Dongguan Botanical Garden

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.

Dongguan isn't really on the radar for most tourists. Its factories attract a steady flow of business travellers, but not many people visit unless they have a specific reason to. However, it does have a handful of fascinating Qing Dynasty historic sites, especially from the Opium Wars in Humen Town, as well as typical big-city amenities, lots of shopping, and some quite nice hiking trails.

Towns

Being one of the 4 prefectural-level cities where towns are directly administered, there are a whopping 28 towns outside Dongguan's central urban districts. Here are a few of the most important:

• Chang'an (长安, Cháng'ān) was a well-off manufacturing center and the gateway to Lianhua Mountain. While it has been hit hard by foreign competition, it is still home to several conglomerates with national significance.
• Changping (常平, Chángpíng) was once a notorious red light district, but has cleaned up its act (with encouragement from police crackdowns) and is now a perfectly respectable, though not particularly glamorous, manufacturing town. It's also a transportation hub where intercity trains to Guangzhou and Shenzhen are served.
• Houjie (厚街, Hòujiē) is an industrial town of 400,000 people, mostly temporary residents, 30 minutes southwest of Dongguan.
• Humen (虎门, Hǔmén) was an important site in the Opium Wars (with two museums to show for it) and is now a well-known spot for clothes shopping and has a major high-speed rail station.

As often happens in China, the name "Dongguan" is ambiguous: colloquially it refers just to the central urban area, but officially it is the entire prefecture-level city, including the urban center as well as the towns.

Talk

Cantonese is the traditional local language spoken in Dongguan. The local dialect has distinctive features relative to standard Cantonese, but if you are already fluent in standard Cantonese, this should not pose too much of a challenge, 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.

Get in

By plane

The Pearl River Delta has one of the largest concentrations of international airports in the world, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is just over an hour from the Dongguan city center. There is a shuttle bus to the Dongguan airport check-in station at the South China Mall in Wanjiang. If hiring a car, the fare should be about ¥300. Also, there is Intercity Bus at Baiyun Airport. And the pick up port:Gate A9 of the Arrival Hall and South China International Auto Parts City of Dalang Town. Buses to/from other bus stations, such as the Dongguan City Terminal, are likely to be available as well, enquire locally.
• Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is also about an hour from the center city but much closer to some Dongguan towns, especially Chang'an and Humen, expect to pay ¥100-300 by car. By bus, it will cost ¥46-55, and the last one going to Dongguan departs (as of May 2024) at 20:50, at least if going to the Nancheng Bus Terminal in central Dongguan (See also the information on Shenzhen airport website). The airport is also connected to Dongguan by the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. There are stops in Chang’an, Humen, Houjie, and several other towns in Dongguan.
• Hong Kong International Airport can be reached by buses that depart on regular schedules from hotels across Dongguan. It is also accessible by a special ferry from Dongguan's Humen town that connects directly to the international flights area of the airport. To catch the ferry from the airport, go directly to the ticket counter without passing through Hong Kong immigration or customs; see Hong Kong International Airport#By ferry for details.

By train

There are several train stations in Dongguan; here are some of the most important:

• 1 Dongguan Railway Station (东莞站, Dōngguǎn Zhàn / New Shilong Railway Station, 新石龙站, Xīn Shílóng Zhàn) (Shilong Town). Frequent service from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The station is connected to the Dongguan Metro.  
• 2 Changping Railway Station (常平站, Chángpíng Zhàn) (Changping Town). Formerly known as Dongguan Railway Station. Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway offers service (the former Kowloon-Canton Railway service) from Hung Hom Station in Hong Kong to Guangzhou with a stop in Dongguan. The fare is payable in either Chinese yuan or Hong Kong dollars. As of 2018, the one-way fare is HK$155. Schedule here.  
• 3 Dongguan East Railway Station (东莞东站, Dōngguǎn Dōng Zhàn) (Changping Town). Service from lots of destinations all over China.  
• 4 Humen Railway Station (虎门站, Hǔmén Zhàn) (Humen Town). On the high-speed rail line between Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Connected to Dongguan Metro line 2.  
• 5 Dongguan West Railway Station (东莞西站), Southeastern corner of the intersection of Shuixiang Avenue and Wanghong Road, Hongmei Town (洪梅镇水乡大道与望洪路交汇处东南侧) (bus nos. 86, 601, 606, 613, 618, 625, 631, 638, and 639). This is where the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway intersects with the Dongguan-Huizhou Intercity Railway. As of April 2024, the station is also the western terminus of the Dongguan-Huizhou Intercity Railway. However, that will change during the 2nd half of 2024 when the extension to Foshan is completed (at which point the railway will become known as the Guangzhou-Huizhou Intercity Railway). (updated Apr 2024)

