Dongguan

Getting there

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 [1] 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 t

Getting around

Unlike other Pearl River Delta cities, Dongguan is a very car-centric city — its car ownership is only slightly less than Shenzhen. Public transportation is therefore less developed than other cities, if not rarely used by car-owning locals.

By taxi For travellers without a car, ride-hailing services are the best way to get around, as taxis are becoming rarer (if not virtually disappeared in some townships) due to fierce competition. If you decide to hail a taxi, a 30 minute ride should not cost more than ¥80. Be sure to only use the blue or yellow licensed 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 from Dongguan West Railway Station (serving intercity railway) to Southeastern Dongguan is completed in 2025. Besides metro, travellers can also take either the Dongguan-Huizhou or the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. Both lines have multiple stations in Dongguan.

By bus Most buses cost ¥2 per ride. As a car-centric city, bus services are often sparse, with bus stations poorly labelled. The Yang Cheng Tong pass from Guangzhou works for the buses in Dongguan. Announcements are made in Mandarin and Cantonese without 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

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, [email protected]. 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), J

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, [email protected]. 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), ☏ +86 0769 22837366. 10:00-18:00. (updated May 2018) 3 Dongguan Basketball Center (东莞篮球中心, Dōngguǎn Lánqiú Zhōngxīn), Liaobu Town, ☏ +86 769 87008688. 09:00-17；30. 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, [email protected]. 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 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. (update

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), lychees (荔枝 lìzhī in Mandarin, laihjī in Cantonese) and roasted goose (烧鹅 shāo'é in Mandarin, sīungó 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 Guanxianglou (莞香楼 Guǎnxiānglóu), 48 Shijingshengtong Road. High-end local cuisine; has several branches. (updated Sep 2025) 2 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) 3 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 & nightlife

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

Budget

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.

1 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), ☏ +86 0769 22668888. 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, [email protected]. 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, [email protected]. 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.