IFTM Comments is a partnership between Macau News Agency and Macao Institute for Tourism Studies
By Xing Fang
Island tours are gaining increasing popularity. Many families may add to their list of travel destinations a weekend sojourn on one of the islands dotting the Lingding Ocean of the Greater Bay Area. As news reported, a new ferry service from Macau to Guishan Island in Zhuhai has been in operation since mid-July 2023, which expands opportunities for tourism cooperation and development for the two cities and provides people in Macau with another entertaining destination for experiencing marine tourism.
Guishan Island is one of the most well-developed tourist destinations among the 146 islands under Zhuhai’s governance. The island is just a few nautical miles from Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Usually, people need to take a ferry to the island at Xiangzhou Port Ferry Terminal or Hengqin Ferry Terminal, and tickets often need to be purchased at least one day earlier during peak seasons or for the weekend. Now people can also reach the island through a 40-minute ferry ride from Macau, which allows more convenience and choices for tourists who wish to explore the island.
When visitors alight from the ferry and set foot on the island, they will be greeted by a picturesque view of a fishing town and peaceful harbors. The town has a central avenue, and on its two sides, visitors will find a bustling fish market, seafood restaurants, hotels, a tourism information center, and a sightseeing car ticket office. The avenue is further joined by multiple car lanes on the hills that embrace the town. Visitors may choose to board in one of the many blue-and-white stylish homestay houses on the hills and enjoy a panoramic view of the town and the ocean.
The island features three major scenic areas at present. Visitors who favor water sports such as kayaking and swimming should head to the Dolphin Bay in the north of the island. It is a soothing beach resort with breathtaking views of the ocean and the grand mountains on Lantau Island. For those who are interested in history, they should not miss the Wen Tianxiang Memorial Park. This waterfront park is located at the center of the island and features a large square flanked by sculptural murals depicting the memorable life events of Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283), a noble poet and statesman of the Southern Song Dynasty well known for his resistance against the Mongolian invasion and his famous poem, “Crossing the Lingding Ocean”. At the highest point of the park, visitors will find a towering stone statue of Wen Tianxiang holding a giant sword and watching the ocean. Another scenic area of historical significance is the Guishan Ship Memorial Park in the south of the island. It was established on the site of the Wanshan Naval Battle that took place in 1950. Many poetic inscriptions on precipices can be found in the park, and the winding walk path among the boulders will lead visitors to the landing point of the Guishan Ship.
A trip to the island would be incomplete without a taste of the nightlife along the town’s central avenue. Visitors may order seafood snacks from street food kiosks, sing karaoke on a small stage for the public, sit down on the beach with camp lights, or simply take a stroll along the long pier with changing neon lights to snap photos in front of one of the beautiful lighthouses on the island. A combination of marine views, relaxing vibes, water sports, and cultural attractions is probably how Guishan Island fosters its charm in the Greater Bay Area.
