🧭 China Day 1 – From Hong Kong to Shenzhen: A High-Tech Start at Pagoda Hotel!
This was the first day of our journey into mainland China, and it already felt like stepping into the future.
🚗 We took a private car from Hong Kong to Shenzhen in the afternoon. The border crossing was surprisingly smooth, with barely any delays.
🏨 Our hotel for the night was the super futuristic Pagoda Hotel — as soon as we stepped in, we felt like we had time-traveled to the future!
Everything in the room was automated:
- The toilet lid opened by itself, the seat was heated, and it flushed automatically.
- Curtains opened with the press of a button.
- Lights were voice-controlled.
- You could even operate the TV using your phone.
The room was spotless and minimalist — super comfy.
🤖 The coolest thing? The hotel had a delivery robot! If you ordered food, the staff would place it inside the robot, and it would ride the elevator and deliver it right to your room. So fun!
🌃 At night, we explored the Futian night market. It was packed with people, flashing lights, and mouthwatering street food smells everywhere. It reminded me a little of Taiwan night markets, but with its own vibe. We grabbed some skewers, fruit juice, and snacks — totally alive with energy. That’s when it really hit me: “Yup, we’re in China now.”
🧭 China Day 2 – Wandering Huaqiangbei + Epic Hotpot Dinner!
We didn’t plan much today, but everything we did turned out amazing.
🥐 Had a simple but decent breakfast at the hotel — bread, congee, eggs, and soy milk. Then we were off!
🚇 Took the subway to the Huaqiangbei Electronics Market — the largest electronics market in the world. And wow… it was everything I imagined and more.
👾 This place was heaven for tech lovers! You could find:
- Glowing charging cables
- Foldable keyboards
- Mini drones
- Combo handheld fans + air purifiers
- And the best part? I bought a hilarious-looking massage gun that actually worked super well — it came with three attachments too. Bargain!
🛍️ Took a break at a small tea shop nearby. Shenzhen felt fast-paced, but markets like this reminded me of old-school Hong Kong — a mix of old and new.
🍲 The highlight? Hotpot dinner with friends. Everyone had their own mini pot, and we shared a giant table full of fresh ingredients — beef tripe, hand-cut meatballs, mushrooms, veggies, and sweet corn broth. So satisfying!
🍷 We even had wine and tea on the side. It felt warm, hearty, and just perfect after a long day.
🧭 China Day 3 – Long Ride to Jiangmen + Warm Firepot Welcome
Today we left Shenzhen and took a long-distance car ride to Jiangmen.
🚗 We arrived around 4 PM, and the vibe here was immediately calmer and greener than Shenzhen.
Our friend in Jiangmen had prepared a big firepot feast for us. The smell when we walked in? Incredible. The flavors? So good! The style here was light broth but super generous with meat and toppings.
We spent the night eating, chatting, and laughing — it felt like a true family dinner.
🧭 China Day 4 – Old Town Vibes in Qimingli 🎭🍵
Today we explored one of Jiangmen’s most iconic spots: Qimingli.
🏘️ This area has an old-school charm — narrow alleys, vintage shophouses, and that perfect “movie set” look. Every corner felt like a scene from a drama!
🎭 We even caught a shadow puppet show! It was a short “Journey to the West” scene, with music and narration all done live — small stage, big impact.
🎬 Bonus find: We learned that the hit drama “The Knockout” filmed scenes here! Nearly every teahouse in Qimingli has recreated the set, and visitors love guessing which one is the real filming spot.
🛒 Later, we visited the wet market. Though small, it was full of energy — fresh produce, seafood, spices, everything you’d expect from a true neighborhood market.
🌃 Qimingli at night? Magical. Vintage lanterns, soft lights, and a relaxed pace. A lovely way to wrap up the day.
🧭 China Day 5 – Mount Guifeng + Surprise Tofu Heaven
Our day started with a peaceful visit to Guifeng Mountain National Park.
🌄 Nature here was stunning — lush bamboo forests, mountain air, and a calm vibe that made you want to walk slowly and just take it all in.
🍧 Along the trail, we saw a crowd around a small stand. Turns out they were selling the area’s famous hot spring tofu pudding. Unlike cold versions, this one was made with heated mountain spring water — warm, silky, and lightly sweet. Honestly, it might be the best tofu pudding I’ve ever had!
