text:
Zhuhai

Zhuhai (珠海; Zhūhǎi in Mandarin, Jyūhói in Cantonese) is a city in Guangdong Province, China. The name means Pearl Sea; Zhuhai is where the Pearl River (珠江; Zhūjiāng) flows into the South China Sea (南中国海 Nánzhōngguóhǎi or simply 南海 Nánhǎi).

Zhuhai is known for its beautiful long coastline, waving palm trees, open spaces, low population density, and its many islands; Zhuhai's nicknames are the city of romance (浪漫之城) and the city of a hundred islands (百岛之市). Zhuhai serves as the gateway to the former Portuguese colony of Macau, as a tourist destination for Chinese, and as a playground for hedonistic Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan visitors who come for Zhuhai's very colorful nightlife.

Understand
The Zhuhai area has been inhabited for thousands of years. Until the 1970s, Zhuhai was a group of fishing villages with a population of around 100,000. Since 1980, when it was designated a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by the central government, Zhuhai has expanded to include nearby areas and is now a fast-growing modern city with about 1.57 million inhabitants as of the 2010 census. However, it is still not as large and developed as neighboring cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Zhuhai's northern districts of Jinding and Tangjia, as well as the western district of Doumen, are less developed factory-driven areas that retain a deeper working-man, salt-of-the-earth quality.

Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and former Portuguese colony Macau to the south. By sea, former British colony Hong Kong and Chinese boomtown Shenzhen are just across the Pearl estuary to the east. The provincial capital Guangzhou is about 150 km to the north.

Zhuhai is one of China's cleanest and prettiest cities, and received numerous accolades for its excellent ecological development efforts. In 1998, it was awarded the International Award for Best Practices in Improving Living Environment by the United Nations Center for Human Settlements. It is also commonly agreed to be one of the best cities in China to retire in. With a low population density compared to other cities in China, Zhuhai is unsurprisingly greener. Parks and open spaces dot the cityscape, and waving palm trees line the extensive coastline and many of the major streets.

The weather in Zhuhai is sub-tropical. Temperature varies between 10 °C (50 °F) in winter (Dec to Feb) to a hot and humid 35 °C (95 °F) in summer (Jun to Sep). Typhoons are also a possibility in summer. The best times to visit are during spring and Autumn.

Districts
The city of Zhuhai itself is composed of Xiangzhou, Jida, Gongbei, Qianshan and New Xiangzhou. The other areas mentioned are districts within the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone.

North to South along the coast, the main districts are:

 * Jinding (金鼎; Jīndǐng) – Zhuhai's northernmost district is a factory town whose main attraction is a very large and lively nighttime outdoor BBQ; see the Eat Section for details. Jinding definitely has a working class edge, and is worth visiting for the BBQ alone, but wandering around may give you a different perspective to the ones you have previously experienced elsewhere in Guangdong Province. Visit Jinding to experience the real China before heading back to your more affluent Guangdong stomping grounds. Jinding can be reached via bus 3 or 10, or via sightseeing bus 2.

 * Tangjia (唐家; Tángjiā) – Both Tangjia and Jinding are parts of the nowadays subdivision named Tangjiawan. However, Tangjia, the centre of Tangjiawan, is somehow different from Jinding, so the local usually regard them as two places. Tangjia is a moderate sized town between Jinding and Xiangzhou. Like Jinding, Tangjia's salt-of-the-earth qualities are more evident than its southern neighbours. Best known for the large Dragon Union Opera House (located inside the Dragon Union Hotel) which, as the name suggests, puts on live variety shows semi-regularly, its primary function is serving as a gigantic karaoke house that mixes karaoke with all-inclusive adult entertainment.

 * Xiangzhou (香洲; Xiāngzhōu) – Government offices, big department stores (including AEON), and some bars and restaurants are scattered throughout this district. This is the area where the locals mainly go shopping.
 * On the inland side is New Xiangzhou (新香洲; Xīnxiāngzhōu), an area that has undergone extensive development over the last few decades, especially midrange or upmarket residential buildings but with commercial and business buildings as well. It is often excluded when mentioning Xiangzhou only. Xiangzhou may be referred to as Old Xiangzhou (老香洲; Lǎoxiāngzhōu) in order to distinguish it from both New Xiangzhou and Xiangzhou District (香洲区; Xiāngzhōu Qū), a major administrative division which covers a much larger area and includes not only Xiangzhou and New Xiangzhou but also Jida, Gongbei, Qianshan, Tangjiawan, Wanzai and several other neighbourhoods. Both (Old) Xiangzhou and New Xiangzhou are informal names, which you won't necessarily find on city maps.

 * Jida (吉大; Jídà) is along the coast between Xiangzhou and Gongbei. This district has a lot of offices, high-end hotels and shopping complexes. This is not a particularly useful district to mention for directions, except for the fact that a Jida location assures you that the location is fairly near to the water and that a taxi driver will likely take the road right along the coast until you get there.

 * Gongbei (拱北; Gǒngběi) is the main tourist area with a wide variety of inexpensive hotels, clothing, electronics, souvenirs, food, drink, and colorful entertainment in relatively close proximity to the Macau border crossing. Lianhua Lu (Lotus Road; 莲花路; Liánhuālù; sometimes called Walking Street; 步行街; Bùxíngjiē) while interesting any time of day, is truly a must-see spectacle at night, with dozens of small outdoor-bar stalls which are always packed at night. Here you can see people drinking, playing dice with bar girls, and watching (or interacting with) working girls and passers-by on the crowded pedestrian-only street that is filled with shops and street-food vendors (see the Drink Section for more details). There is also the more upscale Bar Street (酒吧街; Jiǔbājiē), a modern strip of nicer upscale bars with indoor and outdoor seating, some featuring live music (many blasting loud music inside). Most of these cater to Chinese businessmen and moneyed tourists. At the southern edge of Gongbei is an underground shopping center and the Macau border crossing (see Buy Section for more details).

Going West from Gongbei are other districts:
 * Wanzai (湾仔; Wānzǎi) has a ferry terminal to Macau and a Seafood Street where you get to select your own live seafood before they are prepared for your dining pleasure.
 * Doumen (斗门; Dǒumén) is in the Norththwest. It is a bit out of the way, in that most of Zhuhai spreads north along the coast. The very scenic Jintai Buddhist Temple, built at the end of the Song Dynasty is over 1,000 years old and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Get the full treatment at the Imperial Hot Springs Resort or Yu Wenquan in Doumen, the first Japanese outdoor garden-style hot springs resort in China, with over 20 kinds of hot springs. Linguistically distinct from the rest of Zhuhai.

Islands
One of Zhuhai's nicknames is the city of a hundred islands (146 to be exact), and it has a number of islands that are accessible from ports by ferries. An often overlooked aspect is the fact that each of the islands has a unique character. Some have decent beaches, and some are eerily quiet fishing islands. Each trip is a noticeable escape from the hustle and bustle of living in Chinese cities. A trip to the islands is arguably comparable to leaving the country. High-quality seafood abounds. Information about where to go or what to do can be difficult to come by because most locals do not visit due to cost of transportation. As a result, most tourists do not get a chance to explore these beautiful places at all, and most of the information available on the internet regarding Zhuhai focuses on the urban areas. Nonetheless, the curious expat or adventurous traveler will be generously rewarded. From the Xiangzhou Port (香洲港; Xiāngzhōugǎng), formerly Xiangzhou Northern Wharf (香洲北堤码头; Xiāngzhōu Běidīmǎtóu), you can get to the Wanshan Islands (万山群岛; Wànshānqúndǎo):
 * Dong'ao Island (东澳岛; Dōng'àodǎo) has diving facilities, clear waters, and a nice beach.
 * Outer Lingding Island or Wailingding Island (外伶仃岛; Wàilíngdīngdǎo) is also a nice getaway with clear waters and nice beaches.
 * Hebao Island (荷包岛; Hébāodǎo) is less developed and visited, and is a good spot for those who like wilderness.
 * Guishan Island (桂山岛; Guìshāndǎo) has a sleepy fishing island town feel with exceptional seafood.

While not as distant and not part of the Wanshan Islands, Yeli Island (野狸岛; Yělídǎo), Hengqin Island (横琴岛, Héngqíndǎo), Qi'ao Island (淇澳岛; Qí'àodǎo), and Gaolan Island (高栏岛; Gāolándǎo) can all be reached by bus via a bridge or dam.

Remember to take plenty of cash with you on these island excursions because some islands might not have ATMs.

Talk
Cantonese is the main local language of Zhuhai, it being a part of the Pearl River Delta. However, due to the massive influx of immigrants from other parts of China over the last three decades, Mandarin is now the lingua franca. That said, Cantonese is more commonly heard here than in Shenzhen. The local dialect in the Doumen district is similar to Taishanese, and has limited mutual intelligibility with standard Cantonese.

English is not widely spoken, but some people, especially the young, speak it.

Zhuhai is one of the most popular cities for foreigners in China, and because of that, you can find some speakers of European languages here.

Visa
Most visitors to China will require an advance visa. See Visas for details.

Zhuhai is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which means that if you are only visiting the Zhuhai area directly from Hong Kong or Macau, a special SEZ visa can be obtained upon arrival. This allows you to visit Zhuhai only for up to 3 days, and travelling beyond the city limits is strictly forbidden. This visa is available at the Gongbei and Hengqin (Lotus Bridge) land entry points from Macau, as well as at the Jiuzhou ferry terminal. While in theory citizens of all countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the PRC are eligible for this visa, in practice citizens of rich developed countries are more likely to be approved, while citizens of poor developing countries are likely to be rejected, so you might want to obtain a full Chinese visa in advance to be safe.

This visa costs ¥160 for most nationalities and ¥450 (December 2008) for UK citizens. It is reported that US citizens must pay ¥950 (January 2011), or else that they cannot use the service at all. Hong Kong dollars are not accepted. Currency can be converted at the China Tourist Services office back downstairs in the main immigration hall, but usually at an awful rate. Once the visa has been issued, proceed to the immigration hall to complete the immigration process.

By plane

The Airport Express Bus departs from the airport to Xiangzhou and Gongbei districts for ¥25 (March 2018) per passenger, and follows the schedule of arriving flights. The first bus departs around 11:00 and the last bus departs about 21:30. A taxi from the airport to Gongbei or Jiuzhou in downtown Zhuhai is around ¥130 (October 2011) when traffic is free flowing. You may also take public bus number 207, which goes right to the Gongbei border crossing, and costs ¥6. However the journey time is between 1 hour 45 mins and 2 hours. This bus does not have a luggage storage area on board.

Other airports
To reach Zhuhai from outside China, one would usually fly to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Macau or Guangzhou. All four cities have large, modern airports with many international connections and all are within an hour or two of Zhuhai; Macau is closest. Foshan is another airport available nearby, but it has few connections.

From the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, a frequent express bus service that goes to Zhuhai is available. It costs ¥80 and takes approximately 2½ hours with one stop in the northern part of Zhuhai before going on to the Gongbei border gate to Macau. There is a check in for the airport at Gongbei bus station, located near the KFC.

