Zhongshan Administrative Divisions

Zhongshan (中山) has an unusual administrative structure compared with most prefecture-level cities in China. It does not contain conventional municipal districts, counties or county-level cities. Instead, the Zhongshan Municipal Government directly administers eight subdistricts and fifteen towns, creating a total of 23 town-level administrative divisions.

Zhongshan was upgraded from a county-level city to a prefecture-level city in January 1988. According to the administrative information published by the Zhongshan Municipal Government in 2026, the city currently contains 150 administrative villages and 131 urban communities. The municipal government is located at No. 1 Songyuan Road (松苑路1号) in East District (东区街道).

The city also contains two important functional development areas:

• Zhongshan Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (中山火炬高技术产业开发区), a national-level high-tech zone
• Cuiheng New Area (翠亨新区), a provincial economic cooperation and development area

These functional zones coordinate economic development and major projects but do not replace Zhongshan’s statutory towns and subdistricts. Zhongshan Port Subdistrict (中山港街道) and Minzhong Subdistrict (民众街道) remain formal administrative units, while Nanlang Subdistrict (南朗街道) remains the formal administrative unit covering Cuiheng New Area.

Zhongshan Administrative Structure at a Glance

The list of eight subdistricts and fifteen towns is based on the official administrative division published by the Zhongshan Municipal Government in March 2026.

Zhongshan’s Two Functional Development Areas

Zhongshan Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Zhongshan Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, also known as Zhongshan Torch High-Tech Zone (中山火炬高新区), was established in 1990 as a national-level high-tech industrial zone.

The zone operates together with Zhongshan Port Subdistrict under an integrated administrative system commonly described as “one team with two official identities.” It also coordinates economic development, major construction, education and sports matters across Minzhong Subdistrict, while social and community affairs continue to be administered through the relevant subdistrict authorities.

In addition to technology industries and modern manufacturing, the wider Torch High-Tech Zone contains historic coastal-defence remains, old villages, industrial museums and food-production heritage. Representative resources include the Sanxianiangshan Battery (三仙娘山炮台), Shuizhoushan Battery (水洲山炮台), Juxiangyuan Bakery Culture Museum (咀香园饼文化博览馆) and Chubang Soy Sauce Culture Museum (厨邦酱油文化博览馆).

Cuiheng New Area

Cuiheng New Area coordinates development throughout Nanlang Subdistrict and the eastern waterfront of Zhongshan.

It is positioned as an important area for cooperation with Shenzhen (深圳), Zhuhai (珠海), Hong Kong (香港) and Macao (澳门). Its development combines the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link (深中通道), the new Zhongshan Passenger Port (中山客运口岸), technology industries, coastal urban development and Zhongshan’s most important historical tourism resources.

Recent administrative reforms have further integrated Cuiheng New Area and Nanlang Subdistrict into a unified working system while retaining Nanlang as one of Zhongshan’s eight statutory subdistricts.

The area contains the Sun Yat-sen Hometown Tourist Area (孙中山故里旅游区), Zhongshan’s national 5A attraction, together with Cuiheng Historic Village (翠亨古村), Zhongshan Film and Television City (中山影视城), Yakou Village (崖口村) and coastal wetland landscapes.

Zhongshan’s Eight Subdistricts

Shiqi Subdistrict

Shiqi Subdistrict (石岐街道) is the historic centre of Zhongshan and the core area of the former Xiangshan city.

It contains Zhongshan’s most concentrated group of museums, historic streets, temples, commercial heritage and urban cultural attractions. The best-known sites include:

• Sunwen West Road Historical and Cultural Pedestrian Street (孙文西路历史文化步行街)
• Zhongshan Museum (中山市博物馆)
• Xiangshan Commercial Culture Museum (香山商业文化博物馆)
• Xishan Temple (西山寺)
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (孙中山纪念堂)
• Historic neighbourhoods beside the Qijiang River (岐江河)

Sunwen West Road is lined with restored qilou arcade buildings influenced by Lingnan and Nanyang architecture. It was recognised as a national tourism and leisure block and reopened after a major conservation project in September 2025.

