I really enjoy my time here. Even though we had just arrived in Zhuhai, we were about to leave again, as our stay was only for one night. We wanted to experience the area before deciding whether we liked it. Plus, since it was close to Easter, staying longer would mean returning to Hong Kong during a public holiday, which typically means large crowds.
We started our day with breakfast on the fifth floor. The dining area offered both indoor and outdoor seating. It was self-service and not overly crowded. Breakfast options included egg and noodle stations, various hot dishes, cereals, cold dishes, as well as teas, coffees, and juices. The food was tasty, and the service was warm.
While at breakfast, I took a photo of Peter, and he wanted to snap one of me. He always takes his time with photos and occasionally complains that I can’t stay still long enough. Based on our pictures, he might have a point.
Although we chose to sit indoors for breakfast, I checked out the outdoor area too. It featured a charming wedding chapel, a lucky wishing tree, and a children's play area.
After breakfast, I attempted to take Peter back to our room using the lift. I pressed the button for the twentieth floor, and as the lift ascended, the doors suddenly opened. I tried to get Peter out, but a robot was trying to enter. We were quite surprised, but I had seen this in a video before. In many Chinese hotels, a robot delivers room service. This one had just dropped off breakfast. Eventually, I maneuvered around the robot and exited the lift, only to realize we were still on the nineteenth floor and I had to get back in. However, the robot was blocking the space, so I gently nudged it with Peter's wheelchair to get it to the corner so we could enter. It felt surreal; the robot had a cute, smiling face that made me feel inclined to chat as we rode to our floor. Unfortunately, I was too astonished to take a photo at that moment, but I did capture one later in the lobby when the robot returned from another delivery.
We had a complimentary late check-out until 4 p.m., so I had ample time to explore on my own before taking Peter out later. There’s plenty to see in Zhuhai, but I wanted to focus on places within walking distance during this visit. As it turned out, our hotel was about a five-minute walk from one of Zhuhai's major attractions, The New Yuanming Palace Gardens.
I could see the gardens from the hotel and also checked directions on A-maps and Google Maps. A-maps provided accurate directions, while Google guided me on a longer route. Although I had to cross a busy road to reach the gardens, a pedestrian signal assisted me.
Before entering the gardens, I paused to watch a group of elderly Chinese people dancing at the entrance. They were delightful to observe, dressed nicely, and clearly having a great time, exuding joy as they danced. This performance alone made the visit worthwhile.
Crossing a bridge, I entered the gardens through the main entrance, which is free except during special events. There was a section dedicated to pets that required a paid ticket, but the rest of the gardens were accessible at no cost. There was so much to see in the free areas that I spent a long time there and didn’t manage to see everything.
The New Yuanming Palace Gardens are not an ancient site; they were established in 1997 and cover an area of 1.39 square kilometers. They are modeled after the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, with eighteen scenic spots replicated at the same size.
The areas in front of the main entrance are inspired by the imperial gardens of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). Many different gates and courtyards can be found here. The first courtyard included a large floral display and a welcoming exhibit for 2026.
In a side courtyard, there were festivities to celebrate the Year of the Horse, a lucky tree, a flying unicorn, models of dolphins, and a place where visitors could rent traditional Chinese clothing for photos.
Additionally, there was a space for hiring costumes to dress as an emperor or empress and have photos taken by a professional photographer while seated on an imperial throne. Naturally, I discreetly took a few pictures of those dressed up.
One courtyard featured a lantern shaped like Cai Shen, the god of wealth, which is commonly displayed during Chinese New Year. Another courtyard was filled with artificial blossoming trees, and there was an arched bridge here, too, where many people were taking selfies.
Yet another courtyard was decorated with beautiful, colorful fish-themed hanging lanterns. I also found a reproduction of the inside of the Summer Palace, complete with models of emperors, a child emperor, courtiers, and
I really enjoy it here.
