as the Yandun Hill Pagoda (烟墩山塔), the pagoda was built in the Ming Dynasty during the 36th year of the reign of Emperor Wanli (around 1608) by the county magistrate Cai Shanji. The pagoda is a seven-storey octagonal-shaped brick tower and stands 24.5 meters high. It was restored in 1952, but is now in need of further repairs. The pagoda is currently surrounded by a fence to prevent visitors from being struck by falling debris. 
• 🌍 Xishan Temple (西山寺), 240 Sun Wen Middle Road (孙文中路240号). (updated Dec 2018)

Other areas of the city

• 🌍 Former Residence of Sun Yat-Sen & Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Museum (孙中山故居纪念馆), 93 Cuiheng Avenue, Nanlang Town (南郎镇翠亨大道93号) (Bus routes 12, K16 or K26. You may catch bus no. K26 from the Zhongshan Railway Station), ☎ [phone]. 9AM-5PM. For those who revere the man, this place is probably the main reason to visit Zhongshan. The two buildings are situated inside a park in the village of Cuiheng, where Sun-Yat-Sen was born in 1866. The residence was designed by Sun Yat-Sen himself and completed in 1892. Sun Yat-Sen lived here until 1895 and stayed here for a short time in 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution. The museum provides a detailed overview of Sun's life. Information is available in both Chinese and English. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 Tianxin Forest Park (田心森林公园，田心公园, Tianxin Park) (Take bus no. K26 from the Zhongshan Railway Station). A 226-hectare forest park at the foot of the Wuguishan mountain range. Free. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Wuguishan Nature Park (Wuguishan Natural Scenery Zone, 五桂山自然风景区), Wuguishan Sub-District (五桂山街道) (Take bus no. K26 from the Zhongshan Railway Station and get off at Tianxin Park (田心森林公园). Wuguishan Nature Park may be found a short distance north of there). Centered around Wuguixiong Peak (五桂雄峰), the highest peak in the Wuguishan mountain range, which stands at 531 meters above sea level and is also the highest land formation in Zhongshan. Free. 
• 🌍 Zhan Garden (Zhan's Garden, 詹园), National Highway 105, South District (中山市南区105国道) (Bus routes 206 and 211), ☎ [phone]. 08:00-17:30. Built in 1998 and designed to resemble a classical Chinese garden, the Zhan Garden is claimed to be the largest private garden in southern China. The owner and designer Mr Huang Yuanxin named the garden after his mother Mrs Zhan. ¥60. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Studio City (中山影视城), 85 Cuiheng Avenue, Nanlang Town (南朗镇翠亨大道85号) (There is a bus stop just outside the entrance, which is served by bus nos. 12, 087 and k16. Alternatively, you may catch bus no. K26 to Sun Yat-sen's former residence and walk 400 metres north from there), ☎ [phone]. Weekdaysː 08ː30-17ː30, Weekendsː 08ː30-18ː00. An outdoor film studio that has been used to produce numerous films and television series set during the early 20th century, including several which were focused specifically on the life of Sun Yat-sen. Features street sets for several of the cities and countries that Sun visited during his life as well as re-creations of significant buildings such as the Whampoa MIlitary Academy in Guangzhou, Sun's former residence in Shanghai and Sun's mausoleum in Nanjing. There is also a photo exhibition on some of the films and televisions series that have been filmed here. ¥65. (updated Dec 2018)

Do

• 🌍 Changjiang Water World (长江水世界), located at the intersection of Changjiang and Jingguan Roads in Shiqi District (Catch bus nos 006 or 030), ☎ [phone]. Open 10AM-6PM from April 28th to June 30th, 10AM-9PM from July 1st to August 31st, 10AM-6PM from September 1st to October 7th. Completely closed from October 8th to April 27th. A newly renovated water-based amusement park. ¥120 for adults, ¥80 for persons over 60, ¥80 for children between 1.2 and 1.5 metres in height who are accompanied by an adult, free admission for children with a height of 1.2 metres or less who are accompanied by an adult. 
• 🌍 Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Club (中山温泉高尔夫球会), Sanxiang Town (三乡镇) (Most visitors would probably come here by taxi. If you prefer to take a bus, take bus nos 211 or 213 and get off at the Yongmo (雍陌) bus stop), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Located about 25km from downtown Zhongshan. Features two 18-hole golf courses designed by legendary American golf champions Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Claims to be the first modern golf club to be established in the PRC. Fees for non-members vary between ¥400 and ¥1600. Discounts are available if accompanied by a club member. (updated Apr 2018)
• 🌍 Qi River Cruises (岐江游船), Qi River Cruise Boat Pier, Qi River Park, West District (中山市西区岐江公园内岐江游码头) (Catch a bus to Fuhua Hotel (富华酒店), Zhongshan No. 1 Bridge (中山一桥) or Zhongken Department Store (中恳百货)), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Boats depart every half an hour from 18:30 to 22:00. A short cruise down the Qi River and back. The journey time is about 30-40 minutes. You may either sit in the cabin or stand on the rear deck. Standing on the front deck is not permitted. ¥60. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Culture & Art Center (中山市文化艺术中心), 73 Xingzhong Avenue, East District (中山市东区兴中道73号) (Take bus no. 030, 035 or 036 and alight at the Culture & Art Center bus stop. Alternatively catch bus no. 031, 042, 213 or 216 and get off at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park bus stop), ☎ [phone], [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Zhongshan's premier performing arts venue. International artists sometimes perform here. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort (中山温泉宾馆), Sanxiang Town (三乡镇) (Take bus nos 211 or 213 and get off at the Yongmo (雍陌) bus stop), ☎ [phone]. ¥198. 
• 🌍 Zhongshan Sky Wheel (幻彩摩天轮), Level 5, Block C, Central Power Plaza, 9 Fengming Road, Shiqi District (石歧区凤鸣路9号兴中广场C座5楼) (The closest bus stop is the Central Power Plaza (兴中广场) bus stop, which is served by bus nos. 001, 010, 077, 209, and k13), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10:00-22:30. The Zhongshan Sky Wheel is a 108-metere high Ferris wheel on the roof of a shopping centre in Zhongshan's downtown area. Perhaps due to its central location, the Zhongshan Sky Wheel is often considered to be one of the city's most important landmarks. A souvenir shop near the ticket gate sells various kinds of minature Ferris wheels and other Zhongshan-related gifts. Adults ¥68, children ¥35. (updated Apr 2018)

