---
title: "Trip to Macau and Zhuhai (2024-01)"
date: "2024-06-01"
---


In January 2024, Joanne and I went to China! We went to Macau and Zhuhai.

![The Fisher Girl, a famous landmark statue erected in 1982 and symbol of Zhuhai.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-16-53-51_DSCF5979_05d070619dca71162063e32c116f10e75c525e86_344815151b3ec6bd.jpg)

As always, these pictures are available in full resolution and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 license.

# Thursday, 2024-01-04: Arrival in Macau

We arrived in Hong Kong international airport at 13:30 via Hong Kong Airlines flight 607.

![Lunch.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-15-27-52_DSCF4805_0f97fa7cc1ed0c188c34048c0dac011e05865e97_ea34456a58dc9969.jpg)

![Joanne's lunch.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-15-27-56_DSCF4806_71e7fea0a12b821f1b1b1339aa75c594914ef1ed_ea4e17e889449bca.jpg)

No time to sightsee in Hong Kong; we immediately took the bus to Macau.

![Bus station for the bus to Macau.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-15-58-37_DSCF4809_0bc4aa857f080d60a092bc99674c7f6498528dc6_f2bacc891e536548.jpg)

## Coloane, Macau

We went to check out the old city.

![[Pastéis de nata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastel_de_nata).](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-16-57-14_DSCF4831_f52eccc206b49bfe7eb5ef5434b77fa1102c2397_51f6fe501d4672ae.jpg)

![Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V. No, I don't know who those two people in the background are, but I didn't have time to wait for them to leave.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-07-26_DSCF4843_9c2590422525095da16baba127f9590c67da537e_e3fa04ad80f983eb.jpg)

![Condominium number 1, apparently.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-21-05_DSCF4859_d3aa0bdef07e292c655f733a3ec674cb2ed2cb9c_26dd3622e194dfaa.jpg)

![A pink house.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-19-56_DSCF4857_b90420324011808dcf0176f366ff7c93bbb2c170_0f4fcf347cc26bc9.jpg)

![Some old buildings.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-30-30_DSCF4869_d6603fed5496f9ca7c379113a8fa9c1874537c47_e7718212faad44ea.jpg)

![Sunset views.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-32-15_DSCF4874_a47fb892a7935d080cd313dd6eb3d061999f51aa_e31052c67d8de6de.jpg)

![Pre-eating skewers.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-17-41-09_DSCF4878_443f9a13628e92e7e5ede2a416c929e913b3ec91_0ad0a900baee3464.jpg)

## Dinner: Pearl Dragon

We went to the Michelin starred [Pearl Dragon](https://guide.michelin.com/ca/en/macau-region/macau/restaurant/pearl-dragon) for dinner.
It's really good.

![Pearl Dragon.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-19-51-17_DSCF4921_ac741cb4d6effdc5d8885ff9a34bf10ca4805976_a0fc08682bd15583.jpg)

![Tofu balls.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-19-54-01_DSCF4926_f8dd5f1c188c584fac3eaf5548880a8315d09220_520468655c3c16c8.jpg)

![Char siu.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-19-55-10_DSCF4928_a603da572677dd4a6ed5b0fe4af5cf5fd46692db_e3cd2bc5e9e275ea.jpg)

## Nighttime stroll

We went for a nighttime stroll to take in more sights and eat dessert.

![Star-illuminated street.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-22-02-07_DSCF4973_1a5319f37ea777e87ed040f0b4dcd6135c7176f1_3ba7eba38604ec0d.jpg)

![A random restaurant that we didn't go to. But it is said that every neon light is made by a local artisan since it's impossible to ship, so it is worth taking a picture of every neon sign you come across.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-22-16-12_DSCF4990_4b40e2ff388fab0aa19a420b66d3457155b0e57c_676be36882213461.jpg)

![Christmas tree.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-04-22-20-05_DSCF4994_a6667013def084937a2547f53265809c3a183f5d_c16c864231ba255d.jpg)

# Friday, 2024-01-05: Extreme Macau sightseeing

## Breakfast: fast food

We had a traditional breakfast at Cafe de Coral.

