Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are all prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province and belong to the same level. Zhuhai is one of the earliest special economic zones established in China, and it is also the only city in Chinese mainland that is connected to the mainland of China, Hong Kong, China and Macau, China by land. Shenzhen and Zhuhai are located on both sides of the Pearl River, the east coast of Shenzhen is adjacent to Hong Kong, and Zhuhai and Macao are located on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, facing Shenzhen and Hong Kong across the sea.

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and has no direct administrative affiliation with Zhuhai. Zhuhai is an independent administrative unit.