The Zhuhai/Guangzhou train has finally started operating on Friday. It now only takes 45 minutes to get from GZ to ZH and first class ticket only cost RMB50. The Railway at the moment only goes to a suburb of Zhuhai which is a 15m taxi ride to Gongbei, bordering Macau. The railway will extend all the way to Gonbei by the end of this year.

At the same time, a new expressway, the GuangZhu is now operating between Zhongshan and Guangzhou and journey only takes 30 minutes. The second phase which will extend the expressway to Zhuahi will also be completed at the end of this year and will cut journey time to also 45 mins.

Zhuhai is going to explode, particularly after the completion of these two projects and then the subsequent completion of the HK/Zhhuai and Macau bridge which also shortens journey time to HK by car by just under 40 mins. No longer will it be the inexpensive, sleepy seaside resort.

Property prices in Zhuhai have steadily increased and has accelerated recently despite Govt measures to curb property speculation. No hurry to sell if you own property in Zhuhai as there is still substantial upside as prices are still a small fraction when compared to prices in Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Zhuhai has a much better and cleaner environment when compared to other cities in the Pearl River Delta and I forsee many people moving there from Guangzhou after all the projects are completed.

KTVs and Saunas have also reopened in the past week and I shall be reporting on this separately in the China Section.

[ Last edited by  geoduck at 8-1-2011 09:02 ]

I've been keeping an eye on this. I go to GZ regularly but have never been to Zhuhai. Exciting stuff! I believe there are more super high speed trains under processing to various destinations in China from HK that will really decrease the travel time. Will be very interesting to see what service industries pop up to provide comfort and recreation for the weary traveller.

Enjoy your detailed reports.

Yes, i had heard about this and never been to Zhuhai also.

I just wish there'd be the same express service between GZ and HK, as it takes 2.5hr+ currently.

The distance from GZ to HK is over double the distance from GZ to Zhuhai. I had not mentioned the new bridge that is also under construction from Shenzhen to Zhongshan which will cut travel time between the two cities to less than 30m. Yes, in a short few years, those little KTVs which I frequent may no longer exist. Sometimes, development isn't a good thing.

Great info. Does the train stop elsewhere too? Like maybe changping or changan... <fingers crossed>

we should hit Zhuhai ChangAn International KTV together soon.  
I still have some whisky there.

i love the DJs there. freakin hot~!


oh yah, by the way, have you heard of Zobon Hotel?
the one near the ferry terminal..

Do you know there's an exclusive KTV in the basement.
it's disguised as private Spa Centre..
but it's actually a private KTV that caters to Zobon VIP club members.
this KTV has only 5 rooms, and stock around 60 WGs.

all these years in Zhuhai, i've been to Zobon Hotel's top floor's western restaurant a billion times, but i never knew they have a KTV...
i only knew abt this, because recently i met up with an old flame KTV girl.
she told me she went for the interview at Zobon, because everyone in the business knows Zobon is the best!
but she got rejected~!!!

she used to be GoldMine's KTV model category.... charges RMB 1,500 for one shot~!
she's quite pretty, good figure, 1.72m tall.
but still got rejected by Zobon.
she's quite depressed and insulted..

as for me, i'm very perked-up and eager to get into this Zobon VIP club...
they must have some really HOT girls, if they can find my GM WG friend not good enough..
i even went to Zobon Hotel last week, looked for the Sales & Marketing manager..
opened a corporate account with them.
after she brought me for a tour around the hotel, i inquired abt the basement "Spa".
she just looked at me blankly.. "Umm.. it's not open"


DAMMIT, I MUST FIND A WAY TO GET IN~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  (preparing red packets)


Geoduck, please tell me, you are a member already.....

[ Last edited by  kaka at 10-1-2011 22:41 ]

Yes, lets check out the CA International very soon. I'll bring along an Irish Malt Whisky which I've become a big fan of.

Have been to the Zabon KTV when it opened about 3 years ago but it was not an exclusive membership club at the time. I didn't know the place still existed because I have not heard anyone else speak about it. I shall go make some inquiries about Zabon and get back to you.

I am sure it's a faster way to get to CP from Zhuhai but you would still need to take the connecting train from GZ. That's over an hour if you change trains thus the expressway would be faster.

[ Last edited by  geoduck at 11-1-2011 22:14 ]

last night i went to Tammy's KTV in TST.
there's a promotion on a new whisky.

i think it's called Matisse?
HK$1,500 for a 15yr whisky.
sucks big time.
took us 2 hours to finish the bottle...
should have sticked to Macallan.

I have never been to a KTV in HK. Are they same as KTV in China??? I always had the understanding they are not...

HK KTV are significantly more costly.
Rooms are smaller but more expensive.
Girls charge by the hour. e.g. HK$300/hr, minimum 2 hrs.
ST is HK$1,200, Overnight is HK$2,400 (not including the sitting fee)
Most of them are over 25yrs old. WGs over 30 are not uncommon too.
Alcohol is not cheap too.
HK$1,000+ for a JW black label.
if you drink lots lots of beer... then there's a HK$500 per person for unlimited beer.

Matisse 15yo? This whisky was specially made for the Asian market. Think it is sold mainly in Taiwan, Thailand and China since 2008 but never took off. Yes, next time stick to Macallan if you like that peaty taste or Springbank.

How was the talent at Tammy's KTV?

so-so..
probably only 20% look decent.
the rest are either too old or too weird-looking.
have to do some hunting before can find a gem.

good thing is most of them can drink well..
maybe because of their age and their experience.

Geo, is this in Xiangzhou where the bus terminal is also located?

right now it only goes to JinDing. right outside Zhuhai city.
but it will link to QianShan soon, which is right beside Gongbei.

Kaka - you have a lot of knowledge and experience in both Hong Kong as well as China KTV's. As for me, it's been ages since I've gone to a Hong Kong one - but it SEEMS to me that the prices are actually a bit lower than a few years ago; is this correct?

I used to go a lot to China City for Kowloon or Tonnochy and "Kiu Tai" (forgot the name in english) on Marsh Road for Hong Kong - and I seem to recall that I needed to budget at least $4,000+ at night and approx $3,000 for Tea dance at Kiu Tai. And this was many years ago!

The price differential nowadays seems to have narrowed quite a bit - especially since prices in China has really sky-rocketed of late... and am wondering if perhaps I should start to consider staying closer to home instead of wasting all that time travelling to China etc.

I'd appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks

SEAJ

Wow, Kiu Dai (under the bridge) - that was ages ago. It was a great place with local girls. I would slip out of the office at 4pm, go there and be back at the office by 7. Did this every other day when it wasn't busy. Those were the good days and I had some fantastic HK girls there. I recall the MMS was named Irene and she had quite a property portfolio. Even tea dance MMS made a lot of money back then. Those rooms were smelly and dirty and you would hear some rattling in the ceiling. This was the resident rodent that resided there.

YES!  Now that you mentioned it - the girls used to be quite terrified anytime they hear that rustling - afraid that the Rat would drop on 'em.  LOL

And then the quick walk to those 2 short term hotels on Jaffe Road - what were their names?  H F C or ??  Probably still there.

Good times!!  
But so long ago when I think about it too.

SEAJ
Edit - oops forgot I cannot write full name of hotels here, can I?!
Pps - Geo - you recall better the pricing "back then?" I really think its gone down a lot hasn't it?/think my above quoted prices are actually too low!

[ Last edited by  SEAJ at 14-1-2011 15:55 ]

actually i have little experience in HK.
the ones i go to are probably the lower end ones.

but i am going to a SG ktv in an hour's time.
that, i can share tomorrow.