By bus

The most popular method for Hong Kong locals to travel to Dongguan is by bus. There are several companies that offer bus travel to Dongguan from Hong Kong. A good place to find a bus, would be at the bus stands inside the arrival terminal at Hong Kong Airport. Prices are usually HK$80–100 for a one-way ticket or HK$150 for a two-way ticket. Travel times usually are 1½-2½ hours depending on traffic conditions. If you are traveling from another part of China, you can also travel to Dongguan by bus, most major cities in China will have bus routes to the Dongguan Main Bus Station in Nancheng. There buses to several bus stations in Dongguan from the main Luohu border crossing bus terminal, so be careful that you choose the correct one.

From Shenzhen, take the metro to Songgang metro station, and exit the station through exit G to connect to the Dongguan-Shenzhen Line 1 (莞深001线) bus. Pay for the bus with a regular payment QR code, not Shenzhen Tong or Yangcheng Tong.

By boat

One of the less used ways to get to Dongguan from Hong Kong is by ferry. This allows you to avoid the queues at the busy customs checkpoints on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. Ferries are operated by CKS. They depart from Hong Kong International Airport's Skypier and arrive at Humen Ferry Terminal (虎门港澳码头, Hǔmén Gǎng Ào Mǎtou) in Humen Town.

Get around

The best method for visitors to get around is taxi. Taxis are cheap, and a 30 minute ride should not cost more than ¥80. Beware however, some taxis are used for kidnapping. Be sure to only use the green, licensed Dongguan taxis.

By rail

The metro system, Dongguan Rail Transit, opened in 2016 with a single line (Line 2) serving 15 stations between Dongguan Railway Station and Humen Railway Station. The system is being expanded, with plans for three additional lines and connections to the Guangzhou and Shenzhen metros. Line 1 of the Dongguan Metro is expected to be completed in 2025.

Besides the metro, travellers also have the option of taking either the Dongguan-Huizhou Intercity Railway or the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. Both lines have multiple stations in Dongguan.

By bus

Most buses cost ¥2 per ride. The Yang Cheng Tong pass from Guangzhou works for the buses in Dongguan. Announcements are made in Mandarin and Cantonese, no English.

See

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.

Central Dongguan

Flowers at Dongguan Botanical Garden

• 1 Dongguan Botanical Garden (东莞植物园), 99 Lüse Street, Nancheng District (南城区绿色路99号) (Bus routes 10, 806, 850, lg1 and x7), ☏ +86 769-27380708. 06:30–21:30; some sections only open 08:30-17:30. Beautiful, large, and well maintained botanical gardens. See lots of flowers and attractive landscaping, including Chinese-style gardens and ponds with fish. Labels are mostly in Chinese but regardless you can enjoy the scenery – this is one of the prettiest parts of Dongguan. It doubles as a popular park with a playground for children. Free. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Dongguan Exhibition Center (东莞展览馆), 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• 3 Dongguan Library (东莞图书馆), 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.  
• 4 Dongguan Museum (东莞市博物馆), 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, dgmuseum@163.com. 09:00-17:30, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated May 2018)
• 5 Dongguan Numismatic Museum (东莞市钱币博物馆), Ground floor, Dongguan Rural Commercial Bank Building, No. 2 Hongfu East Road, Dongcheng District (东城区鸿福东路2号农商银行大厦一层) (near Exit D of the Hongfu Road Station on Metro Line 2), ☏ +86 769 22866998, +86 769 21383569. 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00 (weekdays), 10:00-16:00 (Saturday), no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Sunday. A museum run by the Dongguan Rural Commercial Bank. It displays old coins and notes, as well as items pertaining to the history of the bank. Visitors may opt to take a guided tour. The tour guides can speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English. Free. (updated Apr 2024)
• 6 Dongguan Science & Technology Museum (东莞市科学技术博物馆), 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. (updated May 2018)
• 7 Jin'aozhou Pagoda (金鳌洲塔), 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. (updated May 2018)
• 8 Keyuan Museum (Ke Garden & Museum, 可园博物馆), 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. (updated Dec 2017)
• 9 Lingnan Museum of Fine Art (岭南美术馆), 1 Keyuan North Road, Guancheng District (莞城区可园北路1号) (adjacent to the Keyuan Museum), ☏ +86 769 22116521. 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated Apr 2024)
• 10 Mount Shuilian Forest Park (水濂山森林公园) (Take bus routes 10, 42, 806, x12, Houjie 15 or Houjie 5 and get off at the Mount Shuilian Forest Park bus stop), ☏ +86 769 22678983. 05:30-19:30. Free. 
• 11 Qifeng Park (旗峰公园, Qífēng Gōngyuán) (Metro Line 2, Qifeng Park Station). (updated May 2018)
• 12 Ying’en Gate Tower (迎恩门城楼), 35 Yunhe East 2nd Road,(运河东二路35号) (opposite the northern entrance to Dongguan Culture Square; bus nos. 7, 11, 12, 24, 50, 627, L5A and X18), ☏ +86 769 22246938. Open all day. Built in 1384, this is the sole surviving remnant of Dongguan’s once imposing city wall. Free. (updated Apr 2024)

