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Zhongshan

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For other places with the same name, see Zhongshan (disambiguation).

Zhongshan (中山; Zhōng​shān​) is a city in Guangdong Province in China.

[edit] Understand

Sun Zhong Shan or Sun Yat Sen, who led the 1911 revolution against the Manchus and became president of China was from Zhongshan. His former home is now a museum.

At one point, Zhongshan was the adminstrative capital of a region that included Zhuhai. Then Zhuhai became a Special Economic Zone with its own administration, and now it is the most important city of the area. Foreign staff of Zhongshan factories often prefer to live in Zhuhai and commute. The two are close enough that some city busses run between them; it takes about half an hour.

[edit] Get in

One can reach Zhongshan by:

  • Metro bus or taxi from Zhuhai
  • Long distance bus from most cities in Guangdong Province.
  • Ferry from Hong Kong.

There is a Zhuhai-Guangzhou light rail line under construction, with a connection to Zhongshan. As of mid-2009, this is not yet in service but construction looks near complete.

Zhongshan does not have an airport. The Guangzhou and Zhuhai airports are easily reached, Zhuhai is closer but Guangzhou has more flights. Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong airports are other possibilities.

[edit] Get around

Taxis are cheap and metered. If you are not good at bargaining make sure that the driver turns on the meter when you start your journey.

Buses are clean, cheap and efficient.

Motorbike taxis are cheap and fast, however safety standards are obviously quite low.

[edit][add listing] See

Zhongshan is a sleepy town considered small by Chinese standards. There are hot spring resorts and small lakes and golf courses but by most accounts it is not a place that most foreigners visit to see very interesting things. Zhongshan is not so much a place to see interesting things. It is more a place to raise a family/children and retire.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Learn

There is a new college of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the hills southeast of the city.

[edit] Work

There are foreign companies in Zhongshan but there are not employment opportunities that big cities offer for expats. The standard for English teaching is below the national standard. Teaching full time, expats usually take privates students to make more.

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is an antique furniture area in the Zhongshan Sanxiang Guhe area. The prices are high by national standards and expats should bargain fierce (hire local to assist) as Chinese business people are good barigainer.

Most of the pieces look like real antiques, but are actually newly made replicas from tropical rain forest wood.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

  • Bellavista Restaurant, Unit 3, Borough 1, 39 Qiguan West Road (岐关西路39号，一区，3卡), ☎ +86 760 88812988 (, fax: +86 760 88804588). 3 Chefs Restaurant. German and Italien (Peter), Thai (Toffee), and Indian (Johnny). Prices medium.  edit

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

Beware: Chinese bars/disco are extreme loud and you can lose your hearing if you are frequent guest. Expat bars are one of few places that one can have nice beer and still speaking.

  • Alex Bar, Qiquan West Road (Next to Wei Jing Wan). Really good German style bar with German beer. Live music every day. The food is fantastic and the pool tables are wonderful! If you go Fridays or Saturdays, you better reserve a table. On Fridays you can eat Pizza for ¥39 all you can eat. On Saturdays they do a buffet for ¥88, the best there are the Indian and Thai curries and the BBQ.  edit
  • See Club, (Next to Zhongshan International Hotel). Biggest and most vibrant night club in Zhongshan.  edit
  • Gen Ju Di Jiu Ba, (Opposite People's Hospital). A truly authentic Chinese bar. Look out for the communist star over the entrance.  edit
  • New Bar Street, Qiguan West Road (Near Alex's Bar). A whole complex of clubs and Bars, including iClub and Fashion Club.  edit
  • Friends Club, (Next to Zhongshan International Hotel). The first foreign owned bar in Zhongshan.  edit
  • O Hagans, Qiguan West Road. Irish Pub. Very good pizza.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Hotels and motels are like most cities in China. Range in price ¥200-1,500.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out

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