Charming Greater Bay Area—Nanyang Old Friends, Encounter the Oriental Kaleidoscope That Understands You Best
The monsoon winds from the South China Sea, carrying the familiar warmth and humidity, pass through the Malacca Strait, gently caress the coconut groves of Jakarta, and finally come to rest on a magical land—the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China. Here, you'll find the turquoise seas and silver sands that feel so familiar to people from Bali, the ancient charm of Lingnan that amazes lovers of Javanese culture, and the vibrant food scene that captures the hearts of food enthusiasts. For friends from Southeast Asia, especially Indonesians who share blood ties with overseas Chinese from Guangdong, the Greater Bay Area is not a strange distant place but a reunion across thousands of years.
Foshan
The Lingnan Heartbeat Woven with Kung Fu and Sugar Soup
As dawn lights up the glazed tiles of the ancestral temple, the old streets of Chancheng are already filled with the aroma of steamed rice noodles. In front of the Wong Fei - Hung Memorial Hall, a awakened lion leaps into the air, its eyelashes quivering as if greeting visitors from afar—a ritual of dispelling evil and inviting blessings that echoes the agility of the Barong dance on Bali.
Must-try Delicacies
Shunde's double-layer milk pudding is as smooth as condensed milk, with a sweetness akin to Indonesian coconut sugar sago (Bubur Sumsum). Chen's rice roll, paper-thin, when drizzled with beef brisket sauce, echoes the flavor of Jakarta's street Lontong Sayur (vegetable rice cake).
The Way of Culture and Art: The five - hundred - year - old kiln fire at Nanfeng Ancient Kiln never dies. The pottery master's wheel - throwing gestures are as focused as the rhythm of Yogyakarta silver craftsmen beating Keris swords. The winding streams and artificial hills in Liang Garden make one feel as if they've time - traveled to the lotus ponds of Bogor Botanical Gardens.
Cantonese Morning Tea
A Millennium of Urban Charm
Stroll along the weathered colonnades of Arcade buildings street, with Cantonese opera arias drifting through the air. From the “Canton Tower,” the Pearl River winds below, and beyond the modern skyline lie the oyster - shell windows and Manchurian flower windows of Xiguan mansions. Guangzhou's character mirrors Jakarta's magic realism, where Kota Tua meets SCBD skyscrapers.
A Flavor Adventure
One pot and two dim sum pieces: The shrimp dumplings at Panxi Restaurant are crystal - clear. The barbecue pork buns split into three golden - yellow smiles. Sipped with chrysanthemum pu - er tea, it's a more refined version of Bandung's mountain - town afternoon tea (Ngopi).
Hidden Delights: The spiciness of Shawan ginger milk curd blends with its milky fragrance, recalling Bandung's coconut ginger tea (Wedang Jahe). At Hui Shi Bao, when the sizzling Huangsheng clay pot is uncovered, theizzling sound mirrors the lively atmosphere of Surabaya's night market (Pasar Malam).
Shenzhen
A New Nanyang Hometown Where the Future Meets Reality
Shenzhen's transformation resonates with entrepreneurs from Jakarta and Medan. Shenzhen has evolved from a fishing village to a "Silicon Valley." After watching drones form flame tree patterns at Talent Park, one can explore Baishizhou village. In a Chaoshan beef hotpot restaurant, with the painting of "Butcher Ding Dissecting an Ox" as the background image, freshly sliced diaolong meat is dipped three times in clear beef bone soup. The aroma of roasted pigeons from Guangming mingles with the fragrance of Ethiopian coffee beans from tech park cafes, much like Indonesian - Chinese fusion of Satay sauce with Dutch pancakes.
Innovative Experiences:
Gourmet Lab: Hainan young coconut water boils Wenchang chicken in the coconut chicken hotpot. The dipping sauce with small green lime adds a zing, and amazes even Balinese people accustomed to Ayam Betutu (chicken wrapped in banana leaves), who exclaim "Enak Sekali! (Extremely delicious)".
Cultural Synergy: The Ming-Qing coastal defense sites at Dapeng Fortress dialogue with OCT-LOFT's graffiti walls, just as the time - space symphony of Semarang's Zheng He Temple and modern art galleries in Semarang.
Zhuhai
A Slow Melody Sung by Sea Breezes
While Shenzhen's neon dazzles, Zhuhai soothes with the coconut shadows along Lovers' Road. On Guishan Island, freshly caught rockfish is made into Shunde - style fish slices, thin enough to rival sashimi tuna, impressing Indonesian gourmets. Hengqin oysters, though delicious, are best enjoyed locally by steaming them and pairing with Phoenix Dancong tea, while watching the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge like a silver dragon diving into the sea.
Healing Moments:
Island Secrets: Under the starry sky of Outer Linting Island, fishermen cast nets while singing saltwater songs, echoing traditional fishing rituals on Flores Island. The coral in the crystal - clear waters of Dong'ao Island rivals the underwater beauty of the Banda Sea.
Night Market Vibes: At Xiwan Night Market, the sizzling of stir-fried squid on a teppanyaki plate mingling with the hawking of "handsome boys and pretty girls," carries a hint more of Cantonese wit than Malang's Pasar Malam.