🌃 At night, the mountain trail was lit up — gentle lights and quiet paths made it feel magical. Like walking through a dream.
🧭 China Day 6 – New Hotel + First Taste of “Farmhouse Cuisine”
Today we checked into Mingguan Jinkairui Hotel — modern, quiet, and right next to Wanda Plaza, which made shopping super convenient!
🏬 We browsed the mall a bit in the afternoon — snacked, took pics, and picked up some local treats.
🌾 Then came the surprise of the night: a friend invited us for local farmhouse food.
Think countryside vibes: wooden tables, old-school décor, and super homey dishes like:
- Braised pork knuckle with peanuts
- Steamed free-range chicken
- Tofu hotpot
- Stir-fried mountain greens
- Steamed river fish
Everything tasted homemade, fresh, and comforting. It truly felt like a warm meal in someone’s village kitchen — a beautiful experience.
🧭 China Day 7 – Museum Morning + Temple Trails on the Mountain
Today we started with a quick visit to the Jiangmen Cultural Center — right across from our hotel!
🏛️ The exhibits were small but meaningful — local history, calligraphy, and stories of overseas Chinese. It turns out Jiangmen is a major hometown for Chinese migrants around the world!
🌄 In the afternoon, we returned to Guifeng Mountain. This time, we rode the scenic shuttle all the way up to the famous Guanyin statue.
🙏 The statue was grand and peaceful, overlooking the forests. There were also a few temples nearby — old, quiet, and filled with incense and flower gardens.
We slowly walked down the mountain, stopping to enjoy views, stone markers, and forest trails. Legs were sore, but it was 100% worth it.
🧭 Day 8 – Old House Tour + Cheap Chinese LEGO?!
Back to Qimingli again because… we just can’t get enough of it!
🏠 This time we toured a preserved old house (entry was only about ¥10). A local guide happily explained the home’s history — and when he learned we were foreigners, he got SO excited, asking to take our photos for promotional use 😂. We didn’t mind!
🧸 Then we stumbled into a toy store — and wow, Chinese LEGO-style building blocks everywhere. Same look and feel, crazy cheap. We loaded up a bunch to bring home. Good quality too!
🧭 Day 9 – Electric Bike Adventures Around Town!
Today we tried something fun: renting an electric bike.
💸 For just ¥35 a day, we zipped around Jiangmen with no set plan — just exploring.
🌇 Naturally, we ended up at Qimingli again. This time we:
🍋 Finally tried the famous lemon tea — fresh, sour, sweet, and super refreshing.
🍰 Tasted Bengsha cake, a crumbly, old-school treat that melts in your mouth.
🎐 Bought a folding fan and had our names written on it — a perfect little souvenir.
🧭 Day 10 – Chill Day in Donghu Park
Still loving our electric bikes, so today we headed to Donghu Park.
🌳 It was a peaceful local park with lakes, bridges, pavilions, and flowers. Lots of locals dancing, exercising, and playing chess. We found a quiet spot to sit, drink water, and just chill.
That slow, simple rhythm was exactly what we needed.
🐚 Days 11–13 – Zhuhai: Piano Concerts, Seashell Theater & Dreamy Apartments
🚌 Day 11: Took a bus to Zhuhai. Stayed in a basic hotel and had a low-key dinner. At this point in the trip, a simple meal felt perfect.
🎹 Day 12: Visited the jaw-dropping Zhuhai Grand Theatre — shaped like two giant seashells by the sea. Absolutely stunning!
We caught a live piano concert inside — elegant and relaxing. Next door, there was even a helicopter tour (¥350 for a quick round). We skipped it but watched others take off. Super cool!
🏠 Day 13: Switched to a serviced apartment, and wow — it felt like a real home. Living room, kitchen, dining area — pure comfort.
In the afternoon, we strolled through Nanping Town’s Beishan Community, full of old charm and cute little cafes. Quiet, calm, and just lovely.
As the day ended, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad… because tomorrow is our final stop: Macau.
🙏 If you enjoyed this post, feel free to give it a like or share. Thanks for reading all the way to the end!
Next up — a different side of Macau 🇲🇴✨
Real Traveler, Real Experiences, Real Results. 
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