![Cafe de Coral.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-09-50-59_DSCF5022_7c11881895c7977c16bdbc1aa1ed11a915a2597a_cff57f4dd283a08e.jpg)

## Sightseeing

We walked around randomly.
Since Joanne has been to Macau many times, she led the way.

![[Santa Casa da Misericórdia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_House_of_Mercy), built in 1569 and is now an art museum.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-10-52-51_DSCF5030_9ee9ea9f98a39442046cf7826a5878826c18e6de_89808d09ae8ca2c3.jpg)

![[St. Dominic's Church in Macao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Dominic%27s_Church,_Macau). It's a famous Baroque-style church built in 1587.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-10-55-23_DSCF5038_c164fa159352a01ff534d57ccc4b0e02941ab8a8_e75f6306fd4b11a1.jpg)

![Cool mix of new and old buildings.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-11-15-30_DSCF5048_e603a1362235b74fbf1c889a283777a38302fa06_a37f8363132a4a34.jpg)

![General post office building.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-11-17-04_DSCF5050_d5e3f37e4577aaeb13dc605c622b7c0fe392df45_1ebf9ac0cf675ecc.jpg)

![[Macao Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macao_Museum).](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-11-26-24_DSCF5064_ad7f7c015f922956e8f43f939645006a7ea6dcd5_ab94eec3cefa0f09.jpg)

![[Ruins of St Paul's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruins_of_Saint_Paul%27s).](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-11-49-57_DSCF5094_5f73b53c8b93a74024992c8c1d2d372251cb4314_030b4053399eb861.jpg)

## Lunch: A random cafe

For lunch we went to a random spot frequented by high schoolers.

![Curry beef egg rice.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-12-46-22_DSCF5104_6c3f65515e27d06b73aa2ea0650df44701f44e02_a33fd79db1c84825.jpg)

## Macau Grand Prix Museum

It was a really nice museum and quite empty.

![Car.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-14-05-35_DSCF5159_7ee87f5e26e8bd51fdcbc887834dc5a694d9b47f_901ab452fb8ec648.jpg)

![Car.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-13-40-48_DSCF5139_801a3aa05ef93e777456a157a8f06dc9c72a1302_7ae0a8de4df16885.jpg)

![Car.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-14-05-03_DSCF5157_bb5690b29a644c2ec911fbed70b9dff4970e1294_56ec610e8063c2dd.jpg)

## More sightseeing

This time we stuck to the old alleys to look at the old buildings.
Despite their crumbling exterior, they are very expensive!

![A random residential apartment building.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-13-14-52_DSCF5109_b707866a887edd4d57ad04493d8943b0d9b5f479_ce9da6d5186469fb.jpg)

![A nativity scene.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-14-54-04_DSCF5177_ac651adc8f818b64c7142e072ec65f35afafed20_b9c9e8cc0358237e.jpg)

![[Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Nativity_of_Our_Lady,_Macau), rebuilt in 1937 in neoclassical style.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-14-54-28_DSCF5179_8596dd5dfbab33b86f944cee7c7f7e27dc805387_74be6bd632de31aa.jpg)

![Colorful buildings.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-01-34_DSCF5191_da9450f435bbf2587763b3a0068fba2b87992513_980950af25d280b3.jpg)

![Everyone has bars on their windows to prevent kids from falling out.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-12-50_DSCF5214_f2f35c2127df69136142b05fc9b58618d9b39c03_e990924d97de773f.jpg)

![A narrow alley.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-20-43_DSCF5223_70ca522bc0ba091769d7cfe4e070945a991d1145_57b26c72da81d4c3.jpg)

![More colorful buildings.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-33-31_DSCF5232_7248b453b6563c3d4d397faa39beef723dabad5b_d0acf112b1e0b147.jpg)