Shiqi is also Zhongshan’s principal traditional food district. Shiqi pigeon (石岐乳鸽), Juxiangyuan almond cakes (咀香园杏仁饼), Cantonese dim sum, clay-pot rice and local sweet soups are widely available around the old city.

Tourism identity: Xiangshan history, overseas Chinese commerce, arcade architecture, museums and urban food culture.

East District Subdistrict

East District Subdistrict (东区街道) is Zhongshan’s administrative, financial and modern urban centre. The municipal government is located here, together with office districts, shopping centres, hotels and major public facilities.

The district combines modern city life with parks and surviving overseas Chinese communities. Representative tourism and leisure resources include:

• Zimaling Park (紫马岭公园)
• Sanxi Overseas Chinese Village (三溪侨村)
• Jinzhong Lake Park and the surrounding urban park system (金钟湖公园群)
• Historic village resources around K充 and Qiwancun communities
• Modern commercial and cultural facilities

Zimaling Park and the wider park system provide lawns, forested hills and walking routes, while several East District communities preserve overseas Chinese buildings and local village history. Official community planning has promoted routes based on Xiangshan history and overseas Chinese heritage.

Tourism identity: modern city recreation, urban parks, overseas Chinese villages, business travel and creative neighbourhoods.

West District Subdistrict

West District Subdistrict (西区街道) lies along the western side of the Qijiang River and combines historic commerce, industrial heritage and intangible cultural traditions.

Its most recognisable cultural tradition is the Drunken Dragon Dance (醉龙舞), a nationally recognised intangible cultural heritage practice. Important historic resources include Yanzhou Academy (烟洲书院), the Huang Family Ancestral Hall (黄氏大宗祠), Changzhou Historic Village (长洲古村) and traditional lanes associated with local clan culture.

Qijiang Park (岐江公园) is located on the west bank and was transformed from the former Yuezhong Shipyard. Its preserved railway tracks, docks, machinery and cranes have made it one of Zhongshan’s best-known industrial heritage landscapes.

The district also contains cultural and leisure resources connected with traditional Chinese medicine, creative industries, riverside evening activities and the wider Qijiang commercial zone.

Tourism identity: Drunken Dragon heritage, Qing-dynasty academy architecture, industrial heritage, riverside leisure and night-time culture.

South District Subdistrict

South District Subdistrict (南区街道) is a suburban cultural area south of central Zhongshan. It combines classical gardens, overseas Chinese villages, countryside landscapes and rural leisure.

Its leading attraction is Zhongshan Zhan Garden (中山詹园), a national 4A tourist attraction. The garden combines Lingnan architecture with elements associated with classical gardens in Suzhou (苏州) and Hangzhou (杭州). Ponds, bridges, carved buildings and covered corridors make it a popular destination for architectural study and Hanfu photography.

South District has also developed rural tourism routes connecting Caobian Village (曹边村), Shachong Village (沙涌村), Shuyong Village (树涌村), Beitai Village (北台村) and the Beixi ancient-village corridor. Wenbishan (文笔山) and surrounding countryside provide additional opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Tourism identity: Lingnan gardens, overseas Chinese villages, rural photography and family countryside trips.

Wuguishan Subdistrict

Wuguishan Subdistrict (五桂山街道) contains Zhongshan’s most extensive mountain and forest landscapes.

The area is associated with Hakka settlement traditions, ancient routes, revolutionary history, forest recreation and village-based tourism. Representative resources include:

• Wuguishan mountain landscapes (五桂山)
• Xiaoyao Valley (逍遥谷)
• Qixi Ecological Village (旗溪生态村)
• Dajianshan camping and outdoor areas (大尖山)
• The Zhongshan section of the historic Qi’ao Trail (岐澳古道)
• Former sites connected with the Pearl River Column (珠江纵队)

Local tourism planning links forest routes, old roads, red-history sites, villages, farms, campsites and homestays into wider ecological itineraries.

Wuguishan is particularly popular for summer forest recreation, light hiking, camping and countryside food. Mountain roads and scattered attractions make self-driving or private transport more practical than ordinary public buses.

Tourism identity: forest holidays, Hakka culture, historic trails, revolutionary education and mountain homestays.

