Zhongshan: History, Hot Springs, and Chrysanthemums
From the birthplace of Dr. Sun Yat-sen to Xiaolan’s floral feasts
Zhongshan (formerly Xiangshan) is a highly livable city known for its slow-paced lifestyle. From Dr. Sun Yat-sen's historic red-brick residence to the historic Zhongshan Hot Spring and Xiaolan's chrysanthemum culture, this city is steeped in the passage of time.
On the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, Zhongshan stands out with its unhurried pace and profound historical heritage. This is a city built for slow travel, free from over-commercialized noise, focusing instead on respecting history and quality of life.
The Birthplace of a Great Man and a Shipyard's Rebirth
The journey begins in Cuiheng Village in Nanlang Town, the hometown of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great pioneer of China's democratic revolution. Step into his former residence, a two-story red-brick house blending Chinese and Western styles that he designed himself. The adjacent Lingnan Folk Custom Exhibition Hall perfectly recreates the farming and market life of the late Qing Dynasty. After absorbing this history, we return to the city center to visit Qijiang Park. Built on the site of the famous Yuezhong Shipyard, designers ingeniously retained rusty gantry cranes, old railway tracks, and dilapidated water towers, blending them perfectly with modern landscaping. It is a textbook example of industrial heritage revitalization in China.
The Chrysanthemum Feast and Historic Hot Springs
Zhongshan's charm lies not just in sightseeing, but in tasting. We drive north to Xiaolan Town, known as the "City of Chrysanthemums." With an 800-year tradition of cultivating and appreciating these flowers, the town hosts a massive, internationally renowned Chrysanthemum Exhibition every autumn. When visiting Xiaolan, you must try their intangible cultural heritage delicacies that incorporate chrysanthemum petals, such as the crispy "Deep-fried Fish Balls with Chrysanthemum" and the sweet "Chrysanthemum Meat," perfectly blending floral fragrance with local ingredients.
For the finale, we arrive at the Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort in Sanxiang Town. This is no ordinary spa resort; it was the first modern tourist hotel built through Sino-foreign cooperation in China (invested by Henry Fok and others). Deng Xiaoping even stayed here during his southern tour. The springs here are rare, deep-sourced pure natural sodium chloride hot springs. Soaking in the pools surrounded by classical Lingnan gardens is not only excellent for wellness but also a way to touch the historical warmth of China's reform and opening up.
Zhongshan is very accessible. Take the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway to Nanlang Station to quickly reach Cuiheng Village. Xiaolan Town also has its own high-speed rail station (Xiaolan Station). Driving or taking a taxi is recommended for traveling from the city center to the Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence is free but requires advance real-name booking via WeChat, especially on weekends. The Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Exhibition is usually held from mid-to-late November to early December; the crowds are massive, so plan your itinerary and accommodation early.