Inter-city bus to Jiangmen for a weekend getaway

Weekend cross-city travel has become a popular trend among Shenzhen residents. Enjoying Cantonese-style morning tea with dim sum in Guangzhou, or indulging in fresh fish dishes in Shunde — all of these experiences are now more accessible thanks to the continuously improving transportation infrastructure connecting Shenzhen with the rest of the Pearl River Delta region.

Now, Shenzhen residents have one new destination for their weekend getaways: Jiangmen City. Jiangmen is now reachable via a 75-minute one-way bus journey through the Shenzhong (Shenzhen-Zhongshan) Passage following the launch a Shenzhen-Jiangmen inter-city shuttle route.

The Changdi Historical and Cultural Block is one of the must-visit destinations in Jiangmen. Xinhua

The route offers 16 round trips daily between Shenzhen Bao’an international airport and the Shenzhen airport Jiangmen terminal. Buses heading to Jiangmen leave the Shenzhen airport every hour from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with additional services scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Return trips to Shenzhen depart from Jiangmen every hour from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A one-way ticket costs 80 yuan (US$11.14).

How to buy bus tickets?

Offline: Travelers in Shenzhen can buy tickets at the domestic arrival hall on the second floor of Terminal 3 of the Shenzhen airport. For departures from Jiangmen to Shenzhen, tickets are available at the Shenzhen aiport Jiangmen terminal.

Online: Tickets to Jiangmen can be purchased through the WeChat miniprogram “Shen Ba Chuxing (深巴出行).” Simply select “Shenzhong Express” and choose Jiangmen as your destination. For the return trip to Shenzhen, use the miniprogram “Jiangmen Qiaodu Chuxing (江门侨都出行)” and choose “Shenzhen (Bao’an District)” as your destination.

Residents can hop on an inter-city bus and enjoy a weekend getaway to Jiangmen, a city knowned for its large overseas Chinese community, and distinctive local delicacies. Here are some recommendations worth tasting.

Waihai noodles 外海面

Known for their delicate, silky and smooth texture, Waihai noodles are beloved by diners. They have a non-sticky, non-clumpy quality that makes them feel like fine threads in the mouth. This dish was listed as a city-level intangible cultural relic in Jiangmen in 2007.

Fish-skin dumplings 古劳鱼皮角

Fish-skin dumplings hold a special place in the culinary tradition of the ancient Gulao water town. A serving of fish-skin dumplings, paired with a bowl of fish porridge, forms a typical breakfast set. Their thin skins and flavorful fillings make them delicious whether steamed dry, pan-fried, baked or served in soup.

Steamed ribs 礼乐排骨

The steamed ribs from the Liyue Town are so famous that many visitors travel specifically to savor them. The ribs are steamed to retain their original juice and rich flavor.

Eel rice 台山黄鳝饭

As a culinary icon of Taishan, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangmen, eel rice enjoys an unshakable reputation. Authentic Taishan eel rice has a perfect balance between eel and rice. The rice is oily but not greasy, with the right moisture and softness. Cooked in a clay pot, the dish fills the air with the enticing aroma of eel meat.

Dried tangerine peel 新会陈皮宴

Dried tangerine peel is not only a medicinal ingredient but also a classic flavor on the dining table. Jiangmen people creatively combine dried tangerine peel with various ingredients, making innovative delicacies such as dried tangerine peel duck soup, crispy fried dried tangerine peel ribs and dried tangerine peel noodles.

Gujing roast goose 古井烧鹅

One of Jiangmen’s most famous culinary signature is Gujing roast goose. It is said that the secret recipe was from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) palace. The goose dish is made with roasting over aged litchi wood, which produces little smoke. The roast goose is done with a beautiful copper-gloss finish, shiny and crispy.

Jiangmen also boasts a wide variety of seafood such as Taishan oysters, baby squids, crawling crabs among others. Head to places like Pengjiang District’s Yuanyang Seafood Street and Shangchuan Island’s Shadi Fishing Port in Taishan for a seafood feast.