
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Zhuhai / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Zhuhai is the most underrated family destination in the Pearl River Delta — a relaxed, clean coastal city just 40-60 minutes from Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB). Unlike the frantic pace of Shenzhen, Zhuhai is known as the "City of Romance", with a gorgeous 28km coastal boulevard, world-record-breaking attractions on Hengqin Island, and ocean-fresh seafood at a fraction of Hong Kong prices. Entry to mainland China (China visa, Home Return Permit, or applicable visa-free policy) is required; WeChat Pay and Alipay are universally accepted.
Top 10 lists about this destination
Curated by our travel editors. Lived-experience picks weighted by community vote — updated as travelers report back.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom on Hengqin Island holds seven Guinness World Records, including the world's largest aquarium (48.75 million litres of water) and the world's largest underwater viewing dome. The park houses over 100,000 marine animals including whale sharks, beluga whales, polar bears, and a full dolphin show stadium. Adult tickets are approximately CNY 399 (approx. HKD 430); children under 1.4m pay CNY 299. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently rate it 4.5/5 and call it "better than SeaWorld" with outstanding crowd management. Best for all ages; plan a full 8-10 hour day. Located 20 minutes from the HZMB Hong Kong Port by coach.

The Zhuhai Fisher Girl (珠海渔女) is the iconic symbol of Zhuhai — a 8.7-metre bronze statue of a young fisherwoman holding a pearl aloft, standing on a rock in the sea along Lovers' Road. Completed in 1982, it was selected as one of China's most iconic public sculptures and remains the single most photographed landmark in the city. Mafengwo (马蜂窝) users rate it 4.4/5, noting it is best visited at golden hour (6-7pm) when the statue is lit dramatically against the sunset. Entry is free; it's a 5-minute walk from the coastal road. Perfect for a quick family photo stop before or after dinner.

Lovers' Road (情侣路) is Zhuhai's celebrated 28km coastal boulevard running along the South China Sea from Qinglu Bay to Jida, widely regarded as one of the most scenic urban seafront promenades in China. The route passes the Fisher Girl statue, Zhuhai Grand Theater, dozens of seaside parks, and ends near Gongbei border crossing. Families love cycling or walking sections at dawn and dusk; bike hire is available along the route for CNY 20-30/hour. Xiaohongshu users consistently recommend packing a picnic and arriving at sunset for panoramic views back towards Macau. Free access; parking areas dotted throughout.

New Yuan Ming Palace (圆明新园) is a remarkable 66% scale recreation of the original Yuanmingyuan Summer Palace that was destroyed by British and French forces in 1860. Spread across 1.4 km², it features 20 major palace complexes, classical Suzhou garden sections, a large man-made lake, and live evening laser shows on select nights. Adult admission is around CNY 160 (approx. HKD 172). TripAdvisor reviewers praise it as "extraordinarily detailed" and note that the history context gives older children (10+) a powerful appreciation of Chinese imperial culture. Allow 3-4 hours. Located in Xiangzhou, easily reached by taxi from Gongbei border.

The Zhuhai Grand Theater (珠海大剧院) is one of China's most striking contemporary buildings: two conch-shell-shaped performing arts venues on an artificial island in the bay, designed by Canadian firm B+H Architects and completed in 2017. The "Big Shell" seats 1,550 and the "Small Shell" 550; both host international opera, ballet, and orchestra tours year-round. Even if you don't attend a performance, the exterior at night — lit up against the dark sea — is a spectacular free sightseeing experience. Mafengwo users rate the architecture 4.8/5. Performance tickets range from CNY 80-880 depending on the show.

The Hengqin International Science & Technology Museum is a state-of-the-art interactive science centre on Hengqin Island with over 500 hands-on exhibits across permanent galleries covering space exploration, biology, robotics, and ocean science. There is also an IMAX dome theatre and rotating special exhibitions. Admission is CNY 60 for adults and CNY 30 for children (approx. HKD 65/32). Xiaohongshu reviewers say it is "the best science museum in Guangdong for families with children aged 5-14" and recommend arriving when it opens at 9am. Conveniently located near Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, making both an ideal full-day combination.

