Why Hengqin should be your next weekend getaway from Hong Kong

Over the past decade, Hengqin has emerged as one of the Greater Bay Area’s newest leisure destinations, with wide boulevards, landscaped parks, a growing hotel and restaurant roster, and plenty of family-friendly activities. It’s also easy to reach: leave Hong Kong in the morning, cross the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge within an hour, and you can be checking into your Hengqin hotel before lunch. 

Things to do in Hengqin 

Start with culture at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Experience Center , a lotus-inspired complex which presents classical healing practices through large‑scale exhibits, immersive media and contemporary scenography. Expect medicinal plant displays, sculpture installations and a future‑leaning take on herbal science.

For fresh air, head to the elevated paths of the Xiao Hengqin Mountain Trail for clear views across the island and neighbouring Macao. Nearby, the 13km Hengqin Flower Corridor runs along the waterfront, combining cycling routes, public art and seasonal planting with picnic and camping areas.

Families should make time for National Geographic Ultimate Explorer at the Novotown entertainment complex, where VR environments, hands‑on challenges and themed zones explore everything from deep‑sea ecosystems to outer space.

Where to go shopping 

Hengqin Huafa Mall offers a balanced mix of retail, dining and leisure. Highlights include the playful boutique Whatelephant, which has its own drinks corner, and Glider, a stylish café-retail hybrid that also carries camping gear, alongside a large cinema and a solid range of restaurants. You also get a clear view across to Macao from the mall’s windows and terraces. 

Just minutes from the border, Hengqin Central Street is a low-rise lifestyle complex designed for easy strolling. Its open-air square, lined with eateries and small shops, is often lively in the evenings and on weekends, when pop-up stalls and street performances add a special energy. 

The nearby Legend Ponto Square is a marked architectural contrast and an ideal place to buy snacks and souvenirs. You’ll want to take some photos – although only a few years old, this arresting complex is built in classic Portuguese style, with gothic arches and ornate Manueline details.  

Where to stay 

Within Novotown, the Hyatt Regency Hengqin is a well-connected modern hotel, surrounded by plenty of restaurants, bars and entertainment. It features spacious modern rooms, many with skyline views, as well as family-friendly facilities and easy access to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park.

Speaking of which, the Zhuhaichimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel offers you a full-scale, ocean-themed escape as part of Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. And a short drive away, Hotel Indigo Hengqin is a more design-conscious alternative, less than 10 minutes from the Macao border. It blends contemporary interiors with subtle Lingnan architectural influences and an inviting rooftop pool. 

Dining in Hengqin 

Jin Yue Xuan sets the tone for refined Cantonese dining, presenting polished service and an old-school sense of occasion. Order dim sum signatures such as har gow and cheung fun, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try some of its fresh seafood options served in traditional southern Chinese styles. 

For something more casual, Hao Da Xian , situated on Hengqin Central Street, is best known for its fresh oysters, harvested daily and served simply to highlight their natural taste. Try a tray of six oysters for CN¥68, alongside affordable hotpot-style dishes featuring prawns, crab, beef, noodles and vegetables. 

A more popular spot with younger diners is the Teochew-style Shiliuchao Chaoshan Beef & Oyster Hotpot . The focus is firmly on ingredient quality: same-day hand-cut beef from local farms, live seafood including abalone and oysters, and lightly marinated Chaoshan specialities, all anchored by a rich beef bone broth. 

Where to get a drink 

At the top of the Hyatt Regency Hengqin, the 180° Rooftop Bar is one of the island’s most refined settings. Panoramic skyline views frame a relaxed, open-air space where craft cocktails and grilled bites are served.

For a more design-driven mood, try Peekaboo Whisky & Cocktail , just minutes from Hengqin Port. By day, it operates as a laid-back lounge, complemented by its cactus-filled courtyard; by night, it shifts into a red-lit, cinematic bar, known for fruit-forward cocktails and bar snacks. 

Nearby, Noble Leaf offers a more discreet counterpoint. Right across Hengqin Huafa Mall, this whisky and cigar lounge, with its spacious, softly zoned interior, feels more like a hidden local retreat than a commercial bar. Alongside its whisky selection, you can expect well-made cocktails and truffle fries.

Getting there 

If you’re coming from Hong Kong, the fastest and most straightforward route is over the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge: take any cross-border coach or shuttle bus to Zhuhai, followed by a short taxi ride to Hengqin. Alternatively, catch a ferry from Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan or Tsim Sha Tsui terminals to Zhuhai. If you’re visiting Hengqin and Macao together, crossing through Hengqin Port is ideal, as most major hotels and attractions are within a 15-minute drive.