Things to Do in Zhuhai in February

February's crisp mornings are made for the 15 km (9.3 mile) cycling route along Lovers' Road - the concrete path stays dry most days, and you can stop at six different coffee kiosks built into the seawalls. The route from Gongbei Port to Tangjiawan gives you unobstructed views of Macau's skyline across the water, something impossible during summer's haze.

February queues at the Gongbei Border Gate shrink to 15-20 minutes (versus 2+ hours in summer), making the 5-minute walk from Zhuhai Railway Station practical. The crossing works best mid-morning when tour groups haven't arrived yet, and you can be eating Portuguese egg tarts in Macau's Senado Square within 45 minutes of leaving your Zhuhai hotel.

The Imperial Hot Spring Resort fills up with locals escaping the 'cold' - meaning 19°C (66°F) water feels hot when air temperature is 16°C (61°F). The outdoor pools surrounded by fake palm trees and piped-in bird sounds become a comedy show of Guangdong residents wearing parkas in hot water.

February's clearer skies make the 30-minute ferry to Dong'ao Island worthwhile - the water turns turquoise instead of muddy brown, and you can see the coral reefs from the boat deck. The island's hiking trail up to the lighthouse gives views of three different provinces on clear days.

The three-level maze beneath Gongbei Port is 90% empty in February - vendors negotiate when you're their only customer. The market specializes in Macau overflow goods: Portuguese wine at half the Macau price, and fake designer bags that look impressively real under fluorescent lighting.