Top 10 must-visit attractions in the Greater Bay Area

In recent years, many Hong Kong people have chosen to travel north to experience the diverse appeal of Mainland China. The Greater Bay Area of China covers nine cities and two special administrative regions, and boasts rich natural scenery, cultural heritage and modern urban landscapes, making it an excellent destination for travel and leisure. Read on to learn about the Greater Bay Area’s top 10 tourist attractions and activities.

Since the opening of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, it takes as little as 35 minutes to travel from Hong Kong to Macao. Aside from casinos, Macao also offers many tourist attractions, including the Ruins of St. Paul’s, the Senado Square façade, and Rua do Cunha. Its blend of Eastern and Western architecture is full of character. In addition, there are many distinctive exhibitions covering a wide range of fields such as art, culture, technology and entertainment, including Harry Potter, teamLab and F4 racing exhibitions.

For more great places to visit in Macao in 2024, please see 【Top Things to Do in Macao 2024】6 Macao attractions suitable for the whole family

In recent years, the quality of products and services in Mainland China has improved, and prices are also lower than in Hong Kong. As a result, Shenzhen, just across the border from Hong Kong, has become a popular leisure destination for many Hong Kong residents at weekends and on holidays. Shenzhen also has many new attractions, such as Karoo Ice and Snow World, where you can experience skiing; MIXC World, a large shopping mall combining shops, restaurants and cafés; the major supermarkets Costco and Sam’s Club; and the artsy OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park.

Zhuhai faces Macau across the sea and is known as the “City of a Hundred Islands”. It boasts coastal scenery, rich historical and cultural heritage, and cuisines from across the country. Zhuhai Grand Theatre is one of the landmark buildings in Zhuhai in the Greater Bay Area. Inspired by the unique marine species “Razor Clam”, the theatre’s design features two sets of shell-like forms, one large and one small, to create the opera house’s architecture. Zhuhai Ocean Resort is one of the largest ocean-themed resort complexes in China. The resort comprises three major areas: the Ocean Park, Haiquan Bay Resort and Hengqin New Area, bringing together a wide range of attractions and five-star accommodation options.

Guangzhou is a key city in the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. Travelling from Hong Kong to Guangzhou by high-speed rail takes less than an hour at the fastest, making it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway. Guangzhou boasts national-level tourist attractions such as the Chimelong Tourist Resort, the Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, Canton Tower, the Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Yuexiu Park and the South China Botanical Garden. In addition, Guangzhou is also home to many historic sites and landmarks, such as the Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum, Guangxiao Temple, Baiyun Mountain, Zhenhai Tower and the Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, reflecting its rich cultural heritage.

Huizhou is located in the eastern part of the Pearl River Delta. It was once one of the important starting points of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and is also the birthplace of Hakka culture. Huizhou has many natural attractions, such as Mount Luofu, West Lake in Huizhou, and Xiaojing Bay. A visit here not only allows you to experience the beautiful scenery of Lingnan’s mountains and waters, but also to appreciate the unique charm of Hakka culture. Mount Luofu in Huizhou is also one of Guangdong Province’s renowned Five Great Mountains and is known as the “Number One Mountain in Lingnan”. Mount Luofu is famous for its奇,险,幽,秀, and boasts many natural scenic views.

Since the opening of the high-speed rail, travelling to and from various parts of the Greater Bay Area has become much more convenient. Jiangmen also has many great places to visit, such as the Kaiping Diaolou, the only World Cultural Heritage site in Guangdong Province. It is widely distributed and exists in large numbers. The Kaiping Diaolou adopts a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, incorporating traditional Chinese architectural elements such as gate towers and roofs, while also combining Western features such as arches and corridors. In addition to being a classic example of Lingnan residential architecture, the Kaiping Diaolou is also an important heritage of Chinese overseas Chinese culture. If you are interested in historic architecture, it is well worth a visit.

There are many transport options from Hong Kong to Zhongshan, including taking a ferry or a direct coach. Zhongshan has a range of tourist attractions, such as the Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, and historical sites like Cuiheng Village. You can also visit attractions such as the Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street, Xingzhong Square and the Ferris wheel to explore Zhongshan City. The Qijiang River is a well-known tourist attraction in Zhongshan, and along the river there are scenic roads, squares and parks, making it an ideal place to enjoy a leisurely holiday on weekends.

Dongguan has many well-known tourist attractions, such as Songshan Lake, Keyuan, Humen Town and Phoenix Mountain. In addition, Dongguan is also an ancient city that has preserved a wealth of cultural heritage, such as OCT East Dongguan, Keyuan Museum and the Opium War Museum.

Zhaoqing is located in the central-western part of Guangdong Province and is a nationally recognised historic and cultural city. It is rich in historical and cultural heritage, with Duan Inkstone, Guangning green jade and Cantonese opera among the cultural treasures that originated in Zhaoqing. In addition to its cultural heritage, the area is also known for its natural beauty, with famous scenic spots such as Seven Star Crags, Dinghu Mountain and Mount Luofu. Among them, the Dinghu Mountain National Nature Reserve is China’s first national nature reserve and contains rich subtropical zonal forest vegetation, including a zonal primary forest with a recorded history of nearly 400 years.

When thinking of Foshan, one naturally associates it with the martial arts master Wong Fei-hung; indeed, Foshan is therefore also known as the “Hometown of Martial Arts”. Foshan has a distinctive martial arts character, with famous styles such as Wing Chun and Hung Kuen, full of unique charm. Friends who appreciate art can visit the He Art Museum in Foshan. Located in Shunde, Foshan, the He Art Museum was designed by master Tadao Ando and features fair-faced concrete as its architectural style, creating a simple yet distinctive look. In addition to its attractive exterior, the museum also houses a collection spanning modern and contemporary Chinese art of the 20th century, as well as important contemporary art works from around the world.

The Greater Bay Area has a tropical and subtropical monsoon climate, with warm and humid weather throughout the year and ample sunshine. The best time to visit is during spring and autumn, namely from March to May and from September to November each year.

Road

The road network within the Greater Bay Area is extensive and well connected, with major trunk roads including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, the Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway, and the Shanwei-Zhanjiang Expressway.

Rail

The rail network within the Greater Bay Area is centred on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway, the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway, and extends to surrounding cities and regions.

Water Transport

Water transport within the Greater Bay Area is convenient, with numerous shipping facilities such as ports, terminals and waterways. Major ports include Guangzhou Port, Shenzhen Port, Zhuhai Port and Shantou Port.

Aviation

The Greater Bay Area is home to several international airports, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport, as well as feeder airports such as Zhongshan Xiaolan Airport and Huizhou Pingtan Airport, making air travel highly convenient.

Although the Greater Bay Area is close to Hong Kong, the Mainland, like Hong Kong, is crowded with people and vehicles, so Hong Kong travellers may also encounter incidents such as loss of property or illness. For your own safety, purchasing travel insurance in advance is the best way to safeguard your rights and interests.

Travel insurance is divided into single-trip travel insurance and annual travel insurance. If you travel to and from the Mainland frequently, you may wish to consider annual travel insurance. With just one policy, you can be covered for safety throughout the year’s travels. Want to know which travel insurance plan suits you best? Please refer to: 【Annual Travel Insurance Comparison】When is the best time to buy an annual plan?

Note: This article was last updated on 13 June 2024.

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.