From Macau International Airport, the best way to get to Zhuhai is via the Express Link service, skipping the Macau immigration and customs altogether. Once you alight from the plane, instead of going through immigration, look for the Express Link (China) sign and follow it. This will lead you past a transit security scan station where you must pick up an Express Link card, and upstairs into the departure hall. Go to the ticket counter at Gate 8, present your card and buy a ticket for the coach that goes to the Gongbei Port of Entry. The coach fare is ¥52 and the ride takes only 15 minutes. Coach departure times are 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 14:45, 17:00, 17:30, and 18:00. If you need to check in any bags for your flight, remember to have them blue tagged during your flight check-in procedure for this Express Link service. The blue tag is not a necessity, merely a convenience. Present your luggage tags at the above-mentioned coach ticket counter and pick up your bags at the bus bay later.

The option to skip the Macau immigration is not available on the return. Allow at least three hours to get from Gongbei to the Macau airport. Immigration formalities can be very time-consuming, particularly on the Chinese side during the weekends. Once out of the Chinese customs (before entering Macau), there is a little ticket booth to the left where you can get a shuttle bus ticket to the airport for ¥35. The buses will be waiting on the left once you leave the Macau immigration hall. They run at 10 minutes intervals.

Should you decide to go through the Macau immigration at the airport and use the Taxi service to get to Zhuhai, the ride takes only about 15 minutes. It costs about ¥60-80 for the short ride. But it is reasonable priced for those (>2 persons) who wish to share the taxi cab fees. The charges are inclusive of surcharge of ¥5 at the airport, ¥5 per piece of luggage. Taxi payment can be in patacas, Hong Kong dollars or renminbi. They are all treated equally in value (even though Macau pataca has the lowest value of the three currencies). Taxi cabs queue at the curve outside of the airport.

From Hong Kong International Airport, one option is to take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station (at the cost of HK$90), then hop on the free Airport Express transit bus K2 to the China-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal (中港城码头; Zhōnggǎng Chéngmǎtóu) to take a ferry to Zhuhai. See below for ferry timetable.

Another option from Hong Kong is to catch a ferry from the HKIA Skypier to Macau and then cross into Zhuhai via the Gongbei border gate. To catch the ferry from the airport, go directly to the ticket counter without passing through Hong Kong immigration or customs; see Hong Kong International Airport for details. Full instructions can be found here. The ferry journey takes about 50 minutes and runs hourly (usually).

A third option from HKIA is now available in the form of long-distance buses that go overland to Gongbei. The journey takes 3½ hours and costs HK$200. Departure times are 07:00, 08:00, 16:00, 17:00, and 19:00.

A new ferry service was introduced that brings travelers directly from HKIA to the Jiuzhou Port in Zhuhai. The ferry leaves at 12:15, 14:15, 17:00, and 20:10. The one from Zhuhai to HKIA leaves at 9:30, 12:40, 15:25, and 18:35. The trip takes approximately 70 minutes and costs ¥290.

By bus

From Hong Kong, frequent HZMBus shuttle buses departing up to every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day are available to cross the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB). They take around 40 minutes, and tickets can be purchased with Octopus or AliPay from ticket machines, as well as cash and credit cards at the ticket desk at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. The Hong Kong Port can be reached by taxis or various buses including CityFlyer airport (A number) routes, or the B5 shuttle bus from Sunny Bay MTR station, or the B6 bus from Tung Chung. Once arriving at the (Gǎng Zhū Ào Dàqiáo Zhūhǎi Kŏu'ān 港珠澳大桥珠海口岸), you can take taxis or the L1 bus which uses historic tourist vehicles, or the 12, 23 or 25 buses to continue your journey in the mainland.

Hundreds of buses also come from Guangzhou every day, usually via the Jingzhu Motorway. You can catch one at:

 * South Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大学南校园) just next to the South Gate.
 * East Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大学东校园).
 * Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云机场) just inside the Arrival Hall
 * Shipai Campus of Jinan University (暨南大学石牌校区).
 * Exit A2 of Zhujiang New Town Metro Station (珠江新城地铁站A2出口).
 * Exit B of Wanshengwei Metro Station (万胜围地铁站B出口).

From any of these locations, the trip will cost ¥35-88 and take about 2-2.5 hours. Buses leave every 40 minutes (from Guangzhou Airport) or 1 hour (from SYSU Campuses) or 1.5 hours (from other places in Guangzhou) and go to Gongbei, Xiangzhou, Zhuhai Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大学珠海校区 or simply 中珠), Zhuhai Campus of Jinan University (暨南大学珠海校区 or simply 暨珠), Zhuhai College of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学珠海学院 or simply 北师珠), Zhuhai Colledge of Beijing Institute of Technology (北京理工大学珠海学院 or simply 北理珠), Huxin Raod Crossing (湖心路口), Zhuhai College of Jilin University (吉林大学珠海学院 or simply 吉珠) or Tangjia depending on the bus you take.

Zhuhai has over twenty bus stations. Below are just some of the major ones:

By boat

From Hong Kong and Shenzhen: There are several ferries per day from Hong Kong International Airport, HK-Macau Ferry Terminal (港澳码头; Gǎng'ào Mǎtóu; Hong Kong Island), China Ferry Terminal (中港城码头; Zhōnggǎng Chéngmǎtóu Kowloon) in Hong Kong and Shekou Ferry Terminal (蛇口港; Shékǒugǎng; Shekou) in Shenzhen arriving at the Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal (九洲港码头; Jiǔzhōugǎng Mǎtóu). There is a taxi rank and bus stops directly outside. You can take a free bus ride to Gongbei by showing your ferry ticket. Visas can be purchased here for most nationalities (not American citizens). Payment is in RMB only and the ATMs are through immigration so plan ahead.

The HKIA-Zhuhai ferry is operated by Chu Kong, who charge HK$260/¥280 one-way to/from Zhuhai.

Getting to Zhuhai Airport from the Jiuzhou Ferry port that connects Zhuhai with Hong Kong, an Airport bus can be taken for about ¥30 and the last bus departs at 20:00. The journey takes about 2 hours.

From Macau: There is a ferry service operating from Macau's Inner Harbour's Pier 14 (澳门粤通码头; Àomén Yuètōng Mǎtóu) to Wanzai. Daily departures roughly hourly from 08:00-16:00.

By car
From Macau: It is possible to drive across the border from Macau via Lotus Bridge or the Portas do Cerco/Gongbei border crossing. Unlike Macau, Mainland China drives on the right. Only vehicles with dual plates are allowed to drive across the border.

From Mainland China: The road connections from other parts of mainland China have been improved. The G4w Motorway (Jinggangao Motorway or Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Motorway, 京港澳高速), also formerly Jingzhu Motorway (Beijing-Zhuhai Mortorway, 京珠高速), which connects Guangzhou, is always the main and the most crowded solution to arrive. The S43 Motorway or Guangzhu West Line (广珠西线高速), is another option. Highways like G105, S111 are also available.

From Jiangmen, there are S32 Motorway, (Western Coastal Motorway 西部沿海高速), S47 Mortorway (Jiangzhu Motorway or Jiangmen-Zhuhai Mortorway, 江珠高速), S365 and S272 to choose. However, the S272 is of rough surface.

From Hong Kong: The 50-km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau link, a bridge and tunnel opened on 24 October 2018, is likely one of the largest construction projects in the world. The link makes it possible to travel quickly across the Pearl River Delta without taking the ferry. There are restrictions on driving across, and drivers must apply for special permits, so taking a shuttle bus is probably a better choice.

On foot

You can walk across the border from Macau at Gongbei. The border is open from 07:00-24:00. It typically takes 20 minutes of walking time, but be prepared for long queues, which can easily add over an hour to your total border crossing time.

An alternative crossing is via the Lotus Bridge in Macau's Cotai area to the island of Hengqin. This border crossing point is open 08:00-20:00. After crossing the Macau side, take a shuttle bus across the bridge to the China side (fare ¥3, no change given so carry the exact amount). From the Hengqin side of the border take bus number 14 to Xiangzhou, or catch one of the Kee Kwan air-conditioned minibuses to Wanzai or Gongbei (¥5).

For foreigners entering China, you will need to produce a valid visa. Follow the immigration line that says "Foreigner". Once you clear immigration, you enter the duty-free zone. Consider picking up some Western chocolate or liquor, especially if you need gifts for Chinese. Jameson's at HK$70 a bottle is a good buy, as are some of the wines and single malt whiskeys. Do not bother with common brands of whiskey or cognac; those a readily available in China. Cigarettes are generally cheaper in downtown Zhuhai than at the duty-free (do not buy cigarettes in duty-free, most are fake).

When you exit the Gongbei immigration building, you have reached the Zhuhai border. If you need to purchase a pre-paid cellphone card, please proceed to exit the immigration building, then walk downstairs to the underground mall. There are many telephone services stalls here. You may purchase a pre-paid sim-card here for ¥100. It comes with a loaded value of ¥50. You will need a GSM phone to get it to work. Always keep your belongings zipped inside your pocket here as pickpockets are very common at the border check point.

On the return trip from China to Macau, here are the border crossing tips from Zhuhai China to Macau via Gongbei port. The Gongbei immigration building opens at 07:00. If you arrived at the Zhuhai Gongbei port via Taxi cab, you either arrive in front of the Gongbei immigration building or via the underground tunnel, linked to the underground mall below the Gongbei immigration building. Proceed to queue up at the entrance of building. It is rather cold in the morning so bring enough warm clothing with you if you decided to queue up in the morning before 07:00.

When the building opens, proceed inside the building. Look for the line that says "Foreigner" (usually line# 15). If you are already late for your connecting flight, go to the express line (no queuing required) and show them your air ticket for immediate attention. Once you clear the Chinese immigration, you enter the duty-free zone. Proceed to the immigration hall. Foreigners are required to fill in a blue-colored slip in this hall, declaring your place of stay in Macau and your departure details. Proceed to queue at the line that says "Foreigner". Once you clear the Macau immigration, proceed to exit the building. If you carry any luggage with you, the immigration officer may request that your luggage be scanned by the X-ray machine before you are allowed to exit the immigration building. The whole border crossing process takes about 20–25 minutes, excluding waiting time in the long queues.

You can get to the airport by taxi or bus. The journey is about 15 minutes by taxi from Gongbei port. There is a surcharge of MOP5 to get to the airport and $6 per item of luggage. It costs about MOP70 to get to the airport by taxi (inclusive of surcharges). Taxis accept Macau patacas, Hong Kong dollars or Chinese yuan for payment. These currencies are treated equally (With yuan being the most expensive) during payment. You can still use a Chinese SIM card up to the mid-span of the Friendship Bridge in Macau. After that, the signal drops off.