![Hard for motor vehicles to maneuver in the narrow alleys.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-36-38_DSCF5239_3036f583b84da52cc06e8e9604c04d54c066e7f6_acae0e53e43c9fc4.jpg)

![The [Grand Lisboa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Lisboa) is peeking out!](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-15-38-41_DSCF5244_49db66c53752d22a0f51a64b93362f31078a1a53_84c95ae9d1beaf66.jpg)

![A wider street for buses.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-16-02-46_DSCF5265_c70446e2e79588c76ea27c39f43824a77f3930bb_a3992faee75039a3.jpg)

![Hillside benches next to an air quality monitor.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-16-06-47_DSCF5274_9788358ac231bbb84c0320c14e1ed5ba1a5ad895_f13936b3d6d9895d.jpg)

![Round hole on a pedestrian bridge. Unfortunately there's a security camera there that's blocking part of it.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-17-08-37_DSCF5315_a943af3d39d37fb006d5868a6e5abc04ddd80ae9_4e5923afd1d5f736.jpg)

![Another apartment building, but green this time.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-17-08-57_DSCF5317_0a354b99e962194dc26df030b1d6c1604c0e2d79_c3ab59c89f5a8349.jpg)

![A junkyard.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-17-42-54_DSCF5333_424c0de1c6930d7548bcc99a75faf5aab60018f1_61ade5be6696ce8f.jpg)

## Dinner: Apomac

For dinner we went to the Macau Retiree's Association --- [_Associação dos Aposentados, Reformados e Pensionistas de Macau_, or Apomac for short](https://apomac.net/).
They serve traditional Portuguese food.

![[Bolinhos de bacalhau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolinhos_de_bacalhau).](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-20-05-46_DSCF5380_4c99b031cfeddf67e991625148a774af0fc0a901_42b40939c085bc47.jpg)

![Roast suckling pig with a fried rice made of its liver or something.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-20-14-25_DSCF5385_0f24f33255848b8c28b56a6168a098ec692476ff_d8489ea0e6825a26.jpg)

![Paella.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-05-20-17-37_DSCF5387_9e2b5e454d67a80d595a58e36d5e14481eaec49e_6fa910c5680be154.jpg)

And with that, our Macau trip is over.
Onto Zhuhai!

# Saturday, 2024-01-06: Arrival in Zhuhai

To be exact, our humble abode (Joanne mom's apartment) is in the relatively suburban district of Doumen.
We spent much of the Zhuhai leg of the trip hanging out with cousins and friends.

![Foggy morning view from our apartment.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-07-43-53_DSCF5390_5c0f293c92ce2fa65ecfbc095f28065f681ae730_d778c8f54adc01a9.jpg)

![Empty storefronts underneath our apartment. The area is newly developed.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-14-16-57_DSCF5442_55ade6263df082f46f60cd13d268d30408868538_6814ff2831c88ce9.jpg)

After eating homemade breakfast, we got a coffee and second breakfast at a rather fancy spot.

![Second breakfast.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-10-17-28_DSCF5410_0eaf5f269963f132c2d8fc8ae4e26284b3d69b4e_c0612f6550949535.jpg)

Then we had lunch at home.

In the afternoon, we got a massage at a random massage location and went for a walk.

![Massage. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max with iPhone 14 Pro Max back triple camera 2.22mm f/2.2, 2.2 mm, F2.2, 1/60 s, ISO 1000.](https://i.dllu.net/IMG_1495_f46c6868a79f3e42.jpg)

![We bought a lamp at a lamp shop. It has an integrated ceiling fan which folds up when it's not in use.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-17-06-19_DSCF5466_b7e73c4643200faf01e49fcc90333ea80e1fd025_af7a12c68aa67710.jpg)

![A random building.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-16-54-03_DSCF5457_63c744cefb510d4852784a93c67ea2ee19956b44_a7b5ee6cef53bb4d.jpg)

