Overview

The city of Zhuhai is situated on the coast of Guangdong Province, on the southern/ western side of the Pearl River Estuary, just north of Macau- and just opposite Hong Kong 's Lantau Island - not far from where the Pearl River Estuary empties into the South China Sea. The city of Guangzhou, the inland terminal point of the Pearl River Estuary, lies about 140 kilometers north-northwest of Zhuhai. The city of Zhuhai is one of China's Special Economic Zones (not to be confused with China's Special Administrative Regions such as Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai , etc.), of which there are a handful. A modern port city, Zhuhai comprises an area of some 7500 square kilometers, or 750,000 hectares (1,853,290 acres), though much of this is water, since Zhuhai administers a number of islands in the Pearl River Delta (Hengqin, Qi'ao, Yeli Islands, etc.), and some even in the South China Sea, such as the extensive Wanshan Archipelago.

The city of Zhuhai proper is a large, bustling but meticulously clean metropolis that is sleekly planned, with the inclusion of many gardens and other green oases, in the typical seaside style of southern China. With its mild climate, Zhuhai is ablaze with colorful flowers, with one species or another in bloom all year round. The city's larger roads are flanked by wide green "lawns" of waving grass on either side, punctuated by flowers in a myriad of colors. The buildings are generally in white, with bright, colorful highlighting, which, together with the seas of green grass, the trees, the brightly colored flowers and the blue of the sea, create an atmosphere of seaside luxury. In 1999, the city of Zhuhai was awarded the "International Award for Best Practices in Improving the Living Environment" by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements - the first such city in China to receive this honored distinction. Not surprisingly, Zhuhai is also praised by the Western media as one of the Top 10 Best Cities to visit in China.

Slightly farther afield are Jinzhou Ancient City, the Four Buddhist Mountains Scenic Area, as well as the many islands of the two archipelagos, Wanshan and Dangan, which are a special treat in and of themselves. Lastly, the Zhuhai Film Festival, which is held every other year in the month of June - in even years - has become one of South East Asia's most important cinema fixtures.