Buy

There is an antique furniture area in the Zhongshan Sanxiang Guhe area. The prices are high by national standards and expats should bargain fierce (hire local to assist) as Chinese business people are good bargainer. Most of the pieces look like real antiques, but are actually newly made replicas from tropical rain forest wood.

Guzhen town at the border of Jiangmen is lighting central. If you're feeling hungry or underdressed, too bad -- the central town core is light shop after light shop selling everything from bulbs to chandeliers to accessories. Hotels will have multiple light shops in the lobby and banks are rare because they can't compete against the rents offered by light shops.

• 🌍 Holiday Plaza (假日广场), 6 Xingzhong Avenue, Shiqi District (石岐区兴中道6号) (Bus routes 002, 032, 050, 209, 213 and b11), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. This shopping centre is noteworthy for its many art shops (particularly on the 2nd floor), some of which double as art schools or training centres. The interior of the shopping centre is decorated with sculptures and other forms of public art. The 3rd and 4th floors are home to Pok Art (博雅), one of the city's largest privately-owned book stores, which besides books, also sells a wide range of gifts, music, stationary and art supplies. If you are looking for Zhongshan-themed souvenirs, try the shop named Crowd (交关) at Shop No. 2111 on the 2nd floor. (updated Sep 2018)

Eat

Budget

• Yangtze River Food Court (chang jiang mei shi xuan), Yijing Rd (southern end of Changjiang Rd past the Water World). Come here for Zhongshan style hotpot (da been lo). You are given a dried bowl of ground nuts, cilantro, dried yellow beans and red beans. After adding in a scoop of the broth, it becomes dipping sauce for the food cooked at the table. 

Mid-range

• Bellavista Restaurant, Unit 3, Borough 1, 39 Qiguan West Road (岐关西路39号，一区，3卡), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 3 Chefs Restaurant. German and Italien (Peter), Thai (Toffee), and Indian (Johnny). Prices medium. 
• Italy Square, Zhongshan Dongqu Qiguan Xilu,Renren Zhuru Pangbian,Hengxing Jie 12 (中山市东区岐关西路人人足浴旁恒信街12号). 11:00 to Late. 3 Chefs Restaurant. Italian (Gigi) Prices medium. 
• 🌍 Hefeng Japanese Restaurant (和风日本料理), 2 Fukang Road, Shiqi District 富康路2号 (Take bus no. 015, 038 or 042 and get off at the Zhongshan People's Congress (市人大). The restaurant is easily recognizable by its distinctly Japanese features), ☎ [phone]. Established in 1996, this is one of Zhongshan's oldest-established Japanese restaurants. It offers a variety of different dishes in a traditional Japanese setting. The restaurant has another branch at No. 6 Changjiang Road.South (长江南路6号). (updated Sep 2018)

Splurge

Drink

Beware: Chinese bars/disco are extremely loud and you can lose your hearing if you are a frequent guest. Expat bars are among the few places that one can have nice beer and still speak.

• Gen Ju Di Jiu Ba (Opposite People's Hospital). A truly authentic Chinese bar. Look out for the communist star over the entrance. 
• New Bar Street, Qiguan West Road (Near Peter's Place). A whole complex of clubs and bars, including iClub and Fashion Club. 
• O Hagan's Zhongshan's only Irish Pub, Nan Xia Xin Ma Tou Cnr Bo Ai Lu and Qi Guan Xi Lu Zhongshan(南下新码头博爱路中山). 5PM till late. A wide range of scotches and beers at a reasonable price. 
• Peter's Place, Qiquan West Road (Next to Wei Jing Wan). Really good German-style bar with German beer. Live music every day. The food is great, and they have nice pool tables! If you go Fridays or Saturdays, it is advisable to reserve a table. On Fridays you can eat pizza for ¥39, all you can eat. On Saturdays they do a buffet for ¥88, of which the best offerings are the Indian and Thai curries and the BBQ. 
• See Club (Next to Zhongshan International Hotel). Biggest and most vibrant night club in Zhongshan. 

Sleep

• Crowne Plaza Zhongshan Wing On City, No.9 Xingnan Road, Southern District, 528455 Zhongshan, ☎ [phone]. 
• Shangri-La, 16 Qi Wan Road N Eastern Area, Zhongshan Guangdong Province, China, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Yihe Grand Hotel, Zhongshan No.5, Xingzhong Avenue, Shiqi District, Zhongshan(中山市石岐区兴中道5号), ☎ [phone]. 

Connect

Stay safe

Zhongshan is a reasonably safe place to live with a low crime rate, but occasionally trouble may occur, especially, as everywhere, late at night around bars. Caution and common sense are advised at all times. Pickpockets, although not plentiful, are about and the foreign traveler is often a target.

Go next

• Guangzhou
• Jiangmen
• Zhuhai