Zhuhai Safari Park (珠海野生动物园) is a large open-plan safari and animal encounter park home to giant pandas, African safari animals, reptiles, and a popular bird show. A safari bus tour takes visitors through the lion, tiger, and herbivore zones, while the walk-through "small animals" section is a favourite with young children. Adult tickets are CNY 180 (approx. HKD 195); children under 1.2m enter free. Mafengwo reviewers rate it 4.2/5 and particularly highlight the panda feeding session (limited daily slots, book via WeChat). Allow 3-4 hours. Located in the Golden Bay area, a 20-minute taxi ride from Gongbei border.

Golden Beach (黄金海滩) is Zhuhai's best and most popular ocean beach — a 4.5km stretch of clean golden sand on the South China Sea in Jinwan District, consistently rated among the top beaches in Guangdong province. The beach has changing facilities, lifeguards, beach volleyball courts, water sports rentals (jet ski, banana boat from CNY 50-200), and multiple seafood restaurants along the coastal road. Entry is free. Xiaohongshu users recommend visiting on weekday mornings to avoid weekend crowds; the water is warm enough to swim from May to October. Drive or taxi from Gongbei is about 35 minutes.

The Zhuhai Airshow (China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition) is one of the world's largest air shows, held every two years at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport. On non-show years, the permanent Zhuhai Aviation Museum (珠海航空博物馆) displays over 100 historic Chinese military aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft, including the Shenzhou capsule and J-20 stealth fighter replicas. Admission is CNY 80 adults, CNY 40 children (approx. HKD 86/43). Mafengwo users describe it as "essential for aviation-mad children" with the outdoor aircraft park being particularly popular. Next air show: November 2026. Allow 2-3 hours.

The Wanzai ferry port in Zhuhai offers a unique 5-minute ferry crossing to the Macau border gate, making it one of the fastest and most scenic ways to hop between the two destinations. Families can combine a morning in Zhuhai with an afternoon in Macau (Venetian, Cotai Strip) using this little-known connection, rather than the longer coach trip via HZMB. Ferry tickets are just CNY 20 (HKD 22) per adult. The Zhuhai-side waterfront at Wanzai also has fresh oyster and seafood stalls rated highly on Dianping (大众点评) for an affordable waterfront lunch.
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Chimelong Ocean Kingdom on Hengqin Island holds seven Guinness World Records, including the world's largest aquarium (48.75 million litres of water) and the world's largest underwater viewing dome. The park houses over 100,000 marine animals including whale sharks, beluga whales, polar bears, and a full dolphin show stadium. Adult tickets are approximately CNY 399 (approx. HKD 430); children under 1.4m pay CNY 299. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently rate it 4.5/5 and call it "better than SeaWorld" with outstanding crowd management. Best for all ages; plan a full 8-10 hour day. Located 20 minutes from the HZMB Hong Kong Port by coach.

The Zhuhai Fisher Girl (珠海渔女) is the iconic symbol of Zhuhai — a 8.7-metre bronze statue of a young fisherwoman holding a pearl aloft, standing on a rock in the sea along Lovers' Road. Completed in 1982, it was selected as one of China's most iconic public sculptures and remains the single most photographed landmark in the city. Mafengwo (马蜂窝) users rate it 4.4/5, noting it is best visited at golden hour (6-7pm) when the statue is lit dramatically against the sunset. Entry is free; it's a 5-minute walk from the coastal road. Perfect for a quick family photo stop before or after dinner.

Lovers' Road (情侣路) is Zhuhai's celebrated 28km coastal boulevard running along the South China Sea from Qinglu Bay to Jida, widely regarded as one of the most scenic urban seafront promenades in China. The route passes the Fisher Girl statue, Zhuhai Grand Theater, dozens of seaside parks, and ends near Gongbei border crossing. Families love cycling or walking sections at dawn and dusk; bike hire is available along the route for CNY 20-30/hour. Xiaohongshu users consistently recommend packing a picnic and arriving at sunset for panoramic views back towards Macau. Free access; parking areas dotted throughout.

