Happy Valentines Day! To celebrate, I debut my first post!

How to get there:

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 may be bumpy due to wind and waves.

Where to stay:

Save: We opted to stay at the King Century Zhongshan

• Spacious standard rooms with buffet breakfast
• Central location ( Karaoke and Starbucks all within walking distance)
• Connected to a shopping mall.

Spend:

•  Sheraton Zhongshan
• Just opened its doors in 2010
• Beautiful decor and welcoming lobby
• Spacious rooms (perks for SPG members)
• Best dim sum restaurant in Zhongshan

Local Life:

Our local friend 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!

Chinese foot massage/reflexology:

Chinese foot massage at  “Bu Bu Gao”..roughly translated to growing taller step by step. Clean and safe! No worries!

• Step 1: Your feet are soaked in hot water or special mix like Chinese medicine or peppermint (you get to choose)
• Step 2: Meanwhile, you get a full neck,shoulder and back massage.
• Step 3: The foot massage begins concentrating on pressure points to relieve stress and tension in the body.
• The session lasts 1 hour and ends with a mini massage of the full leg.
• Tea,fruit plate (usually watermelon) and TV included

Tip: If you visit often, you can remember your foot massage therapist number and ask for her each time at the reception.

Famous Pigeon Feast:

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!

Local Movie Theater:

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.