Dongguan

People27s_Republic_of_China

Dongguan (东莞; Dūnggún in Cantonese, Dōngguǎn in Mandarin) is in the Pearl River Delta region of China, about 100 km from Hong Kong. It's a major manufacturing center, producing an estimated one fifth of the world's smartphones and one tenth of the world's shoes. Besides industrial activity, it was known for the dubious distinction of being China's prostitution capital, though this service has become much less prominent following a major crackdown in 2014.

Houjie is an industrial town of 400,000 people, mostly temporary residents, 30 minutes southwest of Dongguan.

Cantonese is the traditional local language spoken in Dongguan. The local dialect has distinctive features relative to standard Cantonese, but it is still similar enough to allow for mutual comprehension, and locals can usually communicate in standard Cantonese too. Most people can also speak Mandarin, and due to high migration from other provinces, a significant number of people don't speak Cantonese.

Dongguan has an exhibition center in Dongguan city, which hosts many exhibitions and conferences. There is also a sports center for locals. If you only have a day and want to stay in one area, you might start at Jin'aozhou Pagoda (金鳌洲塔), go east and see Keyuan Garden (可园), and then walk along Dongcheng Avenue (东城大道) for shopping and food. It is not too far to bar street, where you can check out some pretty hopping clubs.

  • Dongguan Botanical Garden, 99 Lüse Street, Nancheng District (南城区绿色路99号) (Bus routes 10, 806, 850, lg1 and x7, +86 769 22985736, +86 769 27380708. 06:00-22:30. Free.
  • Dongguan Exhibition Center, Central Plaza, 97 Hongfu Road, Nancheng District (南城区鸿福路97号中心广场) (Take bus no. x13 and get off at the Telecommunications Bureau (电信局) bus stop, +86 769 22834016. 09:00-17:30, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. Free.
  • Dongguan Library, Central Plaza, 100 Hongfu Road (鸿福路100号中心广场) (Bus route 31, +86 769 22834111. Monday and Friday: 14:00-21:00, all other days: 09:00-21:00. Free.
  • Dongguan Museum, 36 Xinfen Road, Guancheng District (莞城区新芬路36号) (The nearest bus stops are People's Park (人民公园) and Dongguan Hotel（东莞宾馆)）, +86 769 22119729. 09:00-17:30, closed on Mondays. Free.
  • Dongguan Science & Technology Museum, 2 Yuanmei Middle Road (元美中路2号) (Bus routes 15, 17, 31, 801, c3 and x20, +86 769-22835268. 09:30-17:30, no tickets sold after 16:30, closed on Mondays. ¥25.
  • Jin'aozhou Pagoda, Jinqu Road South (金曲路南) (The nearest bus stops are Jiangbin Gardens (江滨花园) and Wanjiang Bridge (万江桥), both of which are about 15 minutes walk from the pagoda. The pagoda is about 200 meters south of the JIn'aozhou Theme Park (金鳌洲主题公园). 08:30-17:30, closed on Mondays. This pagoda was built between 1597 and 1624, and attained its present appearance following a major rennovation in 1737. Experts are said to be impressed by the fact that since 1737, the pagoda has tilted by less than 1% despite being situated only a few meters from the river bank. Free.
  • Keyuan Museum, 32 Keyuan Road, Guancheng District (莞城区可园路32号) (More than 20 bus routes stop here; get off at the Keyuan (可园) bus stop., +86 769 2222 3600. 09:00-17:30, closed Tuesday. ¥8 to enter the area with the old buildings; other areas of the museum and gardens are free.
  • Mount Shuilian Forest Park, +86 769 22678983. 05:30-19:30. Free.
  • Qifeng Park.

Dongguan Botanical Garden, 99 Lüse Street, Nancheng District (南城区绿色路99号) (Bus routes 10, 806, 850, lg1 and x7, +86 769 22985736, +86 769 27380708. 06:00-22:30. Free.

Dongguan Exhibition Center, Central Plaza, 97 Hongfu Road, Nancheng District (南城区鸿福路97号中心广场) (Take bus no. x13 and get off at the Telecommunications Bureau (电信局) bus stop, +86 769 22834016. 09:00-17:30, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. Free.

Dongguan Library, Central Plaza, 100 Hongfu Road (鸿福路100号中心广场) (Bus route 31, +86 769 22834111. Monday and Friday: 14:00-21:00, all other days: 09:00-21:00. Free.

Dongguan Museum, 36 Xinfen Road, Guancheng District (莞城区新芬路36号) (The nearest bus stops are People's Park (人民公园) and Dongguan Hotel（东莞宾馆)）, +86 769 22119729. 09:00-17:30, closed on Mondays. Free.