By train
The Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway (Guangzhu ICR) was fully opened in 2012. There are five stations in Zhuhai:

Other stations

The journey from Guangzhou South station to Zhuhai takes around 53–78 minutes and costs ¥390 for luxury sleeper, ¥350 for standard sleeper, ¥205 for luxury class, ¥90-124.5 for first class and ¥56–91.5 for second class or no-seat ticket. Trains will stop at either Zhuhai North (珠海北, called as "Zhuhaibei" formally in ticket system), Tangjiawan (唐家湾), Mingzhu (明珠) or Qianshan (前山, temporarily closed) (or any combination of the four) before terminating at Zhuhai Station: different trains stop at different stations, so if you intend to alight at an intermediate station, be sure to check first if your train will stop there. The first train departs Guangzhou South for Zhuhai at 06:10, while the last train departs Zhuhai for Guangzhou at 22:57.

Guangzhu ICR stations are served by several bus routes. Bus routes 3A (to Jiuzhou ferry port) and 65 (to Zhulinpu in Tangjiawan), as well as a minivan service to Beijing Normal University, serve Zhuhai North station, while bus 207 (to the airport) stops outside of Zhuhai station. There are also taxi ranks outside all stations.

The Guangzhu ICR has been merged into the railway system of China, so the train destinations increased. Trains departing from Beijing, Shanghai, Guiyang, Kunming, Chengdu, Zhanjiang, Zhengzhou, Huaihua, Guilin, Meizhou directions can reach Zhuhai now. For example, as of 2018, the Beijing-Zhuhai train (D923) leaves Beijing at 20:35, arriving to Zhuhai at 07:49 the next morning. The second-class seat fare is ¥779, a sleeper (动卧) is ¥1430. From Chengdu, it's a day train (via Chongqing, Guiyang, and Guilin), D1841, leaving Chengdu at 06:39 and arriving to Zhuhai at 16:52.

Get around
Zhuhai is quite spread out. The terrain is coastal plain broken up by mountains or, seen from the sea, a series of bays and headlands. There are many clumps of development separated by hills, often parkland.

You can walk or take a taxi from ¥10 (the first 3-kilometre); these are good options for moving within a single district.

By bus
Zhuhai has an extensive bus system. The fare for a ride is ¥1 regardless of distance; pay in the box in front of the driver, or by Alipay or transit card (see below). Bus 10 will cross all of the Zhuhai SEZ north to south or south to north. By taking bus 10 it is possible to conveniently move between Gongbei, Xiangzhou, Tangjia, and Jinding. Bus 10 terminates in the south near the Macau border in Gongbei and terminates in the north on the main street of Jinding. Bus 4 will allow you to reach Jiuzhou ferry port for trips to Hong Kong or Shenzhen.

Avoid bus 2, bus K10 at rush hour, and buses 16 and 26 when the classes of boarding schools end on Friday or Saturday because of heavy crowds.

Zhuhai transit cards give you a 10% discount on the buses. Buying a card requires a ¥15 deposit. Zhongshan transit cards and Ling Nan Tong (岭南通) cards (used in Guangzhou and other cities in the province) are also accepted.

The double decker sightseeing bus bus goes to most areas between Gongbei and Jinding for ¥3. Padded seats and good air conditioning make it a lot more comfortable than city buses for long trips. The last sightseeing bus is at about 19:00.

By train
It is possible to move around districts using the Guangzhu ICR, although as trains don't stop at all stations, options for moving around Zhuhai are more limited than with buses. Fares start at ¥6 for second class, and ¥7 for first class: the journey from Zhuhai North to Zhuhai, for example, is ¥15.

Taking the tram from Haitianyi Zhan (海天驿站) to Shangzhong Xiaozhen (上冲小镇) may be also a special experience.

By bike
Zhuhai's streets are mostly flat and the city has extensive bike lanes. Combine that with the attractive views and the fact that the city's attractions are pretty spread out, and you have a very good city for biking. Several competing bikeshare systems operate in Zhuhai; at least the blue ones are usable by foreigners if you have Alipay. In the denser areas of the city the bikes can be found all over, so unless you're going off the beaten path you're sure to find one if you walk for a few minutes.

By boat

To Dong'ao Island: There are four ferries to Dong'ao Island per day, one of which makes the journey via Guishan Island. Standard cabin tickets are ¥85, first class cabin ticket are ¥105 and VIP cabin tickets are ¥125.

To Guishan Island: There are five ferries to Guishan Island per day. Standard cabin tickets are ¥85, first class cabin ticket are ¥105 and VIP cabin tickets are ¥125.

To Hebao Island:: There are usually five ferries to Hebao Island per day. The journey time is around 20–30 minutes. Return tickets cost ¥160, which includes the island access fee.

To Wailingding Island: There are eight ferries to Wailingding Island per day, two of which makes the journey via Guishan Island. Standard cabin tickets are ¥120, first class cabin ticket are ¥145 and VIP cabin tickets are ¥170.

To Wanshan Island: There are three ferries to Wanshan Island per day, including one direct ferry, as well as one ferry that goes via Dong'ao Island and one that goes via both Dong'ao Island and Guishan Island. Standard cabin tickets are ¥110, first class cabin ticket are ¥135 and VIP cabin tickets are ¥160.

Golf
There are several golf courses in the area. These are popular with Hong Kong players who come on weekends as they are cheaper and less crowded than those in Hong Kong. For more details see Golf in China. There is also a driving range in Jida. This is accessible via the #4 bus. Golf equipment is readily available and cheap in Zhuhai, but all branded clubs are knock-offs of varying qualities. There are several small golf shops in the underground shopping complex at the Macau border, several on Lianhua Lu (Lotus Road) in Gongbei, and two larger ones across the road from the driving range in Jida.

Learn

 * Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大学, SYSU). The largest campus of this famous university in southern China is located in Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, consisting of 14 schools. About 9,000 students study here.
 * Jinan University (暨南大学, JNU). There's a delicate campus of Jinan University in Qianshan, Zhuhai, consisting of 7 schools and about 5,000 students.
 * Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai (北京理工大学珠海学院, BITZH). A university academic affiliated college of BIT, consisting 13 academic schools with about 26,000 students.
 * Zhuhai College of Jilin University (吉林大学珠海学院). Consisting of 24 schools and about 30,000 students.

Gongbei
Always inspect the product before paying for it and leaving the shop. Also, note down where you bought the item. You will never get a refund, but Gongbei shop owners are surprisingly diligent about protecting their reputation, so they will more than likely exchange defective merchandise.

Jida
The main drag in Jida is Jingshan Road (景山路; Jǐngshānlù) and it has two blocks of nice department stores:

Western groceries
To shop for imported groceries, including items such as cheese, chocolate, and milk, try

Eat
Cantonese cuisine is commonplace, but street food stalls and restaurants featuring food from all over China are also easily found. Seafood is a local specialty.

Street food

Other tasty local grub in Gongbei can be found on any of the side streets off of Lianhua Lu (Lotus Road).

Restaurants

For a cheap and filling snack, look for the tiny noodle places run by Muslims.

Other Chinese
Food from other regions of China is also available. Hunan and Sichuan food is common.

Within walking distance north of Jusco on the main street of Xiangzhou, there are many restaurants:
 * Turn right at the first corner (KFC) for a big seafood restaurant and a good Sichuan restaurant.
 * Turn left at the seafood restaurant, and 20 meters along the side street will be an alley on your right with assorted cheap local restaurants.
 * At the end of the alley, turn left again for more of the same, including a good Muslim noodles place about half a block along on your right.
 * Back on the main street, turn left at the first pedestrian overpass for good Northeast China (Dongbei) food.

There is a fine Xinjiang restaurant on bus 4 route, one stop north of the Jida ferry port. That is part of a cluster of at least a dozen mid-range restaurants in a newly developed area.

Other Asian
Around the border shopping area, there are a number of good and reasonably priced Thai restaurants.

Pizza
There are several good pizza places, popular with the local expatriate community:

Pizza can also be found in other local restaurants, including a local chain called Pizza Coffee, but the pizza is not very appealing to Western tastes.

Japanese
There are several notable Japanese restaurants in Zhuhai:

Drink
Zhuhai is known for its nightlife due to its status as a tourist destination for Chinese nationals, and as a playground for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan businessmen looking for female company. Whether it's enjoying Chinese street life, mixing it up with all walks of life on Walking Street, sipping cocktails on Bar Street, or hitting the wild electronic discos, Zhuhai has what you're looking for!

Lotus Road
For a truly unique experience, have a beer or coffee at one of the couple dozen open-air bar booths along Linhua Road (莲花路; Liánhuālù; lit. Lotus Road; also known as Walking Street (步行街; Bùxíngjiē)). It is parallel to Yingbin Road and a block east of it, starting on the western side of Gongbei Bus Station, opposite the northeast exit from the underground shopping complex at the Macau border. By day, it is a busy pedestrians-only shopping street with numerous shops.

It transforms into a spectacular must-see atmosphere at night. There are many small outdoor bars, 3 or 4 meters square with a few stools on each side. In the middle is an open area for the bar girls. These girls earn commission on the drinks so their goal is to get you to buy as much beer as possible, partly by helping you put it back and often by winning at various games where the loser must drink. They are experts; do not expect to win. Also, do not expect to take one of them home; they are professional flirts, not prostitutes.

There are many streetwalkers in the area and offers from them are common, although prostitution is illegal in China. There are also beggars who offer to sing or shine your shoes, or present their pet monkey or simply point to their baby sadly.

There are two groups of outdoor bars with the one further south nearer the border emphasizing food (nothing special) and the one a little further north emphasizing drinks. There is a stretch of shops in between the two areas. Drinks are cheap (¥18 for a bottle of beer, fresh fruit juice or cup of coffee), and you get to meet all sorts of travelers, expats, Hong Kong and Macau residents coming over for shopping or cheaper entertainment, local wannabes, and working girls. Hanging out here is by far one of the most interesting things to do in Zhuhai. Use common sense late at night, as things can get pretty wild. Most stalls are open till 03:00 and a few stay open later for enthusiastic customers.

Bar Street
Bar Street (酒吧街; Jiǔbājiē), at around 300 meters long, is a well-established, modern strip of more upscale bars, some featuring live music. It is easily the first place newcomers to Zhuhai go to experience the energy and liveliness of life in Zhuhai after dark. This strip primarily caters to Chinese businessmen, Chinese yuppies, and moneyed or uninformed tourists. It is one block inland and a 20-minute walk from the Gongbei border. Follow the street with the clock tower until it becomes Bar Street.

Zhuhai is heavily infested with pickpockets and bar street is among their favorite areas. Beware of pairs of well-dressed young men who quietly follow groups of revelers; typically they have razor blades for cutting open pockets,

Discos
Your best bet is to hit your bar of choice first and then inquire and explore. The discos tend to be large, intense, heavily into generic Chinese imitation euro-trance music, and popular with the young and rebellious. Cover charges may or may not apply, drinks are expensive by Chinese standards (generally ¥30 or more). Be careful with your possessions as these places are notorious for pickpockets.

There are numerous discos in Zhuhai that will allow you to continue your night into the morning. There are several in Gongbei within a short cab ride of either Bar Street or Walking Street:

There are several slightly smaller, dance type clubs located right on Bar Street.

The Xiangzhou and Jida areas also have popular discos.

