Zhongshan is a prefecture-level city on the west side of the Pearl River estuary, facing Shenzhen and Hong Kong across the water, with Guangzhou and Foshan to the north and Zhuhai and Macau to the south. Its northern and central parts sit on the alluvial plains of the delta, while the southern part of the territory rises into the Wugui Hills, whose main summit is the highest point in the city. The climate is warm and humid for most of the year, with most rain falling between April and September.
For a visitor, the city is easiest to read through a handful of named places: the old town core historically known as Shiqi, the pedestrian stretch of Sunwen Road West with Zhongshan Park and the Fufeng Pagoda at its western end, Sunwen Memorial Park at the southern end of Xingzhong Road, and the towns and subdistricts that make up the rest of the municipality. This guide covers which of these areas to base yourself in, who each one suits, and what to expect at different budgets. It does not recommend individual hotels.
Best areas to stay in Zhongshan
1. Shiqi (the old city core)
Shiqi is the name by which the city-core subdistricts were historically known, and it remains the most practical base for a first visit. It is where the old town sits, including the pedestrian mall on Sunwen Road West, lined with restored treaty-port buildings from the colonial period, several of them built in the 1920s. Zhongshan Park abuts the western end of Sunwen Road West to its north, with the seven-storey Fufeng Pagoda on a hill inside it, visible from across the city.
This area suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants the main sights within walking distance rather than spread across a car journey. Accommodation here is city-centre in character, with the Shiqi dialect spoken locally alongside Cantonese. Sunwen Memorial Park, the site of the largest bronze sculpture of Sun Yat-sen in the world, lies at the southern end of Xingzhong Road, within the same central belt.
2. The Eastern Area
The Eastern Area is a separate part of the urban core, named in the city's own address conventions, and it appears as a distinct location for visitors booking accommodation. It sits within the built-up plain rather than the hills, so getting around on foot and by road is straightforward.
It suits travellers who prefer a modern, commercial setting and who are happy to travel into the old town for the Sunwen Road West sights. If your priority is being close to the colonial-era streets and the pagoda, base yourself in Shiqi instead; if you want the wider city within easy reach, the Eastern Area works well.
3. The Southern District
The Southern District lies toward the southern part of the city's territory, where the land begins to rise into the coastal hills of the Wugui Hills range. It is a quieter, less central base than Shiqi or the Eastern Area.
It suits visitors who want to be nearer the hills and the greener southern side of the municipality, and who do not mind travelling north for the old town. Note that the southern terrain is hilly rather than flat plain, which is worth factoring in if you plan to walk a lot.
4. Guzhen Town
Guzhen Town is one of Zhongshan's specialized manufacturing towns, known for lighting fixtures, and it has its own dialect, Guzhen dialect. It lies away from the central urban area and is a working town rather than a sightseeing base.
It suits travellers with a specific reason to be in that part of the city, such as business connected to the lighting trade. For a general visit centred on the old town and the parks, it is a less convenient base than Shiqi or the Eastern Area.
5. Nanlang Town
Nanlang Town is in the south of the city and includes Cuiheng village, the birthplace of Sun Yat-sen. The local language is Nanlang dialect, one of the Min dialects spoken in Zhongshan.
It suits visitors with a particular interest in Sun Yat-sen's life and the places associated with him, and those who prefer a southern, less urban setting. It is not a central base for the old town sights, so plan on travelling north for those.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: expect simple, functional rooms in the central subdistricts and in the outlying towns, where the priority is a bed and a convenient location rather than facilities. The old town and the towns away from the centre are where this kind of accommodation is most likely to be found.
- Mid-range: the central urban area, including Shiqi and the Eastern Area, is where you find comfortable city hotels aimed at business and leisure travellers, with the main sights and transport links within reasonable reach.
- Splurge: the higher end of the market is concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the city, in full-service city hotels with the amenities that come with that category. The Southern District also has larger hotels for those who prefer to be away from the centre.
Best area for a first visit
Shiqi is the best base for a first visit. It puts you in the old city core, within walking distance of the Sunwen Road West pedestrian mall and its restored treaty-port buildings, and of Zhongshan Park with the Fufeng Pagoda on its hill. From here the main central sights, including Sunwen Memorial Park at the southern end of Xingzhong Road, are close at hand rather than a cross-city trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Zhongshan is the old town?
The old town is the area around Sunwen Road West, known as Sunwen Xilu, in the city core historically called Shiqi. It is a pedestrian mall lined with restored colonial-period buildings, with Zhongshan Park and the Fufeng Pagoda immediately to its north.
Where can I stay if I want to be near the hills?
Look at the Southern District, which lies toward the coastal hills of the Wugui Hills range in the south of the city's territory. Be aware that this part of Zhongshan is hilly rather than flat plain.
Is it better to base myself in the centre or in one of the towns?
For a general visit, the centre is more convenient: Shiqi and the Eastern Area keep you close to the old town, the parks and the monuments. The outlying towns such as Guzhen and Nanlang suit travellers with a specific reason to be there, since they are away from the central sights.
What is the weather like through the year?
Zhongshan has a warm, humid, subtropical climate, with most rain falling between April and September. Typhoons and thunderstorms are fairly frequent in southern China, so plan outdoor sightseeing with the wet season in mind.
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