Dongguan Science & Technology Museum, 2 Yuanmei Middle Road (元美中路2号) (Bus routes 15, 17, 31, 801, c3 and x20, +86 769-22835268. 09:30-17:30, no tickets sold after 16:30, closed on Mondays. ¥25.

Jin'aozhou Pagoda, Jinqu Road South (金曲路南) (The nearest bus stops are Jiangbin Gardens (江滨花园) and Wanjiang Bridge (万江桥), both of which are about 15 minutes walk from the pagoda. The pagoda is about 200 meters south of the JIn'aozhou Theme Park (金鳌洲主题公园). 08:30-17:30, closed on Mondays. This pagoda was built between 1597 and 1624, and attained its present appearance following a major rennovation in 1737. Experts are said to be impressed by the fact that since 1737, the pagoda has tilted by less than 1% despite being situated only a few meters from the river bank. Free.

Keyuan Museum, 32 Keyuan Road, Guancheng District (莞城区可园路32号) (More than 20 bus routes stop here; get off at the Keyuan (可园) bus stop., +86 769 2222 3600. 09:00-17:30, closed Tuesday. ¥8 to enter the area with the old buildings; other areas of the museum and gardens are free.

Mount Shuilian Forest Park, +86 769 22678983. 05:30-19:30. Free.

Qifeng Park.

See Houjie.

  • Lin Zexu Memorial Museum, 113 Jiefang Road, Humen Town (虎门镇解放路113号) (Bus route Humen 3a, +86 769 85512065. 08:30-17:30. Part of the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.
  • Sea Battle Museum, Huandao Road, Humen Town (虎门镇环岛路) (Bus routes l1, 832 and Humen 16, +86 769 85527783. 08:30-17:30. Part of the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.
  • Weiyuan Fort, Huandao Road, Humen Town (虎门镇环岛路) (About 300 metres west of the Sea Battle Museum; Bus route Humen 2, +86 769 85527154. 08:30-17:30. A 19th-century coastal fort that saw action during the Opium Wars. Administered by the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.

Lin Zexu Memorial Museum, 113 Jiefang Road, Humen Town (虎门镇解放路113号) (Bus route Humen 3a, +86 769 85512065. 08:30-17:30. Part of the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.

Sea Battle Museum, Huandao Road, Humen Town (虎门镇环岛路) (Bus routes l1, 832 and Humen 16, +86 769 85527783. 08:30-17:30. Part of the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.

Weiyuan Fort, Huandao Road, Humen Town (虎门镇环岛路) (About 300 metres west of the Sea Battle Museum; Bus route Humen 2, +86 769 85527154. 08:30-17:30. A 19th-century coastal fort that saw action during the Opium Wars. Administered by the Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆). Free.

  • Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park, Bijiashan Avenue, Shixin District, Zhangmutou Town (樟木头镇石新区笔架山大道) (The most direct way to get there is to take bus no. L4 from Dongguan Bus Station. Alternatively, one could also take a high-speed train to Zhangmutou (樟木头) and then either catch a taxi or transfer to bus no. 6, +86 769 87799666. October to May: 07:00-17:00; June to September: 07:00-17:30. ¥45.
  • Lianhua Mountain Country Park, Chang'an Town 长安镇 (take bus 3 in Chang'an to the end of the line. 07:00–19:00. Literally "lotus mountain", paved with extensive hiking paths. There's a temple not too far up. Free.
  • Songshan Lake. Free.
  • Yinping Mountain. The highest mountain in Dongguan, on the border between Xiegang Town and Huizhou. A beautiful area with waterfalls, paved trails, and cable cars. Free.

Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park, Bijiashan Avenue, Shixin District, Zhangmutou Town (樟木头镇石新区笔架山大道) (The most direct way to get there is to take bus no. L4 from Dongguan Bus Station. Alternatively, one could also take a high-speed train to Zhangmutou (樟木头) and then either catch a taxi or transfer to bus no. 6, +86 769 87799666. October to May: 07:00-17:00; June to September: 07:00-17:30. ¥45.

Lianhua Mountain Country Park, Chang'an Town 长安镇 (take bus 3 in Chang'an to the end of the line. 07:00–19:00. Literally "lotus mountain", paved with extensive hiking paths. There's a temple not too far up. Free.

Songshan Lake. Free.

Yinping Mountain. The highest mountain in Dongguan, on the border between Xiegang Town and [[Huizhou (Guangdong)|Huizhou]]. A beautiful area with waterfalls, paved trails, and cable cars. Free.

Most four star hotels will have various "foot" massages and sauna services for upwards of ¥150. Saunas and foot massage parlors might be brothels.