Houjie Town

See Houjie.

Humen Town

The remains of Weiyuan Fort below Humen Bridge

Humen Town played a pivotal role in the Opium Wars, which were a central part of the decline of the Qing Dynasty and China's "century of humiliation" at the hands of foreign powers. The wars were fought between China and the United Kingdom in the 1800s over trade policy, in particular the UK's insistence on selling opium to China. Humen was the site of the destruction of a huge amount of seized opium, the event which sparked the First Opium War, and some battles were fought around here too. The Opium Wars are now commemorated by two museums and some historic fortifications, which make for an interesting, if one-sided, day of learning about this period of history.

• 13 Opium War Museum (鸦片战争博物馆; Lin Zexu Memorial Museum 林则徐纪念馆), 113 Jiefang Road, Humen Town (虎门镇解放路113号) (Bus route Humen 3a), ☏ +86 769 85512065. Tu–Su 08:30-17:30. Oddly enough, this confusingly named museum seems to cover everything about the opium trade except the Opium Wars. The biggest focus is on Lin Zexu's heroic 1839 campaign to destroy imported opium; the wars that ensued are scarcely given a mention. The museum has lots of interesting artifacts, though the labels and their English translations leave something to be desired in terms of precision. Next door to the left is Humen Story (虎门故事), a small museum of Humen's history. To the right is Yuxu Ancient Temple, a small temple that's more than 200 years old and thus saw both opium wars. Back toward the ticket gate and to your left, you will see the water-filled pits that Lin Zexu used to destroy the opium, though the historical marker is in Chinese only. Free. (updated May 2018)
• 14 Sea Battle Museum (海战博物馆), Huandao Road, Humen Town (虎门镇环岛路) (bus 212, 219, 229, or 238), ☏ +86 769 85527783. 08:30-17:30, no entry after 17:00, closed Tuesdays. This is the real museum of the Opium Wars: a detailed presentation of their context, details, and aftermath. To be clear, this is the official Chinese government interpretation of the Opium Wars – don't expect any kind of balanced presentation (though in fairness, from a 21st-century perspective it's hard to deny the British were in the wrong). For non-military history buffs, possibly the most fascinating part of the museum is the hallway at the beginning that displays Qing Dynasty history on one side and the Enlightenment on the other side, for a clear sense of what was happening at the same time in China and in Europe. Most of the information is bilingual in Chinese and English, and the English translations are not perfect but comprehensible. Free, but you need to show your passport to get a ticket. (updated Jan 2020)
• 15 Weiyuan Fort (威远炮台), 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. 08:30-17:00. A 19th-century coastal fort that saw action during the Opium Wars. A little to the left and across the street from the exit is a trail that goes up the hill and over the highway to the ruins of other forts nearby, which are less interesting than Weiyuan Fort but also less crowded. Free. (updated May 2018)
• 16 Shajiao Fort (沙角炮台), Shajiao Community, Humen Town (虎门镇沙角社区) (Bus no. 236. To get here from any of the other Opium War sites, you will need to catch two buses), ☏ +86 769 85563429. 08:30-17:30, no entry after 17:00. Built in 1801, this fort is closer to the open sea than the other forts in Humen and formed part of the Pearl River's first line of defence together with the Dajiao Hill Fort on the other side of the river in Guangzhou's Nansha District. Below the fort is a small dock that was used by Lin Zexu for confiscating opium. Free. (updated Jan 2020)

