COMPARED with major cities in the Pearl River Delta such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Zhuhai is not really a top tourist destination. But the quiet and garden-like coastal city has its own distinctive glamor: a laid-back living environment, gorgeous scenery and relaxing diversions.

This is the consensus reached by me and my friend Zoe Zhang, a Zhuhai resident and my one-day tour guide. Two years ago, Zhang left Shenzhen's urban grind and quit her high-paying job in order to find peace in this beautiful and peaceful city.

The city's crystal blue sky impressed, if not moved, me a lot. With fewer skyscrapers and automobiles, Zhuhai offers its visitors fresher air and broader views than Shenzhen's smog and skyscraper skyline.

The statue of a legendary fishing girl standing on a rock near the sea sums up the city's spirit: pure, peaceful and charming.

Next to the statue and along the seaside, there lies the 15-kilometer-long "lover's lane" lined with trees and benches facing the sea, which create a romantic touch for tourists and locals alike.

During my short stay, Zhang suggested I visit a theme park featuring Chinese imperial life and have a Chinese medical herb spa after. I couldn't have agreed more. I loved immersing myself in history for a while, and then relaxing and immersing myself in the medicinal pools.

New Yuanming Garden

New Yuanming Garden is a 1:1 replica of parts of the original Yuanming Garden which was built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Beijing as a palace for the imperial family. The construction of the 350-hectare Yuanming Garden lasted for 150 years. According to historical records, the last emperors spent about two-thirds of their time in this fabulous luxury palace.

The original, however, was looted and burned down by the Anglo-Franco joint force during the Second Opium War in 1860. Remains of the garden include some finely carved marble works in northwest Beijing and the world-famous Summer Palace, an outer part of the original garden.

With palaces, lakes, islands, bridges, greeneries and Western style architectures, the modern reflection found in the imperial garden at Zhuhai is grand and magnificent, though not complete.

What intrigued me most was the sight of the reproduction of the group of the Western buildings. It was not as painful as seeing the dilapidated marble pillars and arched frames standing lonely in the wild field in Beijing, but it evoked a strong sympathy in me toward the weak and ravaged Chinese nation of the time.

Zhang told me that there are live, grand historical reenactment shows in the afternoon and evening. But I don't feel I missed anything by not seeing them, as there are countless funny or serious films and TV series based on the imperial lives.

Chinese Medicine Valley

There is the famous Imperial Hot Spring spa/park in Zhuhai, but Chinese Medicine Valley is different. It is next to the New Yuanming Garden and was finished last year.

Here more than 30 pools of different shapes and sizes have been built on the side of a hill. They contain warm water with traditional Chinese medicine. People go there to bathe, believing it will enhance their health.

There are cold pools, hot pools and pools floating with flowers. The various pools lie in front of a mansion, behind rocks, under the roof of pavilions or next to a waterfall. The sight of the cute, varied pools is an enjoyment, but relaxing in them and around them is even better.

The park also features guesthouses, a coffee shop, teahouse, eatery and a massage service. For three hours we sampled different pools, sipped coffee at poolside, chatted about everything and escaped momentarily from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Travel tips

New Yuanming Garden

Address: Lanpu, Jiuzhou Thoroughfare

Buses: 1, 13, 25, 30, 40, 60, 99, 201, 205

Admission: 100 yuan per adult; 50 yuan per child between 1.1-1.4 meters; free for children below 1.1 meters

Open hours: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Chinese Medicine Valley

Address: Lanpu, Jiuzhou Thoroughfare, west of the New Yuanming Garden  Buses: 1, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60, 99, 201

Admission: 99 yuan per adult; 49 yuan per child below 1.3 meters

 
Editor: Wings