Hong Kong and The Country Garden Bus Systems

Travel to Hong Kong-

It was pretty easy to get to Hong Kong. You could either go by bus or train--there are benefits to each.

The train goes straight from Guangzhou--nearest big city to Country Garden--to Shenzhen and then you can link onto the Hong Kong metro line (MTR). It takes like 3-5 hours to get there from CG but less if you are already in Guangzhou. (The train takes like an hour from Guangzhou to Hong Kong--great!)

The train station--I think in Shenzhen-- is crazy big!   This is the only point that isn't so pleasant. I'm not sure you always have to stop there though. When you get to China, you will get a chance to do this with other people. I would go every 5-6 weeks when I was there.
You are here. The train to Hong Kong.

What many people do is take a bus/train to the closest city outside of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and stay at these 24-hour hotel/spas --amazing amenities for the same price as a regular hotel room.   You then cross over to Hong Kong the next day via bus or metro rail.  

Even though anything in a foreign country is a little daunting and harder with the language barrier, getting to Hong Kong was relatively easy.

Here's a link to my favorite spa:
Queen's Spa in Shenzhen (wish I could get some pictures for this...)

Best thing about working in Southern China were the cheap flights that you could take all over with Southeast Asia.     E-long Travel is also a good one.  There was one couple at CG who would take a mini-vacation every time we had a long weekend.

Sometimes they got two $25 tickets to Malaysia or something. www.airasia.com had some great specials!   For winter break, all my colleagues went to the tropical islands of Koh Samui off of Thailand. I went to Bangkok twice while I taught there. Loved it!      www.asiaexpat.com was also a good website. 

The CG Bus System

There is a bus system throughout the Country Garden country clubs. (There are two--one is the 'new' the other 'old' one) It gets you from apartment blocks to school to mini-marts or grocery stores and to the main gates.   From there, more of these Country Garden buses take you to nearby cities in surrounding the areas. I think it covers cities in a 2-hour away radius. These are free for you.

*important* When you are out and about in Guangzhou or other towns, you must only get on the Country Garden Shunde (shun-duh)  bus.   There are more than 13 different Country Gardens so saying the right Country Garden--and double-checking if it's the right one--is paramount to getting home.     Remember:  Shun-duh (Bi Guay Yuan)  Country Garden

Maybe this website has some pictures.

 Long-ride buses are like your average greyhound bus.   Some are newer than others.   It's better to sit in the middle or front because in the back you usually get alot of fumes.


They have the bus schedules at the bus ticket booth at the main gates of Country Garden.   They usually have a Chinese and an English version.  You do need to ask if it is up-to-date, because sometimes it has changed. 

In the past, I've accidentally gone off an old schedule.  Also, ask if any bus pick-up/drop-off places have changed, because that will really mess up an afternoon when trying to get back home!    Asking people around you from CG--especially the younger generation--has been really helpful in getting to the right place at the right time.

Good luck!