Liaobu Town

• 17 China Agarwood Culture Museum (中国沉香文化博物馆), Xiangshi Park, 281 Xiangfu Road, Liaobu Town (寮步镇祥富路281号香市公园内) (bus nos. 369 and 371), ☏ +86 769 83327066, +86 769 83529066. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. A museum dedicated to the use of agarwood in Chinese culture. Agarwood is a type of wood that is highly valued in China and other Asian countries due to its aromatic and medicinal properties. Visitors are expected to make a booking on the museum’s WeChat account before visiting the museum. The WeChat account name is ‘香市文化旅游区’ (Xiangshi Cultural Tourism Area). Free. (updated Mar 2024)
• 18 Dongguan Xiangshi Zoo (东莞香市动物园), 170 Fuxing Road, Yaole Village, Liaobu Town (寮步镇药勒村富兴路170号) (bus nos. 368 and 369), ☏ +86 769 82819988, 515491904@qq.com. 08:30-18:00 (April-October), 09:00-18:00 (November-March), no entry after 17:00. Animal and acrobat performances are held here at 10:40 and 15:00 on weekdays, and at 10:40, 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30 on public holidays. Tickets are ¥120 for adults, ¥80 for seniors over 65 and ¥80 for children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters in height; children under 1.2 meters in height enjoy free admission. (updated Mar 2024)

• 19 Xixi Ancient Village (西溪古村), Liaobu Town (寮步镇) (bus nos. 366 and 369), ☏ +86 769 82393288. Open all day. A well-preserved traditional village on the west bank of the Hanxi River. The village was founded in 1489 and has around 200 buildings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties. General entry to the village is free; some attractions in the village charge a fee, which is covered in an all-inclusive ticket that costs ¥80. Discounts are available for children. (updated Mar 2024)

Outlying areas

• 20 Arts De Chine Museum (东莞市逸颐艺舍博物馆), 129 Caixia Road, Hengli Town (横沥镇彩霞路129号) (bus nos. 395, 398, 399, 705, 716, 721, Express 301, Express 326 and Express 910), ☏ +86 769 81172888, ArtsDeChine@163.com. 09:00-17:00, no tickets issued after 16:00, closed on Monday (except when Monday is a public holiday). A museum established by a private art collector. It displays a range of different items, including paintings, calligraphy, ceramics and bronzeware. The museum website has not been updated since 2013. Visitors should refer to the museum’s WeChat public account for the latest updates. Free. (updated Apr 2024)
• 21 Fenggang History Museum (凤岗历史博物馆), 107/9 Fenggang Kangjia Road, Fenggang Town (凤岗镇凤岗康佳路9号107号) (on top of a hill in the middle of Yuanlongshan Park; take the 917 express bus from Dongguan East Bus Station to Fenggang Bus Station, then take the Nanmenshan Forest Park Holiday Bus and get off at Yuanlongshan Park), ☏ +86 769 82092228. 08:30-17:30. A small museum on the history of the town of Fenggang. One of the highlights is an exhibition about Yang Guanlin, one of the most famous xiangqi players of all time and winner of China’s first ever national xiangqi championship in 1956. The exhibition features wax models of Yang and his opponent Hu Ronghua facing each other off at Guangzhou Culture Park in 1961. Free. (updated Apr 2024)
• 22 Guangdong Memorial Hall of the East River Column (广东东江纵队纪念馆), Houda Road, Dawangling Village, Dalingshan Town (大岭山镇大王岭村厚大路) (bus nos. 317, 377 and 379), ☏ +86 769 85651766, gddjzdjng@163.com. 08:30-17:30, closed on Mondays. A memorial museum dedicated to telling the story of the East River Column (also known as the Dongjiang Column), a Communist-affiliated guerrilla army that fought the Japanese during the Second World War and later took part in the Chinese Civil War. The museum is on a hill overlooking the historic village of Dawangling, which is where the East River Column's main base was located from 1940 to 1943. The village of course can also be visited and several of the buildings that made up the army base are open to the public. Free. (updated Sep 2021)
• 23 Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park (观音山国家森林公园), 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. (updated Dec 2017)
• 24 Huayang Lake National Wetland Park (华阳湖国家湿地公园), Xinghua Road, Mayong Town (麻涌镇兴华路) (take bus no. 616 or 619), ☏ +86 769 81903160. Open all day. Free. (updated Apr 2024)
• 25 Lianhua Mountain Country Park (莲花山郊野公园 Liánhuāshān Jiāoyě Gōngyuán), 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. (updated Apr 2019)
• 26 Songshan Lake (松山湖 Sōngshān Hú). Free. (updated Apr 2019)
• 27 Huawei Ox Horn Campus. A European-themed model village serving as a campus for Huawei engineers, with twelve building groups connected by a tram system. Contains clones of parts of e.g. Český Krumlov, Verona, Bologna, Budapest, Granada.  
• 28 Yinping Mountain (银瓶山, 银瓶咀). The highest mountain in Dongguan, on the border between Xiegang Town and Huizhou. A beautiful area with waterfalls, paved trails, and cable cars. Free. (updated May 2019)
• 29 Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park (袁崇焕纪念园), 38 Chonghuan East Road, Shijie Town (石碣镇崇焕东路38号) (bus nos. 72, 311, 315 and 330), ☏ +86 769 86300160, ychjny@126.com. 08:30-17:30 (extended to 18:00 during holiday periods), no entry after 17:00, closed on Mondays. Dedicated to Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630), a famous Ming Dynasty general who defeated the Jurchen leader Nurhaci at the Battle of Ningyuan in 1626. It includes a re-creation of Yuan Chonghuan’s house, a memorial hall and a large statue. Free. (updated Jun 2024)
• 30 Yuehui Garden (粤晖园), 1 Yuehui Road, Daojiao Town (道滘镇粵晖路1号) (about 2km east of Hongmei Railway Station; bus nos. 602 and 622; you can catch bus no. 622 from the west side of Dongguan Culture Square), ☏ +86 769 88388888. 08:00-18:00. A traditional Lingnan style garden built by a wealthy farmer in 2005. It is larger than the more famous Ke Garden, but tends to receive fewer visitors. ¥60. (updated Apr 2024)