Karaoke
For singing and drinking in private rooms with your friends, the following places charge per hour for the room and drinks are bought separately in the mini-supermarket within the facilities.

Gongbei Jida There are a handful of karaoke establishments across the street from the McDonald's as well.

Xiangzhou

There are many KTVs in Xiangzhou.

Jinding

Come to Jinding Barbeque for a unique dining experience and beers aplenty (see Eat Section) and then go to Jinding Karaoke Bar Street, an off-the-beaten-path strip of about 10 truly hole-in-the-wall karaoke bars located northeast of the main street in Jinding. Come here if you want to experience where real salt-of-the-earth working class Chinese people go to get their drinks and howl at high decibel levels into a microphone. It is not easily reached by walking if you do not know where you are going, but it is easy to flag down any of the locals and get a ride on their motorcycle (takes about 3 minutes and costs ¥5) or take any of the taxi vans parked all around the middle of the main street. Just motion that you want to drink and sing and point in an eastward direction from the center of the main street to convey the message. You will be popular here and may be encouraged to join someone's table and drink gratis as most locals will be surprised a foreigner would come here. Drink plenty of beer or bring earplugs or both to dull the volume of the howling.

Other options
The Blarney Stone in the Crowne Plaza Zhuhai City Center (珠海粤财皇冠假日酒店) (listed in the Sleep section below) has quite a number of beers on tap. It is located in Jida. It features live western music performed by Filipino groups, among others, on some nights (usually weekends). The German beers on tap are rather expensive at ¥58 (+15%) but ¥23 (+15%) for a pint of draught Filipino San Miguel is rather a good deal, especially during happy hour (18:00-20:00 everyday) when it is buy one get one free. Although the Irish decor is pretty average, it is a large and comfortable venue for those who are looking for a tamer night out. One of the cheaper hotel bars in Zhuhai and enjoys a reasonable mix of clientèle for a bar in a western hotel.

Sleep
Hotels in Zhuhai are reasonably priced. Travelers on tight budgets can opt for budget or midrange hotels. Most people choose to stay in Gongbei due to its proximity to attractions, nightlife, the Macau border, and its variety of conveniently located and reasonable hotels. Jida has primarily upscale hotels that business travelers sometimes opt for, which are usually conveniently located. Some are further away and require taking taxis or the bus. Further out, Xiangzhou also has a variety of options at different price ranges. The Northern districts of Tangjia and Jinding are further removed from the action of Zhuhai and offer very cheap hotels.

Budget
Most budget travelers opt for low end hotels, and there are a number of legitimate cheaper hotels in Gongbei with low prices between ¥160 and ¥230. Talking your way into Chinese only hotels may land you prices in the ¥120 to ¥150 range. Some hotels in Xiangzhou can be had for as little as ¥100 to ¥120, and in the Northern districts of Tangjia or Jinding hotels can be had for as low as ¥80 if you look around. However, for those who truly want rock bottom prices somewhere other than a hotel, there is budget lodging in the form of hostels, and private rooms offered by individuals or families.

Massage parlours
On the Walking Street in Gongbei there are at least three massage parlours. If you arrive after 21:00 you may pay ¥60 to ¥88 (depending on the room type) for two hours of traditional Chinese massage and they will let you sleep until mid-day without additional payment. In one establishment you may have the room to yourself. It has television and air-conditioning. In the others you share a room with four other guests.

Private rooms
Touts outside the Xiangzhou bus station offer accommodation, often in private apartments with the family on bunk beds in the living room so the bedrooms can earn money. ¥50 a night is usual. These are usually clean and have a TV in every room, but up several flights of stairs and with a squat toilet.

Gongbei hotels
There are at least a dozen hotels within short walking distance of the Gongbei border, mostly either cheap or mid-range (¥150-400) ones. You can bargain the prices down and normally they have special prices, around half the listed price. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to see a low price on the sign, but find when you go in that only more expensive rooms are available, sometimes this is true, sometimes it is an effort to coax you into a more expensive room. Adventurous single male travelers can scout around for rock bottom prices, and may be able to find a room for as little as ¥120-130 if they can talk these Chinese only hotels into accepting them, which is not always possible. Single female travelers, those with young families, or those fearing excessive street noise or noise from other guests should have no trouble landing a room for ¥175-275 (with an elevator, bellhop, restaurant, etc.), which anyone would feel more than comfortable staying in. Most of the hotels located around the border fall into this category. The available options are plentiful so looking around for a hotel that suits you may be the best plan.

Splurge
Most higher end hotels are located in Jida or Gongbei. Gongbei situated hotels are more convenient for accessing the Macau border crossing, colorful nightlife and walking around and exploring. Jida locations vary, depending on the address of the hotel as some are essentially in Gongbei, while others are well north of that and are a taxi ride from the heart of the action.

Connect
The area code for Zhuhai is 0756. When calling from overseas, dial +86 756 XXXX-XXXX

Stay safe

 * In general, Zhuhai is a safe and friendly city. However, it is heavily infested with pickpockets, especially in the crowded shopping areas in Gongbei and on buses. Using a razor to get a wallet out of a hip pocket on a bus is a favorite tactic.
 * In residential and collegial areas, street crimes are extremely rare. However, the police are also rarely seen patrolling at night. Go to the police station or police room to seek help in emergency.
 * Zhuhai is well known for its sex trade, but it is not Thailand. Prostitution is illegal in China, and if you are caught with a prostitute by the police, you may be sentenced to up to 15 days of security detention (administrative imprisonment without trial).
 * As is true everywhere in China, do not drink the tap water, avoid undercooked meats and watch out for counterfeit bills (especially 50s).
 * Unlike most cities in China, cars usually give way to pedestrians, even this may cause traffic jams, because drivers not yielding to pedestrians may be fined.
 * It's illegal to drive motorcycles in Xiangzhou District.
 * Some tour guides will take you to shops that pay them commissions. Those shops are often overpriced, and the usual advice is to never let any local except a trusted friend take you to any tourist shop. One Zhuhai variant involves outrageously priced herbs from a Chinese medicine company called Bai Cao Tang (百草堂).

Go next

 * The bus to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, costs ¥60 to ¥65, runs every half hour and takes 2½ hours from Gongbei or 1 hour 45 minutes from Tangjia. Allow an extra hour for the inevitable Guangzhou traffic jam. You can board one at the underground station in Gongbei to reach Garden Hotel in Guangzhou (花园酒店), or one from near the Gongbei border to get to the Provincial bus station (省汽车站) or Tianhe Dasha bus station (天河大厦). Additionally, it is possible to take the bus from Tangjia in northern Zhuhai to get to the Guangzhou airport, or Guangzhou proper.
 * Between Zhuhai and Guangzhou is the city of Zhongshan, the hometown of Sun Yat-sen, leader of the Xinhai Revolution and founder of China's first republic. There are frequent buses to Zhongshan from Zhuhai, particularly from bus stations in Gongbei. Moreover, trains on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway usually include several stops in Zhongshan, though they sometimes bypass Zhongshan's main stations (Zhongshan Station and Zhongshan North Station) and stop only at suburban stations. If you plan on doing a day-trip just to see Sun Yat-sen's former residence, you should take the train to Nanlang Station (南朗站), then either take a taxi or catch a no. 12 bus. Sun Yat-sen's former residence is about 7 km south of Nanlang Station.
 * Neighbouring Macau can be reached on foot or by car through the Gongbei border crossing, by ferry from Wanzai area (temporarily closed), or on foot or by car through the Lotus Bridge from Hengqin.
 * Hong Kong can be reached by a 1-hour ferry boat trip from Jiuzhou Port (九洲港). Bus #3 will take you to the ferry terminal. Ferries run regularly all day, with the last boat to Hong Kong leaving at 21:30.
 * Shenzhen can be reached by a 1-hour ferry boat trip from Jiuzhou Port (九洲港). You can also reach Shenzhen by high-speed train, which takes about 2 hours because the train must go via Guangzhou. The train terminates at Shenzhen North Station, whereas the ferry will take you to Shekou in the city's far southwest.
 * There are also buses to most nearby cities including Shenzhen (cheaper than the ferry), and overnight buses to Guilin, Xiamen, Zhanjiang and Beihai.
 * The Xiangzhou and Gongbei bus stations have overnight buses to Guilin or Yangshuo. These are fairly uncomfortable. Unlike most overnight buses, they have no on-board toilets, but they do make several stops during the 12-hour trip. A quicker and more comfortable option would be to take a high-speed train. The train from Zhuhai to Guilin takes just under 4 hours. You can also take the train to Yangshuo County, but keep in mind that Yangshuo Station is over 30 km from Yangshuo Town.
 * Flying can either be accomplished by using Zhuhai Airport in the western Doumen district of the city, or taking the bus to Guangzhou Airport. Times vary for transportation depending on how far south in Zhuhai you are departing from. If leaving from Xiangzhou, Tangjia, or Jinding it is nearly as fast, and more perhaps more convenient, to go to Guangzhou Airport. If leaving from Gongbei or Jida, Zhuhai airport would be nearer.
 * There are remote check-ins for nearby airports in Zhuhai. For Guangzhou airport, the check-in is at Gongbei bus station, near the KFC. For Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports, you can check in at the ferry terminal, Jiuzhou Port.

title: Zhuhai


text:
Zhuji

Zhuji (诸暨) is a city in Zhejiang.

Understand
Zhuji City [1] is located in central Zhejiang province north, Kuaiji mountain and Longmen mountain range, Pu in the middle reaches of Yangjiang. Latitude 29degrees 43 ', longitude 120degrees 14'. Adjacent to Shaoxing, Shengzhou, Dongyang, Yiwu, Pujiang, Tonglu, Fuyang, Xiaoshan and other county (city, area). The total area of 2311 square kilometers. The total population of 1157900 people (2011).

Get in
People can go to Zhuji by cars, bus or train. There is a train station in Zhuji, perhaps in some years, people also can get in Zhuji by subways.

Do
In Zhuji, people can buy pearls and tea, because Zhuji has these kind of features. Also, people will go to the family of Xishi at the first time when they visit Zhuji.

Buy
People can buy pearls, metals, tea and stocks.

Eat
Zhuji has a lot of food to eat, the most famous food is tofu, in Zhuji people have many ways to make a delicious tofu. fermented tofu and Xishi tofu are the most famous food in Zhuji, if people go to Zhuji, they absolutely will taste these two dishes.

Drink
There are lots of bars in Zhuji, if people get 18 years old, they can go to bars to have drink. The biggest club in Zhuji is behind the City Square. Many adults will go there to spend their time, because that club which is called Suhe has a good environment and wonderful drinks.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Zhuji


text:
Zhunan

Zhunan (竹南 Zhúnán; also spelled Jhunan or Chunan) is an urban township in Miaoli County, Taiwan; its city centre forms a continuous urban area with Toufen.

Understand
Literally, Zhúnán (竹南) means "bamboo south" but in this context, zhú is short for "Hsinchu". Thus, Zhunan lies south of Hsinchu (cf. Zhubei which lies north [běi] of Hsinchu). Zhunan was traditionally a beach and fishing community, and is closely associated with the sea goddess Matsu. Zhunan's main tourist attraction is its largest Matsu Temple.

