Zhuhai--A Coastal Garden in China

Every city has its gardens. However, can you imagine a whole city as a big big garden?

Here the garden is Zhuhai city in southeast China's Guangdong Province. Official titles such as "Top Tourist City of China", "State Garden Green City", 'State Environmental Protection Model City", "State Hygienic City" and "National Level Ecology Demonstration Zone" may testify a little to its unique beauty. The air is pure and fresh in Zhuhai. The sun paints the sky with an intense blue. White clouds and an azure sky meld together. Everything in Zhuhai is so clean and clear.

When you come to Zhuhai, one place you must not miss is Zhuhai Fisher Girl. There is folklore about it. It is said that long and long ago, there was a fairy captivated by the shocking beauty of Zhuhai. She descended to the world and pretended to be a fisher girl. Later, she fell in love with a local fisherman. However, the fisherman became frightened after listening to the locals' gossip and asked her to take off her bracelet, which had been keeping her alive. To show her faithful love, the fairy did as her lover asked and died in tears. With endless regret and sadness, the man's cries reached an immortal spirit, who revived the fairy, and finally she became a real fisher girl.

There are a lot of places for fun in Zhuhai. If you are a motor-racing fan, you may already know there's only one international race in China, and it's in Zhuhai. And every two years, there'll be the International Aerospace Expo, which is recognized as the grandest aerospace expo in China. If youd like to dig into the foliage world, Zhuhai Nong Ke Qi Guan (Wonders of Agriculture) is waiting for you. You might also wish to experience the imperial life in Yuan Ming Xin Yuan, a theme park which recreates the Yuan Ming Garden from the Qing Dynasty (1636 to 1912). Meng Huan Shui Cheng (Water Town in Fantasy), a theme park makes you feel like entering the Egyptian mythology. Besides, spending one of two nights on these isles and listening to the whisper of the various birds and the breath of the sea.

Zhuhai is located at 21.48 to 22.27 N and 113.3 to 114.18 E; it has a subtropical monsoon climate. The city enjoys adequate sunshine and rainfall. The annual average temperature is 22.4 degrees Celsius. The temperature in January and February is the lowest. The temperature rises in April. From May to September it gets relatively hotter and more rainfall. The annual average precipitation is 1,700 to 2,300 millimeters. East wind blows all the year. However, southeast wind dominates in the summer and northeast wind dominates in the winter. In summer and autumn, typhoon hits the city. The average relative air humidity is 79%.

Be sure to see the 8.7m tall Fisher Girl statue, the city's symbol, along Qinglu Lu (Lovers' Road). Take the sightseeing 9 or 99 bus. Legend has it that an angel descended to earth one day and fell in love with the beauty of the land. Reluctant to return, she turned herself into a fisher girl, weaving nets and searching for precious pearls to earn a living. In addition, she unselfishly used her knowledge and powers to heal villagers who were ill, and so was well loved by one and all.

Soon she met a young fisherman named Hai Peng and they fell in love. Not long after, however, Hai Peng heard and believed malicious accusations, and demanded the fisher girl to give him her magical bracelets as proof of her affection. The fisher girl tearfully explained the origin of the bracelets.

While she was still the daughter of the South Sea Dragon King, the eight bracelets were given to her by the eight palace mistresses, to guard her against the thought of abandoning immortality. She would die if she even removed one.

Tragically, Hai Peng did not believe her story and turned to leave. The fisher girl, to prove her love for Hai Peng, removed her bracelets and died in his arms instantly. Hai Peng was filled with remorse and grief. His great sorrow moved the Jiu Zhou Huan Elder, who taught him the way to bring the fisher girl back to life.

For this he had to travel to the Jiu Zhou Island to find the Resurrection Grass, which must then be fed with man's blood. After much difficulty, Hai Peng found the grass and grew it with his own blood. Days turned to years, and the grass was finally ready and used to revive the fisher girl. Henceforth, the fisher girl became a true mortal. On the day of their wedding, all the girls together found a gigantic, magical pearl at the seashore. In gratitude, the fisher girl presented this to the reverent Elder.

Built based on the original Yuanmingyuan Garden in Beijing, the New Yuanmingyuan Garden in Zhuhai is an imitation one having eighteen of the original forty sights. Chinese palaces, buildings, and pavilions demonstrate the imperial architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and the layout of the classical gardens in southern China, while the Western style architecture in the west section of the garden manifests the classic European style. It is a good place for architectural enthusiasts.