  • The Spa at Hyatt Regency Dongguan, Hyatt Regency Dongguan Hotel, Song Shan Lake Central District, Science and Technology Industrial Park, Qinyuan Road, +86 769 2289 1234.
  • Dongguan Yulan Theater, 96 Hongfu Road, Nancheng District (南城区鸿福路96号).
  • Dongguan Basketball Center. Home of the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

The Spa at Hyatt Regency Dongguan, Hyatt Regency Dongguan Hotel, Song Shan Lake Central District, Science and Technology Industrial Park, Qinyuan Road, +86 769 2289 1234.

Dongguan Yulan Theater, 96 Hongfu Road, Nancheng District (南城区鸿福路96号).

Dongguan Basketball Center. Home of the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

Dongguan is well known for its Huanghe Fashion Town located in the Humen District along Renming Road, Renyi Road, Jinglong Road and Yinglong Road. The district houses one of China's largest clothing and textile wholesale markets, which extends over an area of about one square kilometre. Many of the products sold there are exported to Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Everybody can enjoy low wholesale prices, even when buying in small quantities.

  • South China Mall, 10 South Wanjiang Road, Wanjiang District (万江区万江路南10号). The largest mall in the world (depending on how you count), featuring an IMAX theater and a theme park.
  • Hundred Flowers Times Square, 1 Shichang Road, Changping Town (常平镇市场路1号). Eight-story mall with free Wi-Fi. The ground floor has a food court with a good selection of Chinese restaurants, and the fifth floor has a movie theater. Just outside the mall are several jewelry stores and clothing stores, and the neighborhood around it is lively and full of restaurants and shops as well.

South China Mall, 10 South Wanjiang Road, Wanjiang District (万江区万江路南10号). The largest mall in the world (depending on how you count), featuring an IMAX theater and a theme park.

Hundred Flowers Times Square, 1 Shichang Road, Changping Town (常平镇市场路1号). Eight-story mall with free Wi-Fi. The ground floor has a food court with a good selection of Chinese restaurants, and the fifth floor has a movie theater. Just outside the mall are several jewelry stores and clothing stores, and the neighborhood around it is lively and full of restaurants and shops as well.

Most 5-star hotels offer buffets, these are around ¥30-60 for breakfast, ¥100-200 for lunch, and ¥100-300 for dinner.

There are many expat-oriented western restaurants in the bar area, particularly on Doncheng East road. Expect to pay the prices a bit higher than is typical for China, however (but generally cheaper than Hong Kong).

Smaller Chinese restaurants are the likely choice if you wanna be more on a budget - if (not unusually for mainland China) you can manage the lack of the English menus and limited English skills of the staff.

The most popular bars are on or around "Bar Street" (Jiǔbājiē) in Dongcheng. However, like many parts of China, various kinds of services are popular, including prostitution. One should be careful with local girls if they seem to be getting too friendly if you are not looking for such services. Beware of your drink, it is not unheard of foreigners being drugged and robbed. Beer at supermarkets should not cost more than ¥4 a bottle for Tsingtao. Red wine costs from ¥10 a bottle.

  • Beijing Bar. A popular hangout.
  • BB. Popular club and local hangout with a dance floor.
  • V8. Popular club and local hangout with a dance floor and good cocktails.
  • One for the Road. Popular ex-patriate bar. English pub style. Good food, good beer.
  • Day & Nite, 21 Yangwu Street, Changping Town (常平镇朝阳五街21号). The center of expat life in Changping, with a TV playing football (soccer) and a menu with Western comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, burgers, and fries, as well as a variety of drinks. Menu in Chinese and English.

Beijing Bar. A popular hangout.

BB. Popular club and local hangout with a dance floor.

V8. Popular club and local hangout with a dance floor and good cocktails.

One for the Road. Popular ex-patriate bar. English pub style. Good food, good beer.

Day & Nite, 21 Yangwu Street, Changping Town (常平镇朝阳五街21号). The center of expat life in Changping, with a TV playing football (soccer) and a menu with Western comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, burgers, and fries, as well as a variety of drinks. Menu in Chinese and English.

As anywhere, be careful. However, be more careful in Dongguan because the city is known to be quite dangerous. Violent crime is more common here than in nearby cities; you can be robbed by thieves riding on motorcycles, especially in less populated areas, and despite the city government's total ban on motorcycles.

  • Beware of and stay away from pyramid schemes, as they are known to operate in the city and use coercion.
  • Prostitution has long been widespread, with many men from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and especially Hong Kong flocking here on the weekends. Authorities used to look the other way, but after a major government crackdown that began in 2014, the industry has diminished.
  • Do not gamble. You will end up in jail, with a maximum security detention period of 15 days if you are caught gambling, so save it for Macau.
  • Lastly, a lot of the police force is corrupt, but since the government is still watching over them, they are discreet. So if a policeman tries to get money from you, calmly ask to see a superior.

  • HERE! Dongguan, the local English-language magazine with a nice guide to the city