By rail
Zhunan is served by the mountain and coastal lines of the Taiwan Railway Administration.

By road
It can be reached by bus and is served by National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan) and Provincial Highway No. 61.

Get around
The best way to get around Zhunan is with your own transportation or taxi.

Temples
The principal tourist attractions are the two temples with large statues on their top:

Do
Jhunan's large beach is suitable for surfing and kite-surfing. You can rent equipment from the centre near the Child and Parent Forest.

Buy
There is an RT-Mart off Ziqiang Road a short drive away in Toufen (see "Go next").

Eat

 * 阿呆鳥刀切牛肉麵. You can recognize this restaurant by the small sign with a picture of a bird. Various kinds of noodles and noodle soups are served. The curry noodles and black bean noodles are both popular. English menu available.
 * 一品 serves almost exclusively duck based dishes. It's at 115 ZhōngZhèng Road.
 * There's a good and inexpensive vegetarian restaurant on the NW corner of Longtian & Santai Rd, near Huanshi Rd. The 2nd rice item, some kind of pepper-flavored purple rice friend with veggies, eggs and walnuts is superb.
 * A few buildings west of 阿呆鳥刀切牛肉麵 on Bo-Ai St is a Cafeteria Buffet (look for the yellow sign w/red text), open for lunch and dinner. Unlike most of the other cafeterias in town, this one is modern and clean with a wide selection of dishes if you come at the right time.  Expect to pay NT$90-110.

Bars
Zhunan isn't known for its nightlife, but there are a few bars.

 * Till Village is a 24-hour Western style bar, a minute's walk from the west exit of the train station on Bo Ai Street (博愛街), the main road leading to the station. It has Western and Asian food.

 * Oh! 麥 has food and a few different kinds of flavored beer, including banana. It's located at the corner of Bo Ai Street (博愛街) and Huanshi Road (環市路). Walk 15 or 20 minutes straight from the west exit of the train station.

Sleep
There are a number hotels near the train station. Hotel Zhu Feng has a dorm with capsules for NT$500.

Go next
Zhunan train station is at the intersection of the mountain and coastal train lines, so it's easy to get a train to anywhere in the country. The two closest cities are Hsinchu to the north and Miaoli to the south (both about 10-15 minutes by train).

There is a small, free Ten-Ren Tea Museum in the industrial area near the intersection of Zhonghua (Hwy 1) & Kexue Roads. It's nothing spectacular but worth a visit if you're in town for an extended period of time and need something to do.

Bus Departure Schedule from Zhunan station. The first big column are the buses to Nanzhuang, 2nd column is Hsinchu, 3rd Miaoli, 4th Toufen, 5th Haikou, & not sure what the 6th bus is. Most of them leave from the train station's East Exit.

There is also a tourist shuttle from Nanzhuang train station to Lion Head Mountain. Ask at the tourist information centre in the train station for a route map and time table in English. Information is also available from the bus webpage although this is more confusing.

Toufen

Toufen is the next town east of Zhunan and is about twice the size. It has a superior selection of restaurants, particularly along Zhongyang Rd. Besides eating however, there isn't much to do here.

Central Toufen, while out of walking distance, its only 10 minutes by bike and 5 by scooter from Zhunan. Buses from the train station's east portal make this run regularly.

There is a night market in a big parking lot in Toufen. It is on Jianguo Rd. It is open on Tuesday and Sunday nights.

Shitoushan (Lion's Head Mountain) & Nanzhuang

Shitoushan is a hill in the highlands above Toufen home to a number of temples and nature trails. Many offer great views of the valley below, and the largest of them offers overnight stays for a reasonable price.

Nanzhuang is a nearby old farming town home to traditional food, hot springs and Xiantian Lake. There is a narrow historic street running through the town center where you can buy treats, tea, etc.

There is a shuttle bus from the Zhunan train station east exit that goes to Shitoushan, Nanzhuang and Xiangtian. An all day multi-use ticket costs NT$100. Buses depart the station at the half hour from 08:30-12:30, then on the hour from 13:00-17:00. The trip to takes about an hour.

It can also be reached by scooter or bike via either Zhongzheng Rd or Shuiyan Rd. in Toufen -> Hwy 3 -> Hwy 124. Hwy 124 runs a loop around the Nanzhuang valley before reconnecting with the 3 farther south. Zhongzheng Road is faster and flatter, Shuiyan Road is challenging but more scenic, running past a large mountain reservoir.

title: Zhunan


text:
Zhuzhou

Zhuzhou (株洲), known as Jianning (建宁) in ancient times, is a prefecture-level city of close to 4 million inhabitants in Hunan province. It is one of the core cities in the urban agglomeration and the city agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

History
The history of Zhuzhou can be traced back to ancient times and spans thousands of years. Dating back thousands of years, Zhuzhou has been the foundation of numerous ancient civilizations. The ancestor of the Chinese nation, Emperor Yan Shennong, established a magnificent farming civilization on this land.

The city of Zhuzhou is known as "the city pulled by the train" because, at the start of the 20th century, it was an inland city with an underdeveloped economic base. However, with the construction and development of railways, Zhuzhou has gradually become an important transportation hub. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Shanghai-Kunming Railway intersect in Zhuzhou, making it a transportation hub that connects the north and south and spans from east to west. The construction of the railway not only brought a large number of people and goods, but also stimulated the development of Zhuzhou's industry.

The construction of railways also brought about a large number of employment opportunities and increased population mobility. Many individuals have secured employment in railway construction and operation, and a significant number of them have opted to establish their residence in Zhuzhou due to the railway's convenience.

Orientation
Zhuzhou City is in the eastern part of Hunan Province, along the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River. It shares borders with Pingxiang (萍乡) City, Lianhua (莲花) County, Yongxin (永新) County, and Jinggangshan (井冈山) City in Jiangxi Province to the east. To the south, it is bordered by Hengyang and Chenzhou cities. Xiangtan City is located to the west, and Changsha City is situated to the north. The average journey to these cities only takes about an hour, so many tourists choose to stay in Zhuzhou to explore the surrounding cities and enjoy "one-day trips" and "two days and one night" excursions.

Climate
Zhuzhou City belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon climate zone. It has a mild climate with four distinct seasons. The spring temperatures are changeable, summers are hotter, autumn air is crisp, and winters are less severe cold. The region experiences abundant heat, rainfall, and droughts that are more severe than floods.

Get in
Zhuzhou is at the intersection of the East-West & North-South railways and North-South & East-West Expressways as well.

By plane
Huanghua International Airport is about 40 minutes away from Zhuzhou. After arriving at Huanghua International Airport, you can take other means of transportation to Zhuzhou City.

Ground transportation:

 * Airport bus: Huanghua International Airport has an airport bus to and from Zhuzhou city. The airport bus operating hours are 06:00-22:00. The frequency and departure time may vary depending on different operators and seasons. It is recommended that you check the relevant timetable in advance.
 * Taxi: You can take a taxi to Zhuzhou from the airport taxi station. This is the fastest and shortest way to enter Zhuzhou from the airport. It is also a comfortable and direct way, but the cost is relatively high.

By train

Ground transportation:

 * Public transport line: there are 2 bus routes into Zhuzhou West Station, Zhuzhou Bus T60 and Zhuzhou Bus T75. Operating hours are 06:00-22:30. Zhuzhou Bus T60 goes between Zhuzhou city and Zhuzhou West Station, if you want to go to the city you can take this bus, but it is recommended in advance that you take this bus if you have very little luggage.
 * Taxi: You can take a cab from Zhuzhou West Railway Station to Zhuzhou city center or your hotel, which is the fastest and most comfortable way to enter Zhuzhou city center, but also relatively expensive.
 * Motorcycle taxi: If you have less luggage and want to arrive at the place you want to go quickly and conveniently, you can choose a motorcycle, the price is generally ¥15-25, but in winter it is not recommended that you choose a motorcycle travel.

By urban rail
Travelers from Changsha and Xiangtan can take the intercity rail into Zhuzhou. It provides seamless interchange with Zhuzhou Railway Station. Zhuzhou, Changsha and Xiangtan are interconnected across the metro system. Prices are based on your origin and destination and are generally ¥14-25, which is a cheap and fast way.

By bus
In China, there are direct buses between various cities that are close to each other. However, it is not recommended to take the bus compared to the high-speed train, as it will be more inconvenient and longer. If you have a lot of luggage, it is recommended to drive or take a high-speed train into Zhuzhou.

By car
You can drive a private car or rent a car from surrounding cities to Zhuzhou. Because most of the sightseeing areas in Zhuzhou offer free parking, and the parking fee for each mall is about ¥10 per hour, driving to Zhuzhou is also a viable option.

By taxi
If you live in a nearby city in Zhuzhou and want to come to Zhuzhou for tourism, in addition to self driving, choosing to take a taxi for travel convenience is also one of the feasible options. The starting price for Zhuzhou taxis during the day is ¥7/2 km, and the unit price for extended journeys is ¥2/km. At night (from 22:00 to 05:00 the next day), the unit price for extended journeys is ¥8/2 km, and the unit price for extended journeys is ¥2.4/km. No fuel surcharge will be charged. Compared to first and second tier cities, it is considered a cheap price, so it is possible to consider taking a taxi for transportation.

In the city centre

 * Cabs in Zhuzhou are plentiful and cheap (compared to Changsha). There is also a good bus network serving the city center. There is a ring road around the old city, and several major north-south, east-west and east-west roads run through the city, connecting it to other scenic areas near the city center, and buses usually run along the ring road or the first ring road. These pathways. The Old Town is within walking distance.

 * Zhuzhou has a public bike rental program, but you need a special bike rental card unless you already have a "City Card" (issued to residents) or a public transportation card. However, there are public bikes for students in the university town that don't require a "city card" and can be used by simply scanning the code with Alipay or WeChat. Therefore, this is not a practical option for leisure travelers.

 * Promoting local tourism, Zhuzhou opened a trolleybus in May this year. There are two lines in total, Zhuzhou Trolleybus Line 1 (24 km long, with 29 stations). It runs back and forth between the urban area and the more remote administrative districts. Zhuzhou Trolleybus Line 2 (21 km, 27 stations). Runs only to and from Zhuzhou city center. Please note that the trolley buses start and stop very early, so please pay attention to the time in advance for your traveling convenience.You can also take a trolleybus to the city center at the exit of Zhuzhou West Station.

 * There are more than 74 bus routes as of 2023, including T1, T2, T61, and more than 492 bus stop information in Zhuzhou City.

To suburban towns
Traveling between Liling, Chaling and other towns can be done by a combination of train and bus.

There are three ways to get to Liling.

