Advertisement
Advertisement

East, West, Old, New

Zhongshan is the kind of place you don't want to rush through, and with everything in such close proximity, you won't need to

If you like Macau, you will love Zhongshan. The city's leaders are acutely aware of the importance of preserving their heritage, and have done a good job maintaining the evidence of more than 400 years of contact with the outside world. Zhongshan was the first major city in southern China to re-open to outside tourists following the reforms of 1979, and it shows: historic buildings at every turn provide an undeniable 'East meets West' ambience. In a modern sense, too, Zhongshan has aesthetic appeal. With some of China's best landscaping, touches of Singapore abound. Stylish suburbs filled with tasteful housing developments are proliferating, offering the growing middle class a lifestyle to match their ambitions. Yet the pace appears never to be too frenetic here: a large contingent of the population spends their time outdoors, running, playing table tennis or basketball, or just enjoying the parks.

And speaking of parks, it's hard to miss them. As the birthplace of Sun Yat-sen Zhongshan is full of monuments, most of which are in well-designed parks that deserve to be explored at a leisurely pace.

Even after all the sightseeing options have been exhausted, there is no end to the time you can spend around the pool, on the golf course, at the tennis court, or out shopping along the Sunwen Road pedestrian mall for local specialities like the city's renowned almond cakes.

Sunwen Road (West)

Running through the heart of Zhongshan's Old Town near the river is Sunwen Road West . Turned into a pedestrian mall in 1999, this 529-metre strip of carefully renovated buildings makes for a great early evening stroll. The mostly four- and five-storey structures, an architectural hodgepodge of Europe and Asia, have been painstakingly restored and are beautifully illuminated at night. More than 100 years old, this stretch of Sunwen Road was once Zhongshan's commercial heart. Now that it is a pedestrian mall, it attracts large crowds of window-shoppers, especially on weekend evenings. This is clearly the place to see and be seen. While in the neighborhood, don't miss the He Sheng Long Bakery , located in a historic white stucco structure at 9 Nanji Road.This is where you'll find the almond cakes that Zhongshan has become famous for.

More than 130 shops now line the pedestrian mall. With the exception of a few chemists and restaurants, the overwhelming majority of them are inexpensive clothing outlets along the lines of Bossini, Giordano, and G2000. There are also a few shops selling ladies' handbags, sporting goods, and shoes. It's a good start. With a few upscale teashops, coffee houses, antique shops, art galleries, and pubs this might one day become a world-class tourist destination.

Sunwen Road can be reached via local bus number 2.

Xingzhong Road

Running from the Zhongshan National People's Congress to the North and Sun Wen Memorial Park to the South, Xinzhong Road is one of China's most beautifully designed urban streetscapes. Completed in 1999, the six-lane boulevard is seen as a model for the rest of the country. Stately palm trees compete with lush mango trees for attention. Closer to the ground, a profusion of morning glories and chrysanthemums, firecracker blossoms and tiny rosebuds form a riotous profusion of reds, yellows, oranges, burgundies, and pinks. If you have the time, stroll it; if not, a drive will take 10 minutes.

Post