'''Dongguan''' (?__ D?nggu?n) is located in China's Guangdong Province, about 100 km from Hong Kong.

Get in

By plane

The city is about one hours drive away from Shenzhen and Guangzhou's Baiyun airports. You can catch a train or bus from these cities.

By Train

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. As of April 2008, the one-way fare is HK$145. The fare is payable in either RMB or HKD. The schedule is at http://www.it3.mtr.com.hk/B2C/UserPage/sysTimeTable_Eng.asp.

There is also a frequent rail shuttle service from Dongguan Station to both Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

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 $80-100 for a one-way ticket or $150 for a two-way ticket. Travel times usually range from 1.5hrs to 2.5hrs 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.

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.

Get around

The best method for visitors to get around, is taxi. Taxi's are cheap, and a 30 minute ride shouldn't cost more then 80 RMB. Beware however, some taxis are used for kidnapping. Be sure to only use the green, licensed Dongguan taxis. Buses cost 1 RMB per ride, beware of the aggresive driving however.

See

Dongguan has an exhibition center in Dongguan city houses many exhibitions and conferences. There is also a sports center for locals, and Dongguan library in Dongguan city.

Do

People watching Cheap pedicures and massages Going to Wal-Mart (The only one in Southern China as of 2007 excluding Shenzhen) Walking around the center of Dongguan city Visiting each prefecture

Spas

Most 4 Star hotels will have various "foot" massages and sauna services for upwards of 150RMB. NOTE : Nearly all sauna's are brothels! Foot massage parlors might be brothels

  • The Spa at Hyatt Regency Dongguan. yatt Regency Dongguan Hotel, Song Shan Lake Central District, Science and Technology Industrial Park, Qinyuan Road. 86 769 2289 1234. nfo.regencydongguan@hyattintl.com. ttp://dongguan.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas/.

    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.

    Eat

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

    Drink

    The most popular bars are on or around "Bar Street"(Ju Ba Jie) in DongCheng(East City) in DongGuan City. A popular hangout for expats is Beijing Bar, although if you prefer more local hangouts, BB and V8 are also quite popular clubs each with a dance floor. Beer at supermarkets shouldn't cost more then 4 RMB a bottle for Tsingtao. Red Wine costs from 10 RMB upwards a bottle.

    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.

    Sleep

    Dongguan has more then 30 "government-rated" 5-star hotels. There is usually at least 1 5-star hotel in every prefecture now.

    Splurge

    There are several high end hotels in the Dongguan area. The DongCheng International (http://www.dcgj-hotel.com) is centrally located and is within walking distance of the Walking Street outdoor shopping and restaurant area. It is quite old compared to the newer hotels, and doesn't have the best buffet in town.

    The '''Sofitel Royal Lagoon Hotel''' (http://www.accorhotels.com/5119) is more secluded and is set back away from the main road. It has a resort type feel and even has its own water park. It is located near Qifeng Park - a nice area to walk around- and a 36 hole golf course is adjacent to the property. It is quite expensive however.

    In Humen Town (one of the towns in Dongguan City), two hotels of note are the Grand Noble and the Richwood Garden Hotel . The Grand Noble (http://www.gnhotel.com) is 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.

    The Richwood (http://www.richwoodgardenhotel.com), while a bit out of the way, is spectacular in design and construction. The Richwood's restaurants, particularly the Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants, are also some of the best in the area.

  • Hyatt Regency Dongguan" address="Song Shan Lake Central District, Science and Technology Industrial Park, Qinyuan Road" directions="in the business district" phone="+86 769 2289 1234" email="info.regencydongguan@hyattintl.com" url="http://dongguan.regency.hyatt.com" >5 star hotel with 350 rooms and suites, a 2,500 sq-metre Convention and Exhibition Centre, a 1,800 sq m freeform swimming pool and a spa.</sleep> 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.

    The new '''Pullman Dongguan Forum''' is a charming low rise Chinese style hotel adjoining a museum and art gallery and offers private access to the famous Qi Feng Mountain. Guests enjoy a choice of restaurants, private rooms, meeting rooms for over 400 delegates, spa, gymnasium. 32 Dong Cheng Zhong Lu, Dongguan, China, 523129 Tel : +86 769 2336 8888 (http://www.accorhotels.com/6718)

    An excellent 5 star hotel is the Crown Prince Hotel in Huangjiang (http://www.crownprincehotel.com). Certainly worth a visit with excellent facilities, and even its own 'opera' house presenting superb show extravaganzas (do not be mislead by the 'opera' title).

    Stay safe

    As in all of China, be careful. You can be robbed easily, especially in less populated areas. Prostitution is widespread in Dongguan, and many men from Guangzhou and Shenzhen flock here on the weekends. Karaoke bars are basically another word for brothel. The law on prostitution isn't enforced here as of 2008. However, do not gamble! You will end up in jail for possibly, a long time if you are caught gambling, save it for Macau. Lastly, a lot of the police force is corrupted, but since the government is still watching over them, they are discrete. So if a policeman tries to get money from you, calmly reply to him to see a superior.