A megalopolis encompassing the nine cities and two special administrative regions that surround southern China’s Pearl River Delta, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is the largest and most populated urban area in the world. A treasure trove of history, culture, gastronomy and art, the region is wonderfully easily traversed by high-speed rail links, ferry services and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world’s longest open-sea fixed link.
Fronted by the two special administrative regions - Hong Kong, a city that needs no introduction, and Macao, a fascinating fusion of Portuguese and Chinese culture, each of the cities of the GBA have unique features to explore. The glitzy metropolis of Guangzhou highlights the contrasts of old and new, with spectacular modern architecture like Zaha Hadid’s Opera House and atmospheric alleyways of 1,000-year-old buildings. Zhuhai is known for the Beishan Art District, an arty, hipster enclave nestled among glass skyscrapers while Foshan is a hub of Cantonese culture; the birthplace of Cantonese opera, the traditional lion dance and Kung Fu with a long history of ceramic arts.
The area isn’t just pure urbanity, there is plenty of nature too. A long, romantic coastline, a dotting of serene islands and a diverse range of verdant landscapes. This includes the breathtaking Gulong Gorge, where you can take a thrilling walk on the ‘Cloud Sky Glass Ba’, a series of high altitude glass walkways.
Whether you choose to explore some, one or all of the cities and their surroundings of the Greater Bay Area, there is so much to discover and lots of adventure to be found in an area which is, for now, China’s best kept secret!