There are three ways to reach Chaling.
 * By bus: You can take a bus at Xiangyun Center Station in Hongqi Square, the ticket price is about ¥16 per person, every 20 minutes. The route is: Hongqi Square -Liling Bus Station -No.1 bus -Bus West Station - No.7 bus -Liling East High-speed Railway Station, the whole journey takes about 140 minutes.
 * By train: From Zhuzhou Railway Station, you can take the train to Liling.
 * By taxi: From Zhuzhou South Railway Station, you can take a cab to Liling, the fare is about ¥80.

 * By bus: You can take a bus to Chaling from Zhuzhou Bus Station (next to Hongwei Bridge) or T360 bus stop near the train station, the journey takes about 3-4 hours and the ticket price is about ¥40/person.
 * By train: From Zhuzhou Railway Station, you can take a train to Chaling, the ride is about 1.5 hours, and the hard seat ticket price is about ¥21.5/person.
 * By car: You can also choose to drive to Chaling, from Zhuzhou on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, and then turn into the Chaling exit, the drive is about 3 hours.

Cabs are not recommended for tourists as they can be expensive.

Around Yanling County
In Yanling County and Chaling, buses and cabs transport tourists between major locations such as the train station, coach station and protected areas. Once inside the protected areas of interest, tourists are mostly required to explore the area on foot.

Talk
The languages of the region are Xiang-Xinxiang (湘语-新湘语) and Gan (赣语); the dialect of Zhuzhou city center is a mixture of Changsha and Xiangtan dialects. The dialects of the surrounding counties are heavily influenced by the Ganke dialect and may be difficult to understand. However, if tourists from Changsha or Xiangtan visit Zhuzhou, people from these two cities can easily understand the Zhuzhou language. However, like anywhere in China, most people speak both the local dialect and Mandarin, and unless you are talking to an elderly person, you should have no problem speaking Mandarin.

English is not as widespread as it is in Changsha, Hunan, although the staff of the better hotels and the more tourist-oriented attractions speak some English. Area staff such as cab drivers, local stores, restaurants or railroad ticket offices are unlikely to speak English. It is prudent to write down the name of your destination in Chinese so that the cab driver can take you there, and to carry your hotel's business card so that they can take you back to your hotel.

City centre

 * 文艺路.jpg
 * 文艺路.jpg
 * 文艺路.jpg

Shennongcheng Scenic Area
Zhuzhou Shennong City (神农城景区) is a city open space with Shennong culture as the theme and the original Yandi Square as the core area, providing leisure, entertainment, and shopping for citizens and tourists. The main part includes public facilities and landscapes such as Shennong Square, Shennong Sun City, Shennong Statue, Shennong Tower, Shennong Lake, Shennong Grand Theater, Shennong Art Center, and Shennong Altar.

Liufangyuan
Liufang Park (流芳园) is divided into two parts, the memorial area and recreation area, the memorial area for the municipal cultural relics protection units, provincial and municipal patriotism education base. Recreation area can walk and enjoy the food to appreciate the scenery.

Liling World Ceramic Art City
The China Ceramic Valley (醴陵世界陶瓷艺术城) is a landmark architectural complex in Liling, where the designers integrated the city's unique culture, ceramic bowls, vases, and different utensils into the entire complex. The building has a unique appearance and bright colors. If you have time, you can walk around the various built-in venues and fully understand the development and prosperity history of Liling ceramics.

Zhuzhou Fantawild
Zhuzhou Fantawild is divided into three parks. There are two amusement parks (Fantawild Adventure Theme Park, Fantawild Dreamland) and one hotel (Fantasy Dong Xiang Hotel). Two of the amusement parks are located adjacent, but tickets need to be purchased separately.

Festivals

 * Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) (the first day of the first lunar month) is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is usually celebrated with various activities such as firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, New Year's greetings, and parties.
 * Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar)In Zhuzhou, the government organizes a Mid-Autumn Festival Parade on Wenyi Lane on Mid-Autumn Festival day, which includes a street-opening and lighting ceremony, folklore displays, sharing relay races, and lantern riddles.
 * Tanabata Festival (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month). In Zhuzhou, many special events are organized on the Tanabata Festival. For example, Fangte Tourist Attractions will organize special fireworks display show and light show on the day of Tanabata. The Dahan Yue Center will also hold a Hanfu parade on this day. You can go there to watch and participate.
 * Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month). In Zhuzhou, the government will host a large-scale fireworks show on the Lantern Festival, and a series of Lantern Festival activities will be held in Zhuzhou Yandi Square, where you can see performances, lantern shows and receive some cultural gifts.
 * Dragon Boat Festival (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month) In Zhuzhou, on the Dragon Boat Festival, the government will organize a Dragon Boat Race in Bryan Kou District, so if you are in Zhuzhou on the Dragon Boat Festival, you can go and watch it.

Buy
Zhuzhou is a city with a lot of shopping places with a wide range of brands to choose from. There are many shopping and leisure malls in Zhuzhou.

There are many brands for you to choose from. Prices are included in order from low to high and discounts are often organized. These places are frequented by the people of Zhuzhou for shopping.

Eat

Specialty foods
Zhuzhou has many local specialties and experience the city's rich and authentic Hunan food culture.
 * Fu Yong Egg: Fu Yong Egg is a stir-fry dish in which the egg white and egg yolk are made separately, the white is stir-fried until fluffy, and then the egg yolk is poured on top to give it a hibiscus shape. It is usually served with various sauces and vegetables.

 * Laoyou Noodles: Laoyou Noodles is one of Zhuzhou’s traditional delicacies and a unique rice noodle dish. The rice noodles are delicious with sauce, minced garlic, crushed peanuts and beef in sauce

 * Stinky tofu: Stinky tofu is a classic snack in Hunan Province. This is fermented tofu with a special smell and texture, and is often eaten with chili sauce or vinegar.

Milk tea

 * 茶颜悦色奶茶实拍图.jpg

Bar
You can find some imported beers from Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, etc. Zhuzhou's bars are a good choice for tourists who want to try local Chinese beers or feel happy.

Go next

 * Changsha:The capital of Hunan Province, with its historical heritage, culinary culture and natural landscape, where you can experience a lot of historical culture and traditional cuisine.
 * Xiangtan:Neighboring Zhuzhou, there are many cultural attractions related to the history of the Chinese Revolution in Xiangtan, making it a unique tourist destination.
 * Hengyang:Where you can where you can experience the natural beauty and the idyllic landscape of the water towns.
 * Pingxiang:Zhuzhou and Pingxiang are neighbors. However, Zhuzhou is Hunan Province and Pingxiang is Jiangxi Province.Therefore, you can quickly experience the culture between Hunan and Jiangxi.

title: Zhuzhou


text:
Ziarat

Ziarat is situated 133 km (3 hours by car) from Quetta, Ziarat is a holiday resort amidst one of the largest and oldest Juniper forests in the world. It is said that some of the Juniper trees are up to 5,000 years old. The name Ziarat means, "Shrine". A local Pashtun saint, Kharwari Baba, is believed to have rested in the valley and blessed it. After his death he was buried here. People frequently visit the saint's shrine, which is 10 km from Ziarat. There are other graves as well.

Quaid-e-Azam spent the last moments of his life in Ziarat.

Climate
Ziarat is 2449 metres above sea level and remains cool (below -10 degree Celsius) during winter and receives enough snowfall. It also remains cool in summers. Light woolen clothing for summer and heavy for the winter are recommended.

People and culture
The inhabitants are the Pashtuns. Nomadic tribesmen also pass through the valleys around during spring and autumn with their families, herd of sheep and camels. The women wear shalwar (baggy trouser) and long skirted shirts with a chadar ao Dopatta having embroidered and mirror work. Men wear shalwar, long shirts and waist coat with a turban on the head.

Languages
Pashto is the main language spoken here. Urdu and English are also spoken.

Get in
Ziarat is located 133 km (2 hours by car) from Quetta.

See

 * Prospect Point
 * Sundaymun tungi

Eat
Extremely delicious species of apple, black cherry and almond trees are abundant in Ziarat, covering about 4416 acres in the lap of mountains.

Sleep
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation has a Motel Complex with 18 comfortable rooms and cottages. Accommodation can be booked from the PTDC Offices in Quetta, Karachi and Islamabad. There are other comparatively inexpensive hotels in the town's center.

title: Ziarat


text:
Zibo

Zibo (淄博 Zībó) is a city of 4.5 million people (2010) in Shandong. It is a manufacturing center, particularly of ceramics.

By plane
Zibo is a 90-minute drive from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. The airport bus is available in front of the Zibo Rose Hotel near the railway station. There are eight buses daily, which make airport runs between 05:20 to 17:00. Jinan Yaoqiang Airport has also begun construction of the Luzhong Passenger Terminal in Zibo City which is located on the first floor of the Guomao Mansion in northern Liuquan Lu (Zhangdian District).

By bus
Zibo's long-distance bus station is at 22 Xingyuan Xi Lu, Zhangdian District. Buses to Tai'an, (where Mt. Tai is located) depart every 30 minutes.

By train
Trains provide the most convenient and inexpensive mode of transportation to Mt. Tai. About 15 trains run to and from the mountain, making stops in Zibo. The journey to Mt. Tai from Zibo takes about two hours, with tickets at ¥14-87.

Linzi District
Linzi is a district of Zibo far to the east of the city centre; it is located where the ancient state of Qi once had their capital city.

Eat
Zibo Fried Pork (淄博炸肉): A traditional delicacy in Zibo, this dish involves slicing pork and deep-frying it to a crisp, complemented by a special sauce for a delightful and crunchy taste.

Zhangdian Sesame Cake (张店烧饼): A local specialty snack in Zibo, Zhangdian Sesame Cake is known for its crispy crust and rich fillings.

Jinxiang Big Steamed Bun (金乡大馒头): Originating from Jinxiang County in Zibo, the large steamed bun is characterized by its voluminous size and soft texture, making it a traditional breakfast choice for locals.

Zibo Beef Offal Skewers (淄博牛杂): A distinctive grilled snack in Zibo, beef offal is skewered and grilled until golden and crispy, then coated with a special sauce.

Zhangqiu Meatballs (章丘肉丸): A specialty in Zhangqiu District of Zibo, these meatballs are made from high-quality pork and seasoned with traditional spices.

Zibo Bean Sprouts (淄博豆芽): The bean sprouts produced in Zibo are crunchy, tender, and fragrant, making them a commonly used ingredient in local cuisine.

Zichuan Sugar Fire Cake (淄川糖火烧): A traditional pastry from Zichuan District, Zibo, Sugar Fire Cake boasts a sweet and soft interior encased in a crispy outer layer.

Drink

齐王府-QiWangFu Night Club is a popular nightclub. Taxi drivers are all familiar so getting there should not be a problem. Entrance is usually free for ladies and ¥10-20 for men. Referred to as 'bouncy club' by foreigners in this city. It can be lots of fun if you like dancing. Bigger dance floor than the average Chinese nightclub lots of Chinese techno and drinks aren't too cheap but locals usually head there after they have already done most of their drinking. There are usually games or competitions in between the dancing hosted by the local emcees.

title: Zibo


text:
Zielona Góra

Zielona Góra (German: Grünberg), is the capital city of the Lubuskie voidodeship, in western Poland. It is famous as the wine capital of Poland as well as the northernmost wine growing region in Europe. Each year, a film festival takes place in the summer and in the fall an important wine festival, Winobranie.