Zhongshan Port Subdistrict

Zhongshan Port Subdistrict (中山港街道) forms the administrative and industrial core of Zhongshan Torch High-Tech Zone.

The area is one of Zhongshan’s principal centres for advanced manufacturing, health industries, technology development and industrial research. It is also positioned near the western landing of the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link, making it an important gateway between Zhongshan and Shenzhen.

Historical and cultural resources include coastal-defence batteries, old villages, ancestral buildings and industrial museums. The Sanxianiangshan and Shuizhoushan batteries are protected heritage sites associated with the defence of the Pearl River Estuary.

Food and industrial study-tour resources include Juxiangyuan’s almond-cake heritage and Chubang’s traditional soy-sauce production.

Tourism identity: innovation, industrial study tours, coastal-defence history and Shenzhen–Zhongshan gateway travel.

Minzhong Subdistrict

Minzhong Subdistrict (民众街道) is located in northeastern Zhongshan beside Guangzhou’s Nansha District (南沙区).

Its landscape is formed by waterways, fields, fish ponds, wetland environments and traditional water-town communities. Minzhong contains sixteen administrative villages and three communities, giving it one of Zhongshan’s largest collections of village-level administrative units.

Tourism focuses on:

• Lingnan water-town scenery
• Agricultural study activities
• Fruit and vegetable picking
• Rural family meals
• Saltwater-song traditions
• Wetland and field landscapes
• Community festivals

Newping Village (新平村), Jieyuan Village (接源村) and other communities have developed agricultural education, water-town landscapes and ecological farm experiences. Minzhong also hosts activities connected with Zhongshan’s Lingnan Water-Town Cultural Festival.

Tourism identity: Lingnan water towns, agriculture, wetlands, folk songs and rural educational travel.

Nanlang Subdistrict

Nanlang Subdistrict (南朗街道) contains Zhongshan’s most important concentration of modern-history and coastal tourism resources.

Its cultural centre is the Sun Yat-sen Hometown Tourist Area, which integrates the Museum of the Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (孙中山故居纪念馆), Cuiheng Historic Village, Zhongshan Film and Television City, the 1911 Revolution Memorial Park (辛亥革命纪念公园) and Litoujian Hill (犁头尖山).

Other important resources include:

• Yakou Village and its coastal rice fields
• Cuiheng National Wetland Park
• Hengmen seafood and estuary culture
• Coastal cycling and countryside routes
• Revolutionary and overseas Chinese heritage

Yakou Village has become one of Zhongshan’s best-known rural tourism destinations, combining working rice fields, aquaculture, village restaurants and Pearl River Estuary sunsets.

Yongmo Village (雍陌村), Luosanmei Mountain (罗三妹山) and the main hot-spring resorts belong to Sanxiang Town, not Nanlang Subdistrict.

Tourism identity: Sun Yat-sen heritage, revolutionary education, coastal rice fields, wetlands and seafood.

Zhongshan’s Fifteen Towns

Xiaolan Town

Xiaolan Town (小榄镇) is one of Zhongshan’s largest population and industrial centres. The present administrative town includes the former Dongsheng area, known for aquaculture and crispy grass carp.

Xiaolan’s most important cultural event is the Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair (小榄菊花会). The tradition has a history of several centuries and was added to China’s national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. Large exhibitions are held periodically, while smaller chrysanthemum events are organised more frequently.

Local tourism also includes chrysanthemum-themed pastries, Tuwei-flower culture, creative parks and crispy grass carp restaurants. New cultural and leisure projects have expanded the range of family and festival tourism in northern Zhongshan.

Signature foods: crispy grass carp (脆肉鲩), Xiaolan fried fish balls (小榄炸鱼球), chrysanthemum cakes and Tuwei-flower pastries.

Huangpu Town

Huangpu Town (黄圃镇) is Zhongshan’s only nationally designated Chinese Historic and Cultural Town.

Its tourism resources combine ancient coastal geology, historic villages, folk traditions and food heritage. Important sites and themes include:

• Huangpu Sea-Erosion Site (黄圃海蚀遗址)
• Aoshan Village (鳌山村)
• Ancient stone paths and former wharf sites
• Huangpu Piaose parade (黄圃飘色)
• Qilin Dance (麒麟舞)
• Dragon boat traditions
• Traditional temples and ancestral halls

The sea-erosion landscape records the geological transformation of the ancient Pearl River coastline and has strong educational value.

