Travelers can take in 16 landmarks, including three major cross-sea engineering projects, on a new route linking Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
This new cruise between Guangzhou's Nansha District and Shenzhen's Shekou area officially set sail on August 22, offering travelers a new way to enjoy the scenery of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from the sea.
The service operates in both directions across the Pearl River Estuary, turning the journey between the two cities into a roughly 4.5-hour sightseeing experience.
Nearly 300 passengers boarded the inaugural morning sailing from Shekou to Nansha, with the vessel operating close to full capacity. This cruise is designed not just to transport passengers from one city to another, but to offer a moving tour of the bay.
As the ship travels through the Pearl River Estuary, passengers can spot a series of landmarks and major infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and the Humen Bridge. Other sights along the route include the Nansha Tianhou Palace, Shenzhen's Qianhai Museum and Hong Kong's Lantau Island. The coastal skylines of Zhuhai and Macao can also be seen in the distance. In total, the journey showcases views of 16 landmarks across the GBA.
"It was my first time taking a cruise to Guangzhou," said a passenger from Shenzhen. "There were performances and afternoon tea on board, making the journey feel much shorter."
Industry observers see the new service as an attempt to move beyond the traditional model of coastal tourism, in which visitors experience the sea mainly from the shore. Instead, the route offers a different perspective by connecting cities, bridges, coastlines and cultural landmarks on both sides of the Pearl River Estuary, providing a "sea view of the GBA." Guangdong hopes to further integrate cruises, tourism and commercial experiences, fostering the development of more immersive and interconnected travel products in the GBA. This will strengthen high-quality maritime tourism links across the region, including connections with Hong Kong and Macao.
According to the operating schedule, the Nansha–Shekou route will operate every Friday and Sunday, with services in both directions. Departures from Shekou to Nansha are scheduled for the morning, and cruises from Nansha to Shekou will depart in the afternoon.
For travelers, the new route offers something more than a ferry ride between two of southern China's biggest cities; it provides a chance to slow down, step onto the deck and watch the GBA unfold from the sea.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Photos | Li Fangwang