![An average parking lot.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-16-57-37_DSCF5461_bfc32734afeb9e8740ca1625b20ae4b7bf5ae879_4d49ba007335cd4d.jpg)

![A camouflaged [Lotus Emeya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Emeya).](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-16-59-25_DSCF5464_73b888f91945db24e2b50f4b88cf67d7a6aa9ea7_8d855eaf223c7e4f.jpg)

![A random hotel.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-17-30-49_DSCF5475_fd91de4fdbb32d4e133b02b2836ac1c2e7dc8100_8b80e6cde394b655.jpg)

![Pedestrian street full of street food.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-17-34-49_DSCF5477_e37dea39cde6bf37b96d8711f28f9f97b282c893_fcf6efdf0b35c7cf.jpg)

![An alley near Joanne's cousin's old house.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-17-58-02_DSCF5496_eee04c757af38b5620d59e25ade0e068c2a30756_192d3365a7ad3a66.jpg)

## Dinner: Hakka food

For dinner we went to Hakka Big Goose Bay (客家大鹅湾), a recently opened [hakka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka_people) restaurant.

![Chicken.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-19-11-23_DSCF5521_035e1a3c5011673fb0751bc43191c3d875ecc97e_145a5ea946b63f1c.jpg)

![Stuffed bitter melon.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-19-12-05_DSCF5522_8471a68666118610c2387907e040e86819e0aaa9_e0c2c8c40a061904.jpg)

![Tofu.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-19-20-58_DSCF5523_bb78598cde756f39ea6b4fd1d02d15c7415109d8_5b48cd5d695ae932.jpg)

![View across the Huangyang river.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-19-58-14_DSCF5527_6bdad4ea3ab741988d9188422ee2f91cf15fc2f3_66a15a67beac45bc.jpg)

For dessert we went to [Yitian Dessert](https://maps.apple.com/?address=Jing'anzhen%20Xinmin%20Road%20No.338%20103,%20Doumen,%20Zhuhai,%20Guangdong%20China&auid=1118570492840131&ll=22.209256,113.291693&lsp=57879&q=Yitian%20Sweet%20Water%20Shouzuo&t=m) and got the pistachio mousse.

![Pistachio mousse, nicknamed "ghost saliva".](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-06-21-26-25_DSCF5552_54f269c8e30f82d3b443c265cb93944e31164fd7_08b64fde128d2537.jpg)

# Sunday, 2024-01-07: Earth oven

First we got some coffee.

![Maneki neko at the coffee shop.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-07-15-01-53_DSCF5570_00e6e123b17a9b460eba39ecabd728c04ef9d4b5_7fe420181a969236.jpg)

Then we had earth oven-cooked chicken, mantis shrimp, and other delicious foods with some of Joanne's friends.

![Earth oven.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-07-15-54-15_DSCF5584_8e824b411f04bdd6e32c00329a94dd33a421daf9_77b41984d99528b1.jpg)

For dinner, Joanne's cousins came over and we all had dinner together at Joanne's mom's place.

![This isn't even half of it.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-07-18-51-33_DSCF5631_4975cfdeafb963c7690e3a7cddbbfa1c451f8e5e_773b3c462e798918.jpg)

![View from our humble abode at night.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-07-20-12-23_DSCF5637_59231388462f389752a1151c407794e2462e0f16_b1c833e311937848.jpg)

# Monday, 2024-01-08: Doumen specialties

On this day we explored Old Doumen, Jintai Temple, and some specialty Doumenese cuisine.
After homemade breakfast, we headed out!

## Lunch: Claypot

For lunch we got claypot food at a mall.
It was pretty expensive by local standards since we didn't have coupons.