Huangpu is also regarded as a major centre of Cantonese cured-meat production (广式腊味). Autumn and winter food festivals combine cured meat, local history and village tourism.

Signature foods: Huangpu cured meats, lychee-wood roast goose, preserved-meat clay-pot rice and local pickled vegetables.

Dongfeng Town

Dongfeng Town (东凤镇) is a northern water-town and industrial community.

Its leisure resources are based on river embankments, village waterways, town parks and local dining. Visitors commonly combine short riverside walks with roast goose, chicken, freshwater fish and Cantonese family meals.

Fengchaowan (凤巢湾) and related commercial areas provide a convenient setting for casual dining and community recreation.

Tourism identity: water-town scenery, riverside leisure and local food.

Signature foods: Dongfeng crispy chicken, roast goose, freshwater fish and congee.

Nantou Town

Nantou Town (南头镇) is Zhongshan’s smallest town by area and an important home-appliance manufacturing centre.

Cultural resources include local temples, community heritage and small countryside leisure projects. Beidi Temple (北帝古庙), seasonal flower landscapes and industrial study programmes provide opportunities for short visits rather than a full-day conventional sightseeing itinerary.

Tourism identity: home-appliance industry, community culture and small-scale countryside leisure.

Signature foods: local rice noodles, Cantonese roast meats and traditional pastries.

Fusha Town

Fusha Town (阜沙镇) is a northern riverside industrial and agricultural town.

Representative cultural resources include Fuxu Mountain Park (浮墟山公园), revolutionary heritage associated with Niuwang Temple (牛王庙) and rural landscapes beside waterways and farmland.

The town is suited to local family recreation, revolutionary-history education and short countryside visits.

Signature foods: freshwater fish, preserved meats and farm-style Cantonese dishes.

Guzhen Town

Guzhen Town (古镇镇) is internationally known as one of China’s leading lighting-industry centres.

Its tourism identity is based on industrial design, commercial exhibitions, lighting displays and night-time urban landscapes. Major resources include:

• Huayi Plaza (华艺广场), a national 4A attraction
• Star Alliance Global Brand Lighting Center (星光联盟)
• Lighting showrooms and design centres
• Industrial visits and trade exhibitions

Zhongshan’s tourism authorities identify Huayi Plaza as one of the city’s three national 4A attractions.

Tourism identity: lighting design, industrial study, exhibitions and commercial tourism.

Henglan Town

Henglan Town (横栏镇) lies beside the West River and is known for horticulture, nurseries and flower production.

Its rural tourism resources include seasonal flower fields, river embankments, fruit and vegetable farms, agricultural education and family picking activities.

Spring is generally the most attractive period for flower-based countryside trips, although exact flowering dates depend on agricultural production and weather.

Tourism identity: flowers, agriculture, West River scenery and family picking.

Gangkou Town

Gangkou Town (港口镇) is a suburban town immediately north of Zhongshan’s central urban area.

Its leisure and cultural economy combines residential communities, creative spaces, food streets and rural ecological development. Gangfu Road (港福路) is known for late-night restaurants, while new planning around Danao Ecological Island (大南生态岛) aims to integrate agriculture, countryside tourism and urban leisure.

Tourism identity: suburban night dining, creative spaces and ecological countryside.

Signature foods: clay-pot congee, beef dishes, barbecue and Cantonese late-night food.

Sanjiao Town

Sanjiao Town (三角镇) is a northeastern agricultural and water-town community.

Its tourism resources include wetland parks, waterways, orchards, fruit and vegetable farms and rural food. The flat landscape makes it suitable for family walks, agricultural study and seasonal picking.

Tourism identity: wetlands, farming, water-town scenery and parent–child activities.

Signature foods: freshwater fish, farm vegetables and rural Cantonese banquets.

Shaxi Town

Shaxi Town (沙溪镇) is the cultural centre of the historic Longdu region (隆都地区).

