3 Days 2 Nights Exploring Zhongshan, Guangdong! Check in at the "Hometown of Great Men" for only 1,390 RMB per person

Zhongshan is more than just an "industrial powerhouse"! Nestled between Guangzhou and Zhuhai is a charming Lingnan town full of vibrant local life and rich culture—Zhongshan! This is the starting point of modern Chinese history, featuring century-old arcade streets, authentic Cantonese cuisine, and the soul-stirring Shaxi beef hotpot 🔥! Spend just 1,380 RMB per person for 3 days and 2 nights, easily within a 2,000 RMB budget—culture check-ins + old town strolls + food freedom! Local hidden routes fully revealed, off the beaten path, perfect for photography, daydreaming, and endless eating!

📍 Itinerary (3 days 2 nights · Culture + Food + Slow Life Edition)
Day 1: Arrive in Zhongshan → Taxi to Shiqi Old Town → Stay at an artsy guesthouse by the arcade
✅ Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Zhongshan Station or Zhongshan North Station, then taxi/bus to Shiqi Pedestrian Street (about 40 RMB, 30 minutes)
✅ Stay near Sunwen West Road pedestrian street in an artsy guesthouse/economy hotel (160 RMB/night, window view of the arcade)
✅ Evening stroll along Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street:
- Century-old Nanyang arcade buildings, red brick arcades, vintage signs, perfect for film-style photos 🎞️
- Check in at Zhongshan Memorial Hall (free, stunning night lighting)
📍 Address: No. 86, Sunwen Middle Road, Shiqi, Zhongshan
✅ Must-eat dinner: Shiqi Lao Zhongshan Restaurant (📍 No. 39, Kanghua Road, Shiqi, 11:00-22:00) or a local favorite dai pai dong—white-cut Shiqi pigeon, Shaxi braised pork, steamed yellow croaker (60 RMB per person, so authentic you’ll lick the plate)

Day 2: Explore Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence + Visit Yako Village by the Sea + Rice Field Windmill Check-in
✅ Morning: Take a trip to Cuiheng Village, Nanlang Town—Sun Yat-sen Former Residence Memorial Hall (free, reservation required):
- Visit Sun Yat-sen’s birthplace, former residence, and memorial hall to learn about modern history
- The park is shaded with trees, and the blend of Chinese and Western architecture is highly photogenic
📍 Address: No. 93, Cuiheng Avenue, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan
⏰ Opening hours: 8:30-17:00
✅ Afternoon: Head to Yako Village (free):
- Zhongshan’s last "farming and fishing village," featuring vast rice fields, a sea dike boardwalk, and windmill clusters 🌾
- Check in at the popular "windmills in the rice fields" photo spot, every snap is a healing masterpiece
- Rent an electric bike to circle the village (30 RMB/hour), enjoy the sea breeze and watch egrets fly 🐦
✅ Must-eat dinner: Yako Wonton Noodles (📍 No. 3, East Alley, Yako, Nanlang Town, 06:00-12:00) or claypot rice—rice irrigated with seawater, cooked to a crispy "pot bottom" aroma (25 RMB per person, full of local flavor)

Day 3: Shaxi Beef Hotpot Feast + Last-minute Shopping Before Departure
✅ Sleep in naturally, then head straight to Shaxi Town for authentic Shaxi beef hotpot! 🍲
- Recommended restaurants: Shaxi Longdu Flavor Restaurant (📍 No. 6, Shaxi Avenue, 11:00-22:00), Fulinmen Beef Shop
- Beef is freshly sliced and dipped, including cuts like hanging tender, spoon handle, and pork belly, each tender and bouncy
- Broth made from beef bones and fermented red bean curd, rich but not greasy, only 50 RMB per person to eat until full!
✅ Afternoon: Return to Shiqi, stroll through West District Old Street or Zimaling Park (free)
✅ Last-minute shopping for souvenirs:
- Vacuum-packed Shiqi pigeon (80 RMB each, can be shipped) ✈️
- Shaxi cold jelly noodles (10 RMB per pack, just add water)
- Zhongshan almond cakes, Cantonese sausages (old brand, gift boxes under 100 RMB)

💰 Estimated cost per person (under 2,000 RMB)
- Transportation: 420 RMB (round-trip high-speed train + local taxi/bus + short-distance carpool)
- Accommodation: 160 RMB (2 nights in economy guesthouse, shared by two)
- Food: 310 RMB (5 meals + snacks, Zhongshan prices are affordable)
- Tickets + experiences: 0 RMB (all attractions free or low cost)
✅ Total: about 890 RMB! Spend less than 900 RMB for 3 days, with over 1,100 RMB left to upgrade accommodation or splurge on souvenirs! 🛍️

📌 Best seasons
- October to April next year: Pleasant climate, perfect for cycling, hiking, and photography 📸
- Summer: Hotter, but Yako rice fields are lush green, great for shooting "wind blowing over rice waves" 🌊
- 🌟 Recommended autumn and winter: Shiqi pigeon is at its plumpest, and beef hotpot is extra warming!

⚠️ Tips to avoid pitfalls
❌ Don’t eat "Zhongshan cuisine" randomly at scenic spots! Choose old local favorites to avoid "tourist prices"
❌ Some parts of Yako Village have no shade, bring sunscreen and water in summer
❌ Most Shaxi beef hotpot restaurants are family-run, expect long queues during meal times; best to visit off-peak at 11:00 or before 13:30 ⏰

🕊️ The beauty of Zhongshan lies in the lively local life and history beneath the Lingnan arcades:
It’s the quiet row of century-old arcades on Sunwen West Road,
The golden and sea-blue convergence under the Yako rice field windmills,
The juicy, tender beef in Shaxi hotpot. 🥩

Spend less than 1,400 RMB,
and you can have—
A cultural journey through modern history,
A healing cycling trip facing rice fields,
A soul-satisfying beef feast for just 50 RMB per person. 🍖

Recommended for those who want to slowly explore the old town, shoot vintage-style photos, and savor authentic Cantonese flavors! 🏯🥩📸