This is my 2nd time to visit Zhongshan, my last visit was a year ago but I merely stayed 24 hours back then, I’m determined to see the ” true” Zhongshan this time in 72 hours. The quickest way to Zhongshan is aboard the Star Ferry from Hong Kong (China Ferry Terminal on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui), approximately one and a half hour ride. The ferry ride was bumpy..not the relaxing type but its the quickest way!
We opted to stay at the King Century Zhongshan, you get a spacious room with buffet breakfast, central location, Karaoke and Starbucks (always a retreat, this is how I keep sane within Asian cities…I will dedicate the next post to that) right outside the building and its even attached to a shopping mall. If you can splurge, stay at the Sheraton Zhongshan..just recently completed with a beautiful grand lobby,awesome rooms, the best dim sum restaurant and great service!
Our friends took us on a walking tour of the residential parts of Zhongshan, which I totally recommend..you can see close-up and admire the old buildings and we passed by an elementary school, and many small local shops which was very interesting!
Dinner time. I would never have come to this place by myself..a Zhongshan local must take you here! You get off the car or taxi and the first thing you see is a huge deserted parking lot and in the far corner you can faintly see some people ushering food running back and forth. We were led to our table inside a small room with minimal to no decor, no heat,rusty fold up chairs with two small windows which looked like they were not cleaned for 30 years. First thing I thought of was to head to the bathroom to wash my hands but boy was I wrong…but anyways now the pigeon feast begins! OH MY GOD! The most finger licking good 7 course pigeon dinner slowly reveals itself one by one. First up, the pigeon hot pot! Then dishes of pigeon in soya sauce,pepper-salt,fried rice..all the things imaginable came together!
After dinner we watched a Chinese movie in Cantonese at the movie theater (aka couples hang-out place)…the movie theater had a very low key entrance..no big signs..just enter an elevator and up to the second floor. It was a small screening room but the seats all had EXTRA leg room much more comfy than in North America.
Must do’s in Zhongshan:
- Enjoy Dim Sum at Sheraton Zhongshan
- Relax with a foot massage at Bu Bu Gao (Safe, Clean and Affordable)
- Try Authentic Pigeon feast dinner in a village setting (Pigeon hotpot,soya-sauce,salt & pepper, pigeon fried rice..you name it!)
- Hire a rickshaw just for the experience (they are now all electric-powered)
- Visit the Zhongshan park in honour of Sun Yat Sen
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Tips:
- There is a counter to drop off your luggage before boarding, crew will give you luggage tags.
- Cup noodles are available for purchase on board the Star Ferry
- Alternative to the Star Ferry is taking the Coach Transfer
- ALWAYS have at least 2 packs of Kleenex with you
- Be prepared for “traditional” toilets aka peeing in a hole even in big Chinese restaurants
- If you take the taxi, make sure you communicate the fare beforehand
- Be prepared for bad air quality
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Overall, Zhongshan is a mid sized developing city with plenty of Old World Charm..tons of potential. There’s still a lot left for my next trip to discover.