Compared to Xiamen, the fireworks here are more unforgettable to me
If there's one place in China where mudflats, fishing lights, seaweed racks, and sunrises and seas of clouds can be photographed like ink-and-wash poetry, it must be Xiapu, Fujian! Hailed as "China's most beautiful mudflats" and a "photographer's paradise," it also hides the vibrant life of a fishing village, the slow pace of island life, and the vibrant seafood of Eastern Fujian. This three-day, two-night guide, priced under 3,000 yuan per person, combines in-depth photography and cultural experiences. It'll help you avoid the crowds and explore hidden local photo spots. Stay in a seaview room