After leaving Doumen
the next day we entered the Special Economic Zone of Zuhai Province.
This zone is isolated from the rest of China by a border, where Chinese
have to show identification, but foreigner can cycle through. There
are a few of these economical zones where the Chinese government alows
western companies to invest. After entering this zone everything changes.
Western companies have profiled themselves here on a large scale to
be able to enter China whenever this would become possible. -Cycling
between Doumen and Zuhai feld like riding through a continuing city
landscape. In Zuhai we crossed the border to Macau 
(which
is Portugese territory)without a problem. Not quite ready for another
culture shock we entered Macau and arrived in a city where everything
official looked familiar (European) except for the people. Buses are
the same as in Portugal where we have been a few years ago. Signs are
in portugese (and chinese). We even had the right colour of passport
(EC).
After riding on the right in China we had to cross the road in the no man's land and go on riding on the left in Macau. On the other side of the border was a "capitalist" amount of traffic. Fortunately, since we are Dutch, we are very well experienced in riding a bicycle in such heavy traffic. Off the main road it is pleasant cycling through Macau city and the neighbouring islands.
We visited
Macau and Hong Kong for a few days and returned to China, again without
any problem. We decided to take the bus to Guangzhou in Zuhai to avoid
the 150 km of populated area which were ahead of us. We were dropped off
at the railway station and cycled towards the hotel. Sadly we concluded
that our cycling trip had come to an end...
about us
| travel start page |
home
copyright ©2001-2003. E-mail us.