Five Seaside Towns Perfect for Family Trips with Direct High-Speed Rail Access

Five Seaside Towns Perfect for Family Trips with Direct High-Speed Rail Access 1. Rizhao, Shandong 🐷🐷🐷 (1) Transportation Direct high-speed rail from Beijing/Shanghai takes 3-5 hours. City buses cost just 1 RMB to get around. (2) Must-Visit Attractions **Wanpingkou Scenic Area**: Free! Features a 4 km golden sandy beach with fine sand perfect for barefoot walks. Rent a parasol (20 RMB) and relax all afternoon. **Renjiatai Tidal Flat**: Free! At low tide, rent a bucket (5 RMB) to collect clams, crabs, and seashells—great for kids. **Dongyi Ancient Town**: Free! A charming lantern-lit snack street at night. Try the "Sea Sand Noodles" (15 RMB/bowl) and mackerel dumplings. (3) Local Delicacies **Peppery Salt Mantis Shrimp**: 38 RMB/jin (freshly bought and cooked at the market), bursting with juicy meat. **Oyster Tofu Soup**: 10 RMB/bowl, best paired with baked flatbread. (4) Accommodation Stay at a B&B near Dongyi Ancient Town (100-150 RMB/night), just a 5-minute walk to the beach with sunrise views from the balcony. --- 2. Lianyungang, Jiangsu 🐶🐶🐶 (1) Transportation Direct high-speed rail from Nanjing/Jinan takes 2 hours. Metro Line 1 reaches the seaside. (2) Must-Visit Attractions **Liandao Beach**: 30 RMB entry, crescent-shaped beach with blue waters. Try speedboat rides (50 RMB/person). **Sea Cloud Terrace Mountain**: 45 RMB entry, hike for panoramic "mountain-sea-city-port" views. The glass walkway at the summit is thrilling. **Xishu Seafood Market**: Free! Fishermen set up stalls after 3 PM—clams for 5 RMB/jin, with nearby restaurants offering cooking services (10 RMB/dish). (3) Local Delicacies **Cold Jelly Noodles**: 5 RMB/bowl, topped with sesame sauce and vinegar—refreshing in summer. **Stir-Fried Crab with Rice Cakes**: 40 RMB/plate, featuring firm crab meat and sauce-soaked rice cakes. (4) Accommodation Hotels near Xugou Pedestrian Street (150 RMB/night), with night markets and easy seafood shopping downstairs. --- 3. Shanwei, Guangdong 🐕🐕🐕 (1) Transportation Direct high-speed rail from Guangzhou takes 1.5 hours. Taxis to attractions cost 5-10 RMB. (2) Must-Visit Attractions **Jinting Bay Beach**: Collect seashells or visit the nearby Windmill Island’s coastal road (navigate to "Shigongliao") for a Japanese-style seascape. **Red Bay**: Features a "Sea Castle" ruin café (cyberpunk vibes) and a cannon fort for fishing boat photos. **Magong Beach**: Go tide-pooling for crabs and seashells at low tide. (3) Local Delicacies **Xiaomi Guo**: 5 RMB/portion, glutinous rice wraps stuffed with radish, served with chili sauce. **Seafood Congee**: 20 RMB/pot, packed with shrimp, crab, and shellfish in a silky broth. (4) Accommodation Shanwei Poly Jinting Bay Apartments (150 RMB/night), steps from the beach with balcony BBQ options. --- 4. Maoming, Guangdong 👹👹👹 (1) Transportation Direct high-speed rail from Guangzhou South Station takes ~2.5 hours. (2) Must-Visit Attractions **China First Beach**: 12 km of sugar-fine sand, coconut groves, and crystal waters—ranked among China’s top four longest beaches. **Tongzi Bay**: Sunset views over returning fishing boats; locals gather seafood at low tide. The lighthouse-lit bay is dubbed "Guangdong’s Little Kenting." **Fangji Island**: A 20-minute ferry ride to golden beaches and vibrant underwater life, ideal for snorkeling. (3) Local Delicacies **Shuidong Duck Congee**: 40 RMB for half a duck + congee, enriched with bone marrow broth, ginger, and cilantro. **Huazhou Beef Offal**: Tripe and intestines simmered in star anise broth, drizzled with spicy sauce. (4) Accommodation **Yunyan Hotel** (200+ RMB) offers sea views; families may prefer Sheraton Hot Spring Hotel. --- 5. Cangnan, Zhejiang (1) Transportation Direct high-speed rail from Hangzhou takes ~2.5 hours. (2) Must-Visit Attractions **168 Coastal Highway**: Connects Cangnan’s most scenic spots—mountains, blue skies, fishing villages, and windmills—ending at Peilei Beach’s pristine shores. **Yuliao Scenic Area**: Home to the widest (800+ meters) and flattest beach in southeastern China, perfect for leisurely strolls. **Xiaguan Town**: A colorful, flower-filled coastal village with cafés and fresh seafood at the harbor market. (3) Local Delicacies Sandwiched between Fujian and Zhejiang (both culinary havens), Cangnan offers endless street snacks. August brings abundant seafood post-fishing ban. (4) Accommodation Choose between seaside B&Bs or city hotels for varied experiences.