New Yuan Ming Palace (圆明新园) is a remarkable 66% scale recreation of the original Yuanmingyuan Summer Palace that was destroyed by British and French forces in 1860. Spread across 1.4 km², it features 20 major palace complexes, classical Suzhou garden sections, a large man-made lake, and live evening laser shows on select nights. Adult admission is around CNY 160 (approx. HKD 172). TripAdvisor reviewers praise it as "extraordinarily detailed" and note that the history context gives older children (10+) a powerful appreciation of Chinese imperial culture. Allow 3-4 hours. Located in Xiangzhou, easily reached by taxi from Gongbei border.

The Zhuhai Grand Theater (珠海大剧院) is one of China's most striking contemporary buildings: two conch-shell-shaped performing arts venues on an artificial island in the bay, designed by Canadian firm B+H Architects and completed in 2017. The "Big Shell" seats 1,550 and the "Small Shell" 550; both host international opera, ballet, and orchestra tours year-round. Even if you don't attend a performance, the exterior at night — lit up against the dark sea — is a spectacular free sightseeing experience. Mafengwo users rate the architecture 4.8/5. Performance tickets range from CNY 80-880 depending on the show.

The Hengqin International Science & Technology Museum is a state-of-the-art interactive science centre on Hengqin Island with over 500 hands-on exhibits across permanent galleries covering space exploration, biology, robotics, and ocean science. There is also an IMAX dome theatre and rotating special exhibitions. Admission is CNY 60 for adults and CNY 30 for children (approx. HKD 65/32). Xiaohongshu reviewers say it is "the best science museum in Guangdong for families with children aged 5-14" and recommend arriving when it opens at 9am. Conveniently located near Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, making both an ideal full-day combination.

Zhuhai Safari Park (珠海野生动物园) is a large open-plan safari and animal encounter park home to giant pandas, African safari animals, reptiles, and a popular bird show. A safari bus tour takes visitors through the lion, tiger, and herbivore zones, while the walk-through "small animals" section is a favourite with young children. Adult tickets are CNY 180 (approx. HKD 195); children under 1.2m enter free. Mafengwo reviewers rate it 4.2/5 and particularly highlight the panda feeding session (limited daily slots, book via WeChat). Allow 3-4 hours. Located in the Golden Bay area, a 20-minute taxi ride from Gongbei border.

Golden Beach (黄金海滩) is Zhuhai's best and most popular ocean beach — a 4.5km stretch of clean golden sand on the South China Sea in Jinwan District, consistently rated among the top beaches in Guangdong province. The beach has changing facilities, lifeguards, beach volleyball courts, water sports rentals (jet ski, banana boat from CNY 50-200), and multiple seafood restaurants along the coastal road. Entry is free. Xiaohongshu users recommend visiting on weekday mornings to avoid weekend crowds; the water is warm enough to swim from May to October. Drive or taxi from Gongbei is about 35 minutes.

The Zhuhai Airshow (China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition) is one of the world's largest air shows, held every two years at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport. On non-show years, the permanent Zhuhai Aviation Museum (珠海航空博物馆) displays over 100 historic Chinese military aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft, including the Shenzhou capsule and J-20 stealth fighter replicas. Admission is CNY 80 adults, CNY 40 children (approx. HKD 86/43). Mafengwo users describe it as "essential for aviation-mad children" with the outdoor aircraft park being particularly popular. Next air show: November 2026. Allow 2-3 hours.

The Wanzai ferry port in Zhuhai offers a unique 5-minute ferry crossing to the Macau border gate, making it one of the fastest and most scenic ways to hop between the two destinations. Families can combine a morning in Zhuhai with an afternoon in Macau (Venetian, Cotai Strip) using this little-known connection, rather than the longer coach trip via HZMB. Ferry tickets are just CNY 20 (HKD 22) per adult. The Zhuhai-side waterfront at Wanzai also has fresh oyster and seafood stalls rated highly on Dianping (大众点评) for an affordable waterfront lunch.

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