Back to where it all began
Welcome to our second annual destination guide to Jiangmen, a city on the western side of the Pearl River Delta with four counties under its administration. Home to more overseas Chinese than any other city on the mainland, Jiangmen offers a surprising mix: offshore islands and hot springs, history and culture, bargain-hunting and golf, ecotourism and dining out. And it?s all just two and a half hours by jetfoil from Hong Kong.
Following the publication of our first guide last spring, the city?s tourism industry has made tremendous strides. A five-star hotel has opened downtown and an international grade resort has opened on Lower Chuan Island. An 80-minute river-rafting course has been launched amid the spectacular scenery of Beifeng Mountain and the restaurant at Li Yuan has opened a delightful new annex in an old schoolhouse.
Our coverage this year is more comprehensive than last. We?ve visited monasteries in Xinhui and Heshan, historic districts in Kaiping, and a newly opened hot spring resort in Taishan with an innovative winter wonderland complete with falling snow. We tell you where to find antiques. And our eating-out guide has been expanded and features an introduction to Jiangmen?s mouthwatering cuisine with bilingual tips on what to order.
While researching this report, we heard the same thing everywhere we went. For several weeks after last year?s guide was published, tourists could be seen carrying it in their hands as they explored the sites we recommended. And from Li Zhixiong, hot springs manager at Gudou Hot Spring Valley, came this request: ?Please ask your readers to call ahead and make reservations! For several weeks after your guide was published last year tourists would arrive at our front desk on weekends wanting to spend the night. We were often fully booked and had to turn them away, which we were very reluctant to do.?
Revisiting Jiangmen was like a reunion with old friends. We had a great time there, and hope you do, too.
