GBA city guide
Zhongshan gives visitors three distinct reasons to cross to the western GBA: Sun Yat-sen's home in Cuiheng, Sunwen West Road's arcaded shopping streets and Guzhen's lighting industry.
Zhongshan lies between the Guangzhou-Foshan area and Zhuhai, on the western side of the Pearl River estuary. Shiqi is in the central urban area, Cuiheng is a heritage destination and Guzhen is a lighting town. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opened on 30 June 2024, adding a road crossing from the eastern shore.
Living & visiting
Shiqi is part of the central city and contains Zhongshan North railway station. Xingzhong Square extends the old shopping area towards the Qijiang riverfront, with shops, restaurants and bars. East, West and South are also names used for central subdistricts.
Cuiheng Village is the setting for the Sun Yat-sen Residence Memorial Museum. Sun was a revolutionary leader and became the Republic of China's provisional president in 1912.
Guzhen is in northwest Zhongshan. Its lighting manufacturers, supporting suppliers and specialist wholesale markets extend into neighbouring towns; a visit here centres on lighting products rather than Shiqi's shopping streets.
Zhongshan has rail connections and airport-coach services from neighbouring cities. Zhuhai Airport's operator publishes its Zhongshan coach routes, while Shenzhen Airport lists its Zhongshan city terminal. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link provides a road connection across the estuary.
Zhongshan People's Hospital is at 2 Sunwen East Road in the central urban area. Switchboard: +86 760 8882 3566. Its patient-service pages cover appointments, visits and transport; the hospital can answer first-registration questions for passport holders.
Sunwen West Road's low-rise arcades combine Lingnan and late-19th- and early-20th-century European influences. Wood carvings, grey plasterwork and sheltered walkways reward attention at street level. The Xiangshan Commercial Culture Museum and former Wing On company site connect the street with Zhongshan's trading and overseas-community history.
Sun Yat-sen was born in Cuiheng in 1866, in an earlier house beside the courtyard well. The two-storey home visitors see today was built in 1892 under his supervision, using money sent from Honolulu by his elder brother Sun Mei. Its Western-style exterior encloses a traditional Chinese internal plan.
Business & industry
The 2026 spring fair was scheduled for 18-21 March, with Guzhen Convention and Exhibition Center as the main venue and eight lighting-market subvenues, including Huayi Plaza and Lihe Lighting Expo Center. The autumn edition is listed for 22-25 October 2026. This specialist lighting fair gives a focused buyer an alternative to a broad multi-industry event.
Official Guzhen Lighting Fair information · Compare with the Canton Fair
Nantou's major appliances include air conditioners, televisions and refrigerators; Dongfeng specialises in small household appliances. Xiaolan has an established hardware and lock industry.
Guzhen Town, northwest Zhongshan
Nantou Town
Dongfeng Town
Xiaolan Town
Population: 4.572 million
Land area: 1,781 km²
2025 GDP: RMB 426 billion (approx. NZ$102.1 billion)
NZD conversion uses the same-year SAFE annual average.
Zhongshan has 15 towns and eight subdistricts. Torch High-tech Industrial Development Zone and Cuiheng New Area are functional areas.
Tell NZGBA your fair dates and where your New Zealand group will be based. We can discuss community introductions and opportunities to meet other Kiwis during your wider GBA visit.