Do

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

• 1 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, info.regencydongguan@hyattintl.com. 
• 2 Dongguan Yulan Theater (东莞玉兰大剧院, Dōngguǎn Yùlán Dà Jùyuàn), 96 Hongfu Road, Nancheng District (南城区鸿福路96号). (updated May 2018)
• 3 Dongguan Basketball Center (东莞篮球中心, Dōngguǎn Lánqiú Zhōngxīn), Liaobu Town. Home of the Guangdong Southern Tigers.  
• 4 Longfeng Villa Film and Television Tourist Area (龙凤山庄影视旅游区), 12 Jiahui Road, Fenggang Town (凤岗镇嘉辉路12号) (the resort is much closer to Shenzhen than it is to downtown Dongguan; to get here from Shenzhen, get a taxi or take bus M360 or M589 from Huanggekeng Station on Metro Line 16 and get off at Jiahui Overpass (嘉辉天桥); to get here from downtown Dongguan, take the 917 express bus from Dongguan East Bus Station to Fenggang Bus Station, then take the Nanmenshan Forest Park Holiday Bus), toll-free: +86 400 001 8887, SERVICE@CFPD.COM.HK. 09:00-22:00. A theme park resort based on the theme of marriage and romance. It features several dozen amusement rides, a marriage customs museum, a theater and a shopping center. Accommodation is available at the Castfast Hotel (嘉辉会酒店). Fees vary widely depending on what you want to see and do; for adult visitors, a general entry ticket (which includes only one ride) is ¥78, a ticket for 13 rides is ¥128 and a ticket for 20 rides is ¥168; discounts are available for children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters in height and persons aged between 55 and 69; children under 1.2 meters in height and persons aged over 70 can enter for free but must pay to go on the rides. (updated Mar 2024)
• 5 Yinxian Resort (隐贤山庄), 3 Yinxianshanzhuang Road, Licheng, Changping Town (常平镇丽城隐贤山庄大路3号) (take bus no. 722 or 726 and get off at the at the Yinxian Resort Intersection (隐贤山庄路口); the resort is about 600 meters south of the bus stop), ☏ +86 769 83395737 (theme park), +86 769 83398888 (hotel), toll-free: +86 400 266333. 09:30-20:30. A standard ticket package costs ¥119 for adults and ¥89 for children and seniors; Ticket Set A costs ¥159 for adults and ¥119 for children and seniors; Ticket Set B (the only ticket set that includes the glass bridge) costs ¥189 for adults and ¥129 for children and seniors; tickets to see the night show only are ¥89 for adults and ¥69 for children and seniors. (updated Apr 2024)

Buy

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.