![Claypot small eels.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-13-23-00_DSCF5672_74feabb4c259f72f05f46afd013bd7eeb5fbc285_3e370f6332d09921.jpg)

![A dilapidated hotel upon emerging from the mall.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-14-24-12_DSCF5677_c42ef1618c50a340899ebf98cc72ebccdf287b10_2c43187febd9297d.jpg)

## Doumen old street

The [Doumen old street](https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g297418-d14031178-Reviews-Doumen_Old_Street-Zhuhai_Guangdong.html) is an old street that they renovated while maintaining the look of the old buildings.
It has a bunch of old restaurants serving local desserts and snacks.
We had a [douhua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douhua) and some pickled vegetables but it was mediocre.

![Doumen old street.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-15-14-15_DSCF5689_21438109930ab7f1acecfff7eb8e9f79624fe0c6_e10e0495947901b7.jpg)

![An adorable [Geely Panda Mini EV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geely_Panda_Mini_EV). Most full sized vehicles are not allowed in the old street, unless delivering goods or something.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-15-39-56_DSCF5729_7c139032e86f8a1829c58c475b170c473fd83e24_edc3b2460179e03c.jpg)

![The Orchid Cafe, one of the most notable buildings in the Doumen old street.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-15-50-51_DSCF5738_e6b09de4bace80329d0a68637bcb0d8f2d7feecb_b53a7423151e3730.jpg)

![Another corner of the old street.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-15-51-27_DSCF5740_5c3caa7c2bb11563be492c2f6b6b013b02fd2529_bb61fc2487580e03.jpg)

## Jintai Temple

Then we went to [Jintai Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jintai_Temple).
I created the Wikipedia article for this temple.

![Temple.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-16-37-00_DSCF5786_9b7a65ece9287b7e975d2620318ecfb493968854_84bb3d6b8c9a1841.jpg)

![God I wish I had brought a wider lens. The Laowa 15mm f/4 shift would have come in handy.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-16-38-49_DSCF5790_0335a8db6c6043ee048b656c8702f4eba7b88d86_86deaf2992a835a5.jpg)

![Remote view. I uploaded this to Wikimedia Commons and made it the lead image of the Wikipedia article.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-17-17-24_DSCF5825_c322209f9e056244104e6aa9a439fe37b9808ac7_ff493146786e7240.jpg)

![The taking of the above photo.](https://i.dllu.net/IMG_1660_30f6bea4988fda7f.jpg)

![A village.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-17-10-21_DSCF5813_960c2b347b672dc68dfb1dc2a2442c2f5b2f44c8_9fcaf3fc0a6c925d.jpg)

![A [paifang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paifang).We would be seeing a bigger paifang later in the trip...](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-17-31-58_DSCF5846_b56c9ad740f9861f8289df80539cfdc40133da7e_5a9eedd69bf06798.jpg)

## Old area

![A house.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-17-58-03_DSCF5855_ef510e8d16ec1e3ce9c2a1072e3c0f845985dbe5_5d5580a44e4c5d5a.jpg)

![A restaurant advertising their ancient methods of cooking golden chicken in earth ovens.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-18-00-50_DSCF5861_93093a05dd10471d83f504269d624590699863a6_545c2118b11d36eb.jpg)

![Artwork featuring a family watching television.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-18-04-28_DSCF5867_be178471050b3c5349c2ad14ddcb0e85e01189b5_5b8ac35431728f79.jpg)

## Dinner: traditional Doumenese

We got some traditional local specialties with Joanne's friends.

![Duck intestines.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-19-06-06_DSCF5881_dbf866b895b365fea438a8d9887d3f8dc31777ec_31c2e55d1b9dea95.jpg)

![Tofu.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-19-07-28_DSCF5882_45a8bd53d015f9c9a81f5c644b963b030c1754ce_e2368f94a7a9c796.jpg)

![Pork patty.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-19-13-32_DSCF5883_65e6d0068ec583174c1cd0f90e3b8493657b52a7_65de35f39832259e.jpg)

![Pig intestines.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-08-19-22-20_DSCF5885_e7afcbb4256183e4bda37834ff45343724ddf522_c88078728f58ac77.jpg)

# Tuesday, 2024-01-09: Downtown Zhuhai

## Breakfast: homemade wontons.

First we had homemade wonton.