Understand
Zielona Góra is a city in the historical region of Lower Silesia, which has a quite long and unusual history for a Polish city. It has been a big wine producer for a long time, and cultivation of grapes date back to the medieval times. The decline of its wine production started with the arrival of the railway, (when it was part of Germany) and it became quite cheap for Silesia to import wines from other wine producing regions. The industry changed its profile to produce other alcohols, such as sparkling wines, brandies, and others. Wine production finally came to an end with the coming of the communist era. The growing city absorbed the countryside, and the quality of wine produced here became disastrous, so people started buying other products, especially Hungarian and Bulgarian wines. The main wine producer went bankrupt in early '90s. The tradition however is triumphing once again with growing number of small wine producers in the Zielona Góra region, the revival of the tradition is encouraged by the city and region authorities. The local products can be bought during the annual wine festival in September.

Today Zielona Góra is a vibrant city full of young people because of its university. The city is also home to a couple of hi-tech companies. Even though it is a Silesian city, it is now the capital of the Lubuskie region. The city is also known for its cabarets (comical groups).

By train
The Polish State Railways has train connections from Szczecin, Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, and many other cities, including Berlin, Germany.

The is situated east of the city centre, it is just a 10-minute walk from the old town. You can also take the bus or taxi to reach every place in the city. The taxi meter starts at PLN 6.00 with increments of PLN 1.20.

By train from Berlin
First, you have to travel to a city in the border with Poland.

From the cheapest to the most expensive, the options are:

 * Take the RegionalExpress to Frankfurt (Oder). It leaves from Berlin Ostbf.  Price (April 2011): €9.20
 * Take the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn to Kostrzyn. It leaves from Berlin Lichtenberg.  Price (February 2016): €11.80
 * Take the EuroCity to Rzepin. It leaves from Berlin Ostbf.  Price (April 2011): €23

Then take a train to Zielona Gora. Always check the time table in advance. Train osobowy is the cheapest, REGIO is slightly more expensive.

By car
You can easily get to Zielona Góra by car from Wrocław, Poznań and Szczecin. You can get there easily from Germany as well, via well-developed crossings at the border in Świecko, Gubin, Słubice, Gubinek, Łęknica, etc.

Zielona Góra has a good road infrastructure. Parking in the city centre can be a problem sometimes, since there are few parking places to satisfy the demand.

By bus
The is located very near to the train station north of the city centre. There are many domestic connections, occasionally faster and cheaper than the train.

There are also international connections (see also Poland::By bus).

By bus
There are 27 active lines that connect different points in the city and surroundings. Except for a few lines (0, 1, 5, 8, 14, 19), the frequency is not good (by European standards). Some buses run until around 23:00, most until around 22:00 and buses like number 12 until around 16:00. Some buses do not run on weekends. There are three lines of night buses. The N2, for example, runs at around 5:30 on Sunday morning (very inconvenient if you go out on Saturday night!).

Tickets (as of January 2024) for a journey within the city cost PLN 3.00 (reduced ticket costs PLN 1.50), no matter how far you travel. If you are going to travel outside the city, you need to buy a more expensive ticket (podmiejski). There are discounts for students, children and senior citizens. All buses are equipped with ticket vending machines, which work on coins and cards. You must validate your ticket.

A 24 hour ticket for journeys within Zielona Góra costs PLN 12.00, while the reduced ticket costs PLN 6.00.

See the website of the municipal bus company for more information and time tables.

By taxi
There are lots of taxis in Zielona Góra, they are easy to find and quite cheap. Always remember to choose the taxis belonging to one of the "corporations" i.e. one of the taxi companies, they are easy to identify as they are colourful with lots of adverts and always a specific phone number on the roof of the cab.

Prices: Taxi from the railway station to the University (4.5 km i.e. 3m) 11-13zł. Of course it is more expensive at night or on the weekends.

Buy
Change your money at one of the many foreign exchange spots in the city or in the supermarkets Auchan and Tesco. It is better not to withdraw money from your bank account via ATMs as they will probably charge you a high commission. Also, do bargain with the teller at the foreign exchange - you may get a better rate.

Eat
As Zielona Góra is a city with university and full of young people, it is (should be) quite easy to find a place to eat.

There are a variety of choices from cheap takeaways to luxurious restaurants. The majority of the restaurants are located in the city centre, specifically in the old town. A good choice in Zielona Góra are the pizzerias, easy to find and cheap.

Drink
As a wine centre, wine should be worth trying. However, local beers seem to be more popular.

Sleep
There are a few of hotels in and around the city center.

title: Zielona Góra


text:
Zigong

Zigong (自贡) is a city in East Sichuan. It used to make its fortune from salt production, but now is better known as a destination that caters primarily to Chinese tourists who come to see its large dinosaur museum, and of course, its salt museum.

By plane
Bus to Zigong are available from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. There are 8 buses per day, including 6 standard-class buses and 2 business class coaches. The fare for the standard-class buses is ¥87 and the fare for the business-class buses is ¥120. The journey time is approximately 3 hours.

By train

From Chengdu, there are eight high-speed trains to Zigong per day, most of which depart from Chengdu East Railway Station. The fare ranges from ¥80 to ¥96 and the journey takes just over an hour.

By bus

Buses to Zigong are available from several bus stations in Chengdu, including Beimen Bus Station, Chadianzi Bus Station, Chengdu General Bus Station, Chengdu East Railway Station Bus Station, Huayang Bus Station, Longquan Bus Station, Qingbaijiang Bus Station and Xinnanmen Bus Station. Some of these bus stations, including Chadianzi Bus Station and Xinnanmen Bus Station have direct buses to the Zigong Dinosaur Museum and the Zigoing Salt Museum. Bus fares range from ¥60 to ¥142 depending on the type of bus. The journey time is roughly 3 hours.

Buses from Chongqing depart from Chongqing Long-Distance Bus Station, every 30 minutes daily starting at 07:00 and ending at 17:30, travel time is 2-3 hours. ¥76.

Get around
Taxis and buses are available. Buses are the cheapest way to get around and they are a fun way to explore this city. Many routes drive along the riverside.

However, maybe the best way to get around is to go mostly by foot, since you can only really see the beauty of this small city when you enjoy it from the closest point of view with the locals.

Do

 * If you do decide to visit, make sure you try all the different types of foods and drinks and definitely don't be afraid to learn some phrases of the local dialect (自贡话).
 * If you do decide to visit, make sure you try all the different types of foods and drinks and definitely don't be afraid to learn some phrases of the local dialect (自贡话).

Eat
Zigong food is one of a kind even in Sichuan, due to its rich culture and history. Some dishes found in Zigong are common to the Sichuan area with local variations, and some are unique local recipes.

Various types of Dumpling or Wonton (served with hot oil and pepper paste) called chāo shǒu Sichuan Hot pot, called Chuan Chuan Xiang Twice Cooked Pork Pepper Beef Mapo doufu Diced Rabbit in Hot Pepper Oil Frog Hotpot Fried Eel with Hot Peppers Turtle Soup Duck in a Hot Pepper Oil Tea Infused Duck Sichuan DanDan Mian - spicyChinese noodles Various Types of Tea Babe Toufu (best in Fushun county and countryside) Unique dishes include:

Fried rice-field frog with fresh pepper (very spicy pepper) (This dish is illegal) Rice-field frog chicken soup (only a few family knows how to make this soup) Try the night food market along the roads (Tongxing Lu), and remember best food are cooked at local's home.

If you go you must try all of the street food and small on the side breakfast places at like 5am to truly get the full experience. P.S. the food stalls at night are so much better than in the day.

 * Rice cake (米糕)：It is a classic snack of Zigong, belonging to one of people's favorite breakfast, which is made of glutinous rice soaked up, then rolled out into fine noodles with a stone mill, and fermented by natural fermentation, and finally steamed in a steamer for consumption. Its flavor is natural glutinous rice fragrance, sweet with aftertaste, suitable for both young and old.
 * Fushun douhua (富顺豆花)：It is a local specialty snack of Fushun County, Zigong City, and the main ingredient is high-quality soybeans. Its flavor is moist, loose and crispy, with a strong aroma. Fushun douhua is a simply processed food among the soybean products consumed in conjunction with tender douhua, douhua seasoning, and rice.
 * Zigong spicy rabbit (自贡冷吃兔)：Stir-frying method has been improved, the combination of stir-frying and deep-frying in the twenty-four techniques of Sichuan cuisine, and combined with the "collection" of cold dishes, cooking now bright color, crisp and not sheep.
 * Small fried chicken (小煎鸡)：Small Fried Chicken for Zigong household name of a local specialty dishes, the child chicken do not have to pick the bones, chopped into small pieces, with the bones and meat plus chili and seasonings together with the fried.

Drink
Zigong Cellar Liquor (自贡窖酒) Crafted using local water, wheat, and other ingredients, employing traditional brewing techniques.

Zigong Old Cellar Liquor (自贡老窖) A well-known brand of Baijiu (white spirit) from Zigong.

Connect

 * Area code: 0813
 * Postal code：643000
 * Administrative Subdivision code: 510300

title: Zigong


text:
Ziguinchor

Ziguinchor is a city in the Casamance region of southern Senegal.

Understand
Ziguinchor region is divided into 3 departments:
 * Bignona
 * Oussouye
 * Ziguinchor

By plane
There is a daily 40-minute flight to Ziguinchor from Dakar, which sometimes continues to Cap Skirring, the main coastal resort.

By boat
The Aline Sitoe Diatta Ferry links Dakar with Ziguinchor. It is an overnight ferry ride, taking about 16 hours. It leaves Dakar Tuesday and Friday afternoon, making the return trip (Ziguinchor - Dakar) Thursday & Sunday. The boat has 'pullman' style seating (CFA 15,500), as well as shared cabins of 8, 4, & 2 (expect CFA 60,000). Book as early as you can, especially in the travel season, as it is frequently sold out. There is a restaurant on board as well as a small bar which also sells snacks.

ALL passengers are required to show their original passport or other form of identification when purchasing their ticket at either the Dakar or the Ziguinchor terminals.

By car
From Dakar, you can drive to Ziguinchor via the Transgambian highway, crossing the Gambia River at the Farafenni ferry. This 450-km (280-mile) trip can be covered in one day. Sept places depart from Dakar early in the morning (be at the gare routière before 06:00). They charge CFA 8,500 plus CFA 500 per bag. The trip will last 8 hours if everything goes smoothly, plus the waiting time at the Farafenni ferry which typically largely exceeds an hour. Expect very bad roads from Kaolack all the way to Gambia's border with Casamance. It is more comfortable to take the road via Kaolack in Senegal to Banjul in the Gambia. When crossing the border in Gambia, officials will stamp your passport. If you are white and have a European or US passport, they will most likely try to charge you for the stamp, anything from CFA 1,000 to 10,000 (this especially happens at Farafenni, much less likely in Amdallai). Demanding for a proof of payment and threatening to contact the embassy in Banjul will probably get your passport back without having to pay. In any case, it is evident that remaining polite and showing respect will be the most effective way to communicate with border officials.

