Zhuhai: China's most romantic city

Guangdong province is a manufacturing hub, the center of production for the factory of the world. Yet it is also home to one of China's most romantic cities – Zhuhai or Pearl Sea, located where the Pearl River flows into the South Sea.

Zhuhai is blessed with a lush tropical climate and prides itself on being a garden-city. With more than 80 percent of its 7,660 square-kilometer area made up of the ocean, Zhuhai, with its 146 islands, boasts of pristine beaches and unspoiled scenery that only add to the romantic ambience of the city.

The city lies at Guangdong's border with Macau. Hong Kong lies just across the sea. Because of its location at the Pearl River Delta and its Special Economic Zone status, Zhuhai is one of the fastest growing cities in China.

The legend of the fisher girl

According to legend, a daughter of the South Sea Dragon King visited Zhuhai. She was so charmed by the place that she decided to spend her life on earth as a fishing girl. She would weave nets and search for precious pearls to make a living. She was well-loved because she used her powers to heal the villagers who were ill and help those in need.

As these stories go, she one day met a fisherman named Hai Peng with whom she fell in love. They lived a happy life until Hai Peng decided to listen to the envious rumors about the fisher girl. He demanded that she give him the magical bracelets from her father as a token of her love.

The fisher girl tearfully explained that taking even one bracelet off would kill her. Hai Peng thought the girl was lying and turned to leave. To prove her love, the fisher girl took off the bracelets, dying in Hai Peng's arms.

Lovers' Road (Image: Wikipedia)Realizing his mistake, Hai Peng sought help from the Jin Zhou Huan Elder, who told him about the resurrection grass that grew only on Jin Zhiu island. The grass would revive the fisher girl but to grow it, Hai Peng would have to water it with his own blood. That was what Hai Pend did, nourishing the plant with his own blood while waiting for it to grow big enough.

He finally returned to the fisher girl after many years and revived her. The fisher girl became a true mortal and lived the rest of her life with Hai Peng. On her wedding day, she found a giant pearl on the shore, which she presented to the Elder in gratitude for bringing her and Hai Peng together again.

Could this legend have helped Zhuhai establish a reputation as the most romantic city in China? The official website for the city said that Chinese media gave this title to Zhuhai in a recent competition among famous cities in China.

Places to visit

If you're in Zhuhai with a loved one, don't forget to visit the statue of the Fisher Girl along Lovers' Road. If you're still looking for love, perhaps she can help you in your search? Take the sightseeing 9 or 99 bus to see the symbol of Zhuhai.

Pearl Land is an amusement park located near the Zhuhai International Circuit. The park might be facing stiff competition from bigger and better amusement centers in other Chinese cities, but it still offers over 40,000 sq m of fun for everyone. To get there, take sightseeing bus 3, 10, 68 or 69. The entrance fee for adults is 60 yuan, while children under 140 cm pay 30 yuan to enter.

You should also check out the New Yuanming Palace, an imitation of the Yuanming palace in Beijing. Since there are over 80,000 sq m of lake area within the park, there's ample opportunity to hire boats. Try the floating restaurant to get a better feel for the place. Oh, and time your visit so that you can watch the evening shows on the northern side of the park. These musical extravaganzas are not to be missed. Entrance tickets to the price before 18:30 pm cost 120 yuan, the price drops to 60 yuan after that. You can take bus 1, 25, 30 or 60 from Gong Bei Lu.

Things to do

There are many shopping options in Zhuhai, like Jusco department store. (Image: Wikipedia)People looking for more action during their vacation can opt to visit the Zhuhai International Circuit. Plan your holiday right and you'll be able to enjoy one of the world-class sporting events held there, such as the FIA GT Championship, the Champ Car World Series and the Asian Formula 3 Series. There are also go-carts and motorcycles that you can rent. If you want to feel what it's like to drive around a the actual race course in a formula car, be prepared to pay up. A 30-minute ride costs around 1,500 yuan (170 euros).

There are also golf courses that are quite popular with Hong Kong tourists, so go ahead and practice your swing while in Zhuhai.

What's a holiday without shopping? Visit the Gongbei district for a shop till you drop experience. You'll find everything from clothing, shoes, jewelry, handicrafts to imitation watches and pirated CDs. The official currency is, of course, the yuan, but the Hong Kong dollar and the Macau patacas are accepted in some shops as well. Whatever takes your fancy, bargain, bargain and bargain!

And at the end of the day, treat yourself to a quiet stroll on one of Zhuhai's secluded beaches before heading off to one of the many seafood restaurants in the city.

1 yuan = 0.11 euros per XE.com rates