![Wonton.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-09-27-08_DSCF5898_df80785424f44ff715bd92e0086e095db035f157_2d4ea5ebacff4221.jpg)

Second breakfast: Egg pudding.

![Egg pudding.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-13-57-56_DSCF5900_b415addd7aeb1bb10ef0b99b84b7a15a84430e2a_608ca1d9c53bd195.jpg)

## Downtown Zhuhai

First we took the cable car up to Jingshan Park (景山公园).
As its name implies, it has a nice view of the city.

![Skyline of the city.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-15-25-04_DSCF5928_c21c2bc7845da721f49493c7430f9fd6d61f2697_998da1f9b4bf4f21.jpg)

![In this view you can see several landmarks such as the Fisher girl and Lover's Road. On the horizon is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-15-39-58_DSCF5944_83e3198dd6af8018bbf00c1e0da627c536c45618_c3a1c64493764c96.jpg)

Then we went for a bike ride along the Lover's Road.

![Lover's Road.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-16-00-16_DSCF5970_85c61276ed74f6701fb3d70bb635ddb93f1c0f71_39cd49a9f99902f8.jpg)

![The Fisher Girl, a famous landmark statue erected in 1982.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-16-53-51_DSCF5979_05d070619dca71162063e32c116f10e75c525e86_344815151b3ec6bd.jpg)

![Zhuhai Opera House and some kitschy floating restaurant thing.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-17-17-50_DSCF5988_531baf03e3afacfccdac980111618d8b1c54e465_5d1b4937e69b9214.jpg)

![Apartment buildings overlooking the bay.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-17-26-17_DSCF5991_7f53c19aefbbffecdaac96cf5b60852d72afa2c8_1e6b45bdd97720f3.jpg)

![Zhuhai Opera House.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-17-45-38_DSCF6019_d46711d19fa830bdc05aa502d57cb98cc87bff2d_5e351fbd82679c84.jpg)

## Dinner: Seafood and barbeque

We went to _Liu Qiao Barbeque_ (柳桥炭烧).
It is run by a skilled chef from Harbin, specializing in both barbeques and fresh seafood sourced from the clean northern waters.
The chef is also skilled at preparing the delicious sauces and powders for the barbeque.

![Small intestines.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-18-30-20_DSCF6027_e3eaac9c7328cc35cc2ee928bd424223792decc4_5ad4074b6837fdbf.jpg)

![Fresh vegetables to wrap your barbequed meats in.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-18-30-29_DSCF6028_ee93559771eabfdc0bf4f57be9b03f5ca2fa8a7b_26a58672a8e79b6a.jpg)

Without a doubt, the [arctic surf clam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spisula_sachalinensis) was the star of the show and some of the most delicious food we've eaten on this trip.
It was exquisitely tender and jellylike.

> The foot of the clam is black when raw, but turns characteristically red when cooked.

Most arctic surf clam served in the US is cooked --- rubbery and flavorless. We've never had the raw one before, but it was amazing.
We also had a briefly poached one that was even better than the completely raw one, even more tender and sweet.

The restaurant has a number of other amazing seafood such as king crab, but we didn't have the chance to try that.
We'll have to return at some point!

![Arctic surf clam sashimi, amaebi, and botan ebi.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-18-45-22_DSCF6033_eeb0d16727ee42618e21d79a48fd4f0e2c378c91_7fee42c647ec980a.jpg)

![Briefly poached surf clam, even more tender and sweet.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-09-18-59-10_DSCF6043_e0cf69c524a29156c9434a81f97c43980d0a8477_38bf48cfaf6969d8.jpg)

# Wednesday, 2024-01-10: Various Zhuhai places

## Lunch: homemade

First we woke up and had homemade lunch.