Malls

• 1 South China Mall (华南MALL, Huánán 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.  
• 2 Hundred Flowers Times Square (百花时代广场, Bǎihuā Shídài Guǎngchǎng), 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. (updated May 2018)

Eat

Dongguan is known for its Chinese sausages (腊肠 làcháng in Mandarin, laahpchéung in Cantonese) and lychees (荔枝 lìzhī in Mandarin, laihjī in Cantonese).

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 Dongcheng 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.

• 1 Ren Shan Su Shi (仁善素食 Rénshàn Sùshí), 11 Changdi Road, Zexu District, Humen Town 虎门镇则徐区长堤路11号 (second floor, above the health food store), ☏ +86 769 81227368. Very tasty Chinese-style vegan buffet. ¥28 per person, buy a ticket at the health food store downstairs, then go upstairs to get your plate and bowl. (updated Jan 2020)
• 2 Mixed Salad, 44 Chaoyang Third Street, Changping 常平镇朝阳三街44号. 11:00–22:30. Authentic American-style food with a focus on salads. (updated Mar 2024)

Drink

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.

• 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, Room 101, Building 2, Xinghe Legend Xintiandi, Dongcheng East Road, Dongcheng 东城东路星河传说新天地2号楼101号. Popular ex-patriate bar. English pub style. Good food, good beer. 
• 1 Day & Nite (雅宴, Yǎyàn), 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. (updated May 2018)

Sleep

An old cannon at Weiyuan Fort

Mid-range

• Oriental Glory Hotel, Humen Avenue Humen Town, ☏ +86 769-85220888. Nice room costs ¥298 per night. Nice KTV Room with minimum spending of ¥728 per night, not inclusive of DJ (¥200 per night) to pour your drink for you. 

Splurge

Dongguan has more than 30 government-rated 5-star hotels.

• Dongguan DongCheng International Hotel (东莞东城国际国际酒店, formerly South China International Hotel) (Centrally located and is within walking distance of the Walking Street). Quite old and does not have the best buffet in town. 
• Grand Noble, Humen Town. The first 5-star business hotel to open in Dongguan. It is centrally located and convenient to shopping and dining options. In-house restaurants feature Cantonese, Japanese, American, and Italian foods. 
• Hyatt Regency Dongguan, Song Shan Lake Central District, Science and Technology Industrial Park, Qinyuan Road (in the business district), ☏ +86 769 2289 1234, info.regencydongguan@hyattintl.com. 5 star hotel with 350 rooms and suites, a 2,500-m² Convention and Exhibition Centre, a 1,800-m² freeform swimming pool and a spa.  The Hyatt Regency is decent and big, but very inconvenient in location. It is also expensive compared to the other hotels, and the buffet is overpriced.

• Pullman Dongguan Forum, 32 Dongchengzhong Road, Dongcheng 东城中路32号, ☏ +86 20-86007566. This new hotel is a charming low rise Chinese style hotel adjoining a museum and art gallery and offers private access to the famous Qifeng Mountain. Guests enjoy a choice of restaurants, private rooms, meeting rooms for over 400 delegates, spa, gymnasium. 
• Richwood Garden Hotel, Humen Town. While a bit out of the way, is spectacular in design and construction. The restaurants, particularly the Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants, are also some of the best in the area. 
• Sofitel Royal Lagoon Hotel (Near Qifeng Park). Secluded and set back away from the main road. It has a resort type feel and even has its own water park. A 36-hole golf course is adjacent to the property. Quite expensive. 
• Ascott Songshan Lake Dongguan, No. 268 Changfu West Road, Dalang Town, ☏ +86 769 8223 9666, enquiry.dongguan@the-ascott.com. The first internationally-branded serviced residence located in Dongguan, the property provides its guests access to the gymnasium, yoga studio, swimming pool, restaurants, and kids playroom. 

Stay safe

As anywhere, be careful. However, be more careful in Dongguan because the city is known to have a relatively high crime rate. 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 was widespread for years, with many men from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and especially Hong Kong flocking here on the weekends. 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 administrative 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.

Cope

Newspapers

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

Go next

• Guangzhou
• Hong Kong
• Huizhou
• Shenzhen

Routes through Dongguan

Beijing ← Ganzhou ←

N  S

→ Shenzhen