Tales of Zhuhai

Striking up a conversation with a man or woman in Zhuhai is easy. Just ask, "Where are you from?" Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that more than two-thirds of the population in this city in Guangdong province are sojourners.

With the cities of Macao and Hong Kong next door, and the industrial hubs of Guangzhou and Shenzhen just an hour away by public transport, Zhuhai has grown from a village to a bustling metropolis.

Founded in 1979, the city was among China's first four special economic zones, designated in 1980. Then-leader Deng Xiaoping's words, "Zhuhai Special Economic Zone is good", are etched into a wall at Gongbei Port that is a much-photographed spot.