![Homemade stuffed tofu.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-12-04-55_DSCF6056_5fc9a49e1d4ae2b170d6b76f7367aa3b11b33c2f_b4c1dd692c001774.jpg)

## Xiashan Park

We went to [Xiashan park](https://baike.baidu.com/item/斗门霞山公园/12593129) (霞山公园).

![Little pagoda. Ignore the random person sitting there.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-13-38-40_DSCF6112_d4eeec6766f298884b4707a809fa6f8a82a993f7_ace4a95f02d79f5e.jpg)

![There were some black swans.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-13-40-19_DSCF6118_86eae9b26337ee4ffa25ed96f6efc8f9b1958cee_f1cc3e0dcf547d0e.jpg)

## Random walking around

![Interesting architecture.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-14-18-56_DSCF6146_626adba2626ea59b893ac4827d41df74b8ed0567_cfb9a5d18d7d1414.jpg)

![Corinthian columns.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-14-23-36_DSCF6151_a0d62f25a7cdc6e76b710b2ad312155be7829cf8_d82c6afcc09a31f4.jpg)

## Dinner: at a cousin's house

From Joanne's cousin's house, we could see a huge bridge under construction in the distance.
It's the [Huangmao Sea Crossing bridge](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%BB%84%E8%8C%85%E6%B5%B7%E8%B7%A8%E6%B5%B7%E9%80%9A%E9%81%93/23268537?_swebfr=220011) (黄茅海跨海通道)!

![Homemade pork patty.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-17-36-09_DSCF6194_ef221d1d4273f0f90fa38c301aa200428d68e21e_13b89047e5835db4.jpg)

!["Crispy Meat Grass Fish", a specialty of the region. The grass carp is fed a high-protein diet of beans and it becomes so muscular that its meat gets a unique firm texture.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-17-36-21_DSCF6195_475c4c02b2b5c144c2ee99334056555c01954818_4f8bca05c40600d7.jpg)

![Roast goose.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-17-36-28_DSCF6196_d378ed227b4ca67f42b04d30af80b3d7e44e97fa_ad3887e841af79fb.jpg)

![An amazing bridge under construction.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-18-28-38_DSCF6199_cdae219c88bd6f8ddcbd95d79ec14dcb3dbc0fa0_bc7e2e21ffce7e2c.jpg)

![View of some markets from the roof.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-10-18-43-49_DSCF6220_017dd8f6152cd7600475132e813a72fdeeff482d_4b5ed6ff742c3ff4.jpg)

# Thursday, 2024-01-11: Shunde

## Shunde

Shunde is known for the largest _paifang_ in the world in [Shunfengshan park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunfengshan_Park).

![I would have had a good shot of it if not for this annoying stage blocking it.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-17-23-29_DSCF6250_da9b1b50951e4d42c654f5085117aa7740f8e864_b3d42fdb7911631d.jpg)

![View across the lake in the park.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-17-40-12_DSCF6273_cadefcce15771df00482f4ccc91bf210b8b1c28c_84bc1d18d0f07f8a.jpg)

![At least the back side isn't obscured but I didn't bring my wide angle lens so I couldn't get the whole paifang in the shot.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-17-50-34_DSCF6298_a8c12501e5446f33ca2081129d6b22361c2abbe4_4664da23c9288d80.jpg)

## Dinner: Shunde sashimi

Shunde is known for shunde yusheng, or raw freshwater fish.

> **Warning**: consuming raw or undercooked freshwater fish may pose an extreme health hazard due to the risk of parasites.

Anyway, it was pretty delicious.
The fish was sliced into small slices of less than a millimeter thick each, so each slice was transparent.
It is then mixed with a bunch of condiments including oil, onion, dill, dried orange peel, pickles, ginger, carrot, garlic, and chili.
It was amazing!

