Guangzhou + Zhuhai + Zhongshan + Shenzhen · 5 days

The Canton Tower (Chinese: 广州塔), formally Guangzhou TV Astronomical and Sightseeing Tower (Chinese: 广州电视台天文及观光塔), is a 604-meter (1,982 ft)-tall multipurpose observation tower in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou (alternatively romanized as Canton). The tower was topped out in 2009 and it became operational on 29 September 2010 for the 2010 Asian Games. The tower briefly held the title of tallest tower in the world, replacing the CN Tower, before being surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. It was the tallest structure in China prior to the topping out of the Shanghai Tower on 3 August 2013, and remains a distinctive landmark on Guangzhou’s skyline. Planning note: This list crosses several parts of Guangzhou. Choose a river/tower visit or the old-city streets, then an optional evening cruise; a cruise and observation deck are separate purchases.

The Republic of China Military Academy (Chinese: 中華民國陸軍軍官學校; pinyin: Zhōnghúa Mīngúo Lùjūn Jūnguān Xúexiào; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiong-hôa Bîn-kok Lio̍k-kun Kun-koaⁿ Ha̍k-hāu), also known as the Chinese Military Academy (CMA), is the service academy for the army. It was founded by the Republic of China as the Whampoa Military Academy at Huangpu (Whampoa), Guangzhou in 1924. Its graduates participated in the Northern Expedition, the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. Planning note: Sun Yat-sen’s former residence and the hot springs are in Zhongshan, not central Guangzhou. Allow a dedicated intercity transfer; the hot-spring stay is optional and separately booked.

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB) is a 55-kilometre (34 mi) bridge–tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands. It is both the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world. The HZMB spans the Lingding and Jiuzhou channels, connecting Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai— a major city on the Pearl River Delta in China. Planning note: The bridge view is from the Zhuhai side unless you explicitly arrange a qualifying cross-border journey. Do not assume a sea-view excursion admits every passport or includes Hong Kong/Macao entry.

The HZM Bridge was designed to last for 120 years and cost ¥127 billion (US$18.8 billion) to build. The cost of constructing the Main Bridge was estimated at ¥51.1 billion (US$7.56 billion) funded by bank loans and shared among the governments of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Originally set to be opened to traffic in late 2016, the structure was completed on 6 February 2018 and journalists were subsequently taken for a ride over the bridge. On 24 October 2018 the HZMB was opened to the public after its inauguration a day earlier by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Huaqiangbei (Chinese: 华强北; lit. ‘Huaqiang North’) is a subdistrict of Futian, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, one of Shenzhen’s notable retail areas; having one of the largest electronics markets in the world. The area’s status as a major electronics manufacturing hub, and sprawling electronics marketplaces have earned it (and Shenzhen) occidental nicknames such as “China’s Silicon Valley”, and the “Silicon Valley of Hardware”. Multiple malls contain various businesses. Planning note: The move from Zhuhai/Zhongshan to Shenzhen takes part of the day. Choose one Shenzhen neighbourhood rather than promise all four stops.

Huaqiangbei contains a mix of electronics markets, component sellers and other retail businesses. Shops and product ranges change; compare specifications, warranties and seller terms rather than assuming every item is a bargain.

Chung Ying Street (Chinese: 中英街) is a street on the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, within the border town of Sha Tau Kok (Hong Kong) and Shatoujiao (Shenzhen). One side of the street belongs to Hong Kong and the other belongs to mainland China. Planning note: Zhongying Street has special access controls; foreign-visitor eligibility has not been confirmed here. Do not book around access to it. The Yantian coast and Dameisha are alternatives, subject to local weather and access notices; allow a departure buffer.

In Cantonese, Chung means China and Ying England or the United Kingdom. The name is a mark of history of the Second Convention of Peking, a treaty that China under the Qing dynasty was forced to lease New Territories to Britain in 1899.

Chung Ying Street was once a famous place for shopping. In the 1990s, when China was still closed to the world, Chinese tourists visited to buy foreign goods, mostly watches, clothing and jewellery. However, the prosperity has declined in the early 21st century, due to a policy allowing most people from Mainland China to apply to visit Hong Kong directly, causing Chung Ying Street to transform into a place for historical sight-seeing. The PRC government has built a museum about the history of Chung Ying Street to attract tourists again.

A: It briefly held the title of tallest tower in the world before being surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. It was the tallest structure in China prior to the topping out of the Shanghai Tower.

A: The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge is a 55-kilometre bridge-tunnel system connecting Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai. It is the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world.