Longdu culture is expressed through clan villages, ancestral halls, dialect, folk customs, festival food and traditional banquet dishes. Cultural and tourism resources include historic village communities, traditional halls, food workshops and local intangible heritage.

Shaxi is particularly valuable for culinary and cultural study tours because its food traditions remain closely connected with family celebrations and village festivals.

Signature foods: Shaxi braised pork (沙溪扣肉), Longdu ginger-braised duck, white-cut chicken, handmade tea cakes and Shaxi herbal tea.

Dachong Town

Dachong Town (大涌镇) is one of China’s best-known centres for mahogany furniture.

Its leading tourism attraction is the China Dachong Mahogany Culture Expo City (中国大涌红木文化博览城), commonly known as Hongbo City (红博城). The national 4A attraction combines monumental Tang- and Song-inspired architecture with mahogany exhibitions, furniture showrooms, carving demonstrations, cultural markets and performance spaces.

The town is suitable for industrial study tours, furniture purchasing, traditional-craft education and Chinese-style photography.

Tourism identity: mahogany furniture, woodcarving, monumental traditional architecture and industrial culture.

Signature foods: Longdu dishes and Cantonese family meals shared with neighbouring Shaxi.

Sanxiang Town

Sanxiang Town (三乡镇) is Zhongshan’s main hot-spring, wellness and historic-village destination.

Its principal resources include:

• Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort (中山温泉旅游度假区)
• Quan Yan Hot Spring (泉眼温泉)
• Luosanmei Mountain (罗三妹山)
• Yongmo Village (雍陌村)
• Former Residence of Zheng Guanying (郑观应故居)
• Guhe Village (古鹤村)
• Sections of the historic Qi’ao Trail

Yongmo is recognised for its overseas Chinese heritage, traditional architecture and connection with Zheng Guanying (郑观应), an influential modern Chinese reform thinker. Local planning is linking the village more closely with Zhongshan Hot Spring and Luosanmei Mountain.

Tourism identity: hot springs, wellness, historic personalities, traditional villages and overseas Chinese culture.

Signature foods: Sanxiang Lai Fun noodles, tea cakes, countryside Cantonese food and wellness soups.

Banfu Town

Banfu Town (板芙镇) is located in southern Zhongshan beside the West River and between central Zhongshan, Wuguishan and the direction of Zhuhai.

The town contains fish ponds, agricultural land, river embankments and rural communities. Its location makes it useful as a stop on self-driving routes connecting central Zhongshan with southern villages and neighbouring Zhuhai.

Tourism identity: West River countryside, fish ponds, river embankments and rural leisure.

Signature foods: freshwater fish, seafood and farm-style stir-fried dishes.

Shenwan Town

Shenwan Town (神湾镇) is one of Zhongshan’s most distinctive agricultural tourism destinations.

It is best known for Shenwan pineapple (神湾菠萝), a local fruit appreciated for its fragrance, crisp texture and sweetness. Pineapple orchards attract visitors during the main harvest season, usually from late spring through summer.

Other resources include Yaji Mountain (丫髻山), countryside walking routes, river landscapes and agricultural villages.

Tourism identity: pineapple orchards, seasonal picking, mountain walking and agricultural food.

Signature foods: Shenwan pineapple, dried pineapple, paddy worms and farm chicken.

Tanzhou Town

Tanzhou Town (坦洲镇) forms Zhongshan’s southern gateway beside Zhuhai.

The town is strongly influenced by daily commuting and economic interaction with Zhuhai. Its tourism resources consist mainly of suburban agriculture, orchards, neighbourhood food streets, family leisure and short countryside activities.

Tanzhou is particularly convenient as a meal or rest stop for self-driving travellers moving between Zhongshan and Zhuhai.

Tourism identity: Zhongshan–Zhuhai gateway travel, suburban farms and affordable neighbourhood dining.

Signature foods: farm dishes, freshwater fish, seafood and night-market snacks.

Zhongshan’s 23 Administrative Divisions and Tourism Resources

The table below combines the official administrative list with the representative cultural and tourism identities associated with each area. Individual attractions, markets and seasonal activities may adjust their opening arrangements, so visitors should verify current information before departure.