Quick and pleasant Hengqin-Dong'ao ferry afloat

A high-speed ferry cruise took 120 smiling passengers from Hengqin to Dong'ao Island on March 28 as Zhuhai's increasingly popular island tourism season opens.

The liner casts off at 10:30 am daily from Hengqin Ferry Terminal on a 9-nautical mile (10.4-mile) trip of only 35 minutes to Nansha Bay Wharf. It returns at 4 pm.

Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort is only 1 km (just over a half mile) from the Hengqin landing. A little farther are more varieties of entertainment at sites such as Sumlodol Hengqin Camping Park. At the other end of the sea route are multiple high-end island tourism packages including pickup service to hotels or beaches.

Hengqin-Dong'ao ferry route reopens

This new route takes half the time of ferries from Xiangzhou Port. The Hengqin trip also offers picturesque views of Macao's most-southern Coloane Island. 

This one-stop tourism service is an example of Zhuhai's proficiency with transportation and attraction sites. The project was initiated last November by Zhuhai Gree Group and the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area. Gree has strongly pursued island tourism growth -- one of its pillar business sectors.

'All aboard!'

Name tickets are available on Gree Dong'ao Hotel's WeChat account (ID: GREE_DongAo_Hotel). More purchase channels will open soon including at the website of China's leading online travel agency Ctrip: www.ctrip.com.

Let the good times roll. [Photos by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]