Jiangmen sits on the lower reaches of the Xi River and the Tan River in the western Pearl River Delta, about 100 kilometres from Guangzhou and Zhuhai by highway. It is a treaty-port city with a waterfront of early twentieth-century buildings, and it is the ancestral homeland of a large overseas Chinese diaspora, which is why the countryside around it is scattered with the watchtowers and merchant houses those emigrants paid for.
For a visitor, the practical shape of the place is simple: the built-up centre is made up of three urban districts — Pengjiang, Jianghai and Xinhui — while the more rural county-level cities of Taishan, Kaiping, Enping and Heshan spread out around them. Where you base yourself depends on whether you want city conveniences, quick access to the rail station, or a countryside full of heritage towers. This guide covers the areas worth considering, what each suits, and how the accommodation tiers differ.
Best areas to stay in Jiangmen
1. Pengjiang District
Pengjiang is the central urban district and the most straightforward base for a first visit. It is the city core, with the waterfront area where the treaty-port buildings stand, and it gives you the widest choice of places to eat and shop in the evening. If you want to see the city itself rather than use it as a jumping-off point, this is where to stay.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who prefers to walk out of their accommodation into the busiest part of town. The trade-off is that it is city rather than countryside, so the diaolou and the water towns of the rural counties are day trips from here, not walks.
2. Jianghai District
Jianghai is the second of the three urban districts, sitting within the central city area. It is a city base rather than a scenic one, and it works well if you want to be in the urban region without being in its busiest quarter.
It suits travellers who are in Jiangmen for the city and its connections rather than for the heritage countryside. As with Pengjiang, expect an urban setting and plan on transport for the outlying sights.
3. Xinhui District
Xinhui is the third urban district, and it is also the name of one of the counties of the Siyi, the ancestral homeland region. Staying here puts you at the edge of the city proper with the rural hinterland closer at hand.
It suits visitors who want a quieter base and easier access to the countryside and the older settlements. It is still an urban district, so you keep city amenities while being nearer the rural side of Jiangmen.
4. Kaiping
Kaiping is a county-level city within Jiangmen, and it is mostly countryside scattered with early twentieth-century watchtowers — the fortified multi-storey diaolou, also called Gold Mountain Towers. Chikan, on the waterfront, has a concentration of the western-style buildings put up by returned overseas Chinese merchants, and the city government has been running a renewal project to restore them.
This is the area to choose if the towers and the emigrant architecture are the reason for your trip. It suits travellers who would rather wake up in the countryside than commute to it, and who accept that evenings will be quiet. Note that the sights are scattered across open country, so you will need your own transport or local arrangements to move between them.
5. Taishan
Taishan is a county-level city to the west, described as small and beautiful, and it is the ancestral home of many American Chinese. It is a distinct place within Jiangmen, with its own Taishanese speech, which differs from the Siyi Yue dialect spoken in Jiangmen city itself.
It suits visitors with family or heritage connections, or those who want a smaller city base in the western part of the region. It is further from the urban centre, so treat it as a destination in its own right rather than a dormitory for the city.
6. Heshan
Heshan is a county-level city and part of the wider urban region of Jiangmen. It is a practical, built-up base rather than a heritage destination.
It suits travellers who need to be in this part of the region for work or family, or who find it convenient for their onward route. It is not the obvious choice for a sightseeing trip centred on the old towers and water towns.
7. Enping
Enping is one of the four Siyi counties, in the rural hinterland of Jiangmen. It is countryside and small-town territory rather than city.
It suits visitors travelling specifically through the Siyi heartland, including those tracing ancestral villages. Expect a rural pace and plan your transport carefully, as this is the least urban of the options here.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Look in the urban districts, where the greatest concentration of simple, inexpensive accommodation is found. Expect basic rooms with few extras, and book early if your dates coincide with a public holiday.
- Mid-range: The urban districts and the larger county-level cities offer the broadest choice of comfortable, conventional rooms. This tier is the easiest to book at short notice and the most convenient for mixing city time with day trips.
- Splurge: The higher end of the market is tied to the region's resort developments, including the hot spring resorts built on its naturally heated ground water, such as Gudou Hotspring Resort. If you want a resort stay, base yourself there rather than in the city and treat the sights as excursions.
Best area for a first visit
Choose Pengjiang District. It is the central urban district, so you get the treaty-port waterfront, the widest choice of places to eat and stay, and the easiest connections for day trips out to Kaiping and the rest of the countryside. Stay here if you want to understand the city first and use it as a base, rather than committing your whole trip to the rural counties.
Frequently asked questions
Which districts make up central Jiangmen?
Central Jiangmen consists of three urban districts: Pengjiang, Jianghai and Xinhui. Beyond these, Jiangmen has jurisdiction over the county-level cities of Taishan, Kaiping, Enping and Heshan.
Where should I stay if I want to see the diaolou?
Base yourself in Kaiping. The fortified multi-storey towers known as diaolou, or Gold Mountain Towers, are found mainly in Kaiping, mostly scattered across its countryside, with a concentration of related historic buildings at Chikan.
Can I stay somewhere with hot springs?
Yes. Natural hot spring resorts have been developed in the region using its heated ground water, including Gudou Hotspring Resort. This is a resort-style stay rather than a city one, so plan your transport accordingly.
How do I get to Jiangmen?
The city lies about 100 kilometres from Guangzhou and Zhuhai by highway, and Jiangmen Station of the West Pearl River Delta Transportation Center opened to the public in 2020. The city also has an extensive network of inter-city and intra-city highways and expressways.
Compare live prices for your dates with the booking tools on this page before you decide where to base yourself.