![Condiments for the fish.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-18-48-39_DSCF6307_e65f5859fa8ad1bc39e6d6a7e717a5e48ce69873_13e46708db7a8eb6.jpg)

![A stack of raw fish.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-19-01-48_DSCF6310_2abbc272eccf943f4da51890a3d65189c0bd6fb9_a89fa292c2422ea5.jpg)

![The chef came out to demonstrate mixing the fish with the condiments for us.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-19-06-32_DSCF6313_7ea29a4822aa5ee11b593c81ade3588355f617dd_accade5005e3e70c.jpg)

![Sizzling chicken.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-19-08-22_DSCF6314_66006dbaed0d4d60930e65c9ad7ede40dc230590_20f13a05a795a0fb.jpg)

![Fried fish leftovers.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-11-19-15-06_DSCF6315_0a33a8cb79a196f2580d3d6009b0c410cacda6f0_f40ed6a4c577943c.jpg)

# Friday, 2024-01-12: Wudong and downtown Zhuhai

## Lunch: Beef hotpot

I went to meet Anson, a friend who lives in Foshan.
We had beef hotpot at Wudong, a village dedicated to eating beef.

![A small but cute paifang.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-11-42-39_DSCF6324_2d866b9b8b8d640ebafff859db84c4770d8aaec3_5440bb58651a5506.jpg)

![Extreme beef.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-12-21-35_DSCF6339_7a2a32a9dbf1b041c4668b360c2cf30494f2e668_915673d080821233.jpg)

## Dessert: Matcha cakes

We then went to downtown Zhuhai where we got matcha dessert.

![Matcha cakes.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-16-21-08_DSCF6354_dc37062d1fd7c972fd99a77faa30c82dce0b425f_809c92396543ce08.jpg)

## Yuanming Xinyuan

The [Yuanmingyuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Summer_Palace) is a famous palace.
The "New Yuanmingyuan" (圆明新园) is a new replica of it.

![Main entrance.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-16-55-06_DSCF6365_0a30a1852e7f15329a1287513f6bcb4697456b1c_545ba41d2e328be7.jpg)

![Amazing new buildings are being built in the background!](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-17-31-25_DSCF6393_9aa87f792d8fb2d06fa5c21de4b7b88f01b6677a_f80e9a9d7e86b617.jpg)

![Abandoned water park.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-17-35-33_DSCF6399_99d7a50be1a60546932aa489ce68dae1cc79677f_15d64f9c89eb35e7.jpg)

![A bridge.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-17-48-06_DSCF6408_73bd4c7c9bf7a37ff236b92b4455a4ef20c6881e_b61e3e30ac9c4d80.jpg)

## Dinner: Hotpot

We had hotpot in a themed place in a mall where all the servers dressed up as construction workers and had scheduled dance performances.

![The pot.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-18-58-21_DSCF6413_c7c378102431f8c3031f568d214f75aae249a3f9_f55560d3026eb87e.jpg)

![Duck intestines and tripe.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-19-05-29_DSCF6414_f396627942f4a49ff1b632e086258d376dca4cd5_535151090da2f859.jpg)

![Fresh beef again.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-19-05-39_DSCF6415_eb26baff96a5b21e51c2194b95455dd1122f8e1b_c2145e6dc700ec4e.jpg)

![Electric rideshare vehicles are increasingly supplanting traditional taxis.](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-12-21-20-13_DSCF6418_c192fec2b75148a13680f1ce62051d6589df2d74_0aa4a7e17b058de4.jpg)

# Saturday, 2024-01-13: Flight back

Anyway I got food poisoning.
Not sure if I got it from the shunde raw fish or the beef hotpot, but extreme diarrhea and fever were had.
Two visits to the ER ensued.

In the ensuing days I recovered and stool tests revealed no parasites or ova.

Oh well, until next time!

![Zhuhai terminal of the [Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong%E2%80%93Zhuhai%E2%80%93Macau_Bridge)](https://i.dllu.net/2024-01-13-16-00-14_DSCF6419_c7ba42c37273f74cd19c21a6d9d3b8643291e944_704075be4ba50b66.jpg)