The quality of roads is very bad from Fatick via Kaolack to some distance before the Gambian border in Karang/Amdallai. If coming with a car, arrive as early as possible to cross to Banjul on the ferry, it has very limited capacity and traverses the river only 4 times a day.

Get around
A single stop taxi ride (regardless of the number of passengers) costs CFA 500 anywhere within Zig. The cost for a donkey-cart to transport one bag of cement or rice is CFA 200.

See
Take a stroll around the overgrown government buildings downtown. Check out the boat builders down by the port. Ziguinchor is much bigger than most people's original impression. Feel free to explore the sandy streets further afield, and hey, make a friend or two!

Buy
The best known market is the Marche Saint Maur des Fosses, named after the French town with which Ziguinchor is twinned. The Artisan Centre also attracts many visitors looking for souvenirs typical of the region.

Cope
There is a Guinea-Bissau consulate-general in Ziguinchor that issues multiple-entry visas in a single visit. It costs CFA 25,000 (as of 2023) and requires one photo or a photocopy of the passport identity page. This is much cheaper then the equivalent visa in Dakar (and certainly much more relaxed)! Location - a sandy side street to the left of Avenue Carvalho, within walking distance from the gare routiere.

Go next
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Minibuses (mixto) and taxis (sept place) leave gare routiere for Bissau when full. The price for a 'mixto' seat is CFA 3,500 plus CFA 500 for one piece of baggage. The trip can take up to six hours depending on transport, road and border conditions, bring some water.

title: Ziguinchor


text:
Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo is a city of 130,000 people (2020) on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero. It is a fishing village that has developed into one of the most-visited areas in Mexico. It is popular with sports fishermen. The small town vibe of the historic downtown area earned it a designation as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

By plane
All domestic and international airlines share the same boarding gates (Puertas 1-4) which are assigned only minutes prior to arrival. Arriving passengers are directed to passport control & customs (international) or direct to luggage reclaim (domestic) and then come out into the public arrivals zone (llegadas), where there are desks for car rental and ETASA Taxis (see below) for transport into town. The following airlines offer regular service to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo:

 * Domestic Airlines/Aerolineas Nacionales Aeromexico Connect, Magnicharters, VivaAerobus and Volaris.
 * International Airlines/Aerolineas Internacionales Alaska Airlines and United Express offer regular year round service to Zihuatanejo from the U.S. The following carriers offer seasonal flights from the U.S. and Canada (Nov-Mar): Air Canada, American Airlines, Air Transat, Sunwing, Sun Country, Swift Air and Westjet. The carriers that offer regular year round service offer seasonal flights from additional cities in the U.S. or Mexico.

From the airport Elances Terrestre Aeroportaurio SA de CV (ETASA) provides the shared shuttle and airport taxis into town. The shared ride shuttles cost M$160 to most parts of town and M$180 to Club Med, Melia and Playa Linda. Private taxis (in small cars for 1-3) cost M$550 to Zona Centro or M$600-650 to Ixtapa and other surrounding areas; and M$1100 for a SUV or van (for 1-6 people) to Zona Centro and M$1200-1300 to Ixtapa and other surrounding areas. Taxis and ride share cars (such as Uber) coming in from town can only drop off and cannot pick up passengers at the airport. Going to the airport, the aeropuerto, playa larga colectivos pick up along Juarez near Gonzales and drop off outside the airport gate or a taxi from the city for M$250.

By car
Fed Hwy 200 bypasses Ixtapa and Zihuatenjeo along the north/west side of town as Careterra Zihuatanejo-Manzanillo and from the south/east side of town as Careterra Zihuatanejo-Acapulco. Avenida Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon goes into town from Hwy 200. Zihuatanejo is (4½ hr) north/west from Acapulco and  south/east from Lazaro Cardenas and  from Manzanillo.

Coming from Toluca (west of Mexico City) take Fed Hwy 134 towards "Valle de Bravo, Temascaltepe" from Paseo Cristobal Colon and Del Pacifico south of town. The Junction at Hwy 200 is 404 km/8 hr 46 min in the village of Pantla from Toluca and another 12 km north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Alternatively one can also go north on Hwy 55D towards 15D north of Atlacomuco and then go 146 km west on Hwy 15D towards the Hwy 14D turn off at Aramburao which goes through or around Patzcuaro. Take Hwy 37/37d just west of Uruapan towards Hwy 200 (202 km/2 hr SW of Uruapan) which is 56km north/northwest of Zihuatanejeo via Hwy 200. Going through Atlacomuco, Patzcuaro and Uruapan is longer, distances wise (200 km longer than Hwy 134) but quicker time-wise (6 hr). Because Michoacan and Guerrero states are in bad areas seek local advice regarding safety before setting out and preferably travel during the daytime, before dark, especially if traveling on Hwy 134 which is a libre road.

By bus
Bus service in Mexico is quite reliable and comfortable. Before the start-up of several low cost air carriers, bus was the main mean of transport across Mexico.

Several companies serve Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Buses have air conditioning (except some "economy" ones), and often show movies and have refreshments. You can take a taxi (~M$100) or local bus (La Correa for M$8) in the city to the (Central de Autobuses) to catch an intercity bus to Acapulco (4½ hr); Lázaro_Cárdenas (2 hr); Morelia (5 hr); Pátzcuaro (4 hr); Uruapan (3½ hr); Celaya (9-10 hr); Mexico City (9-10 hr); Puerto Vallarta (14-14½ hr overnight) and to other locations. The main bus station is at Carretera Zihuatanejo-Acapulco (Hwy 200) and De la Parota a block east of Av Jose Morelos y Pavon intersection with Hwy 200. It is located 10 km west of the airport terminal and 2 km NE of the downtown core (el centro) in Colonia El Huja. From the bus station, buses going into Zihua or Ixtapa stop at the opposite side of the road under the pedestrian bridge. The following bus lines offer services into and out of the Central Bus Terminal:

The following has a separate bus station:

Get around
Most of the transportation is done on foot. There are plenty of taxis to take you out to the airport or the bus station. At the muelle, dockside, there are lanchas, open boats, to various points along the coast, most notably the Playa Las Gatas across the bay. Getting to the flashy sister resort of Ixtapa can be done easily by bus.

See
Zihuatanejo is a self-grown little resort on the Bahía Zihuatanejo. The feel of the place is very relaxed and Mexican, and it is very unlike its sister resort of Ixtapa, a planned resort to attract the gringo dollar. Expect to find backpackers and other individual travelers along with Mexican holidaymakers. The latter are also among the more relaxed, as the Mexico City jet-set fresas of course intermingle with the estadounidenses in Ixtapa. The main attraction of Zihuatanejo is the sheltered Bahía Zihuatanejo with safe swimming. Several lovely beaches surround the bay, including the Playa La Ropa ("Beach of the clothes") and the Playa Las Gatas ("Beach of the she-cats"), the first named after a shipwreck including Chinese silk, the latter named after little, harmless sharks called "she-cats" because of their whiskers.

Playa Las Gatas, across the bay from town, is reached by lanchas, open boats. You buy the tickets at the ticket counter, and queue up at the pier. This is usually a quick affair. The beach itself has white sands and plenty of palapas (thatched umbrellas). You sit down under one for free, as long as you order your drinks and your lunch from the owner of the palapa. Snorkeling is recommended from the snorkel shop located just off of the boat dock. A very nice artificial reef was created in precolumbian times.

The small community amphitheater and basketball courts provide great evening weekend events. Located along the pier near the fish market local families will attend Friday night basketball games (summer timeframe) and Sunday celebrations to watch folkloric dancing on the stage.

Do

 * Vicente Guerrero National Park is one of the newest Mexico national parks, having been created in 2023. The park preserves an area of 724 hectares between the Pacific resort destinations of Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo. The park includes the rocky hills of Cerro La Hedionda as well as 35% dense dry jungle and 26% mangrove swamp, along with coastal plains and savannah. The park provides natural habitat for thousands of plant species as well as 293 birds native to the state of Guerrero, 33 reptile species (mostly snakes and iguanas, but also crocodiles in the swamps) and several amphibian species (including several kinds of frogs). The park lies between Ixtapa to the northeast, Zihuatenejo to the southeast, and the Pacific ocean to the west (although the park does not include any beach area as it is developed. The park lands are east and north of Blvd Playa Linda, where you will find park entrance areas. There is no cost to enter the park.

Buy
A true Mexican tourist resort (i.e. a lot of vacationers from Mexico City), there are loads of things to buy in Zihuatanejo. In addition to swimwear and other beach accessories, you can buy a lot of Mexican handicraft. There is of course anything from cheap junk to high-quality artworks.

Visit the shops and market close to the Playa Municipal, fanning outward from the pier. There is an excellent textile shop right along the water.

Eat
If you've never tried pozole, you've never been to Zihua! Pozole is a regional favorite, and in Zihua you'll find it being served up anytime, anywhere, but especially on Thursdays, everywhere. There's usually 3 kinds of pozole available:

 * blanco - white pozole is the tradition classic. It's simply pozole served in a clear chicken broth. Simple and wholesome.
 * verde - green pozole is flavored with a rich mole sauce made from ground pumpkin seeds with a simmering heat of pipian chiles.
 * rojo - red pozole is what you'd typically find in most of Mexico, or at Mexican restaurants outside Mexico. It's got a little bite to it from ancho and guajillo chiles (which is the foundation of menudo spice mix, which some cooks use as a shortcut)

Regardless which color of pozole you choose, top it off with shredded cabbage (never lettuce---Guacala!), cilantro, onions, radishes, and a crushed tostada.

Many street vendors pop up around Zihua every Thursday. Fans of street food will find them on Avenida Benito Juarez, between Calles Nicolas Bravo and Juan Alvarez.

Go next

 * Ixtapa Ten minutes by taxi, 20 minutes by bus, location of the tourist resorts and other upscale hotels, restaurants and bars.
 * Playa Troncones 25 minutes north of the twin resorts of Zihuatanejo & Ixtapa and the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa International Airport. It looks like Ixtapa but without the crowds. Troncones offers many miles of beautiful, unspoiled, golden sand beaches. Stroll, the virgin clean beaches and go barefoot in the surf where flocks of pelicans skim the crests of the waves and endangered sea turtles lay their eggs in the warm sand. Troncones is "the real Mexico".
 * Isla Ixtapa - Catch a boat to the island (which is totally separate from the Ixtapa tourist trap), which has just a few combo restaurant/snorkeling rental businesses. The snorkeling is good and the seafood (served to you on the beach) has probably only been out of the water for a couple hours by the time you eat it.  Very beautiful scenery all around.

title: Zihuatanejo


text:
Zillah

Zillah is a town in the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State. Its tourist attractions are the metal godzilla at the Church of God-Zillah and the Teapot Dome Gas Station.

Get in
The only way to get to Zillah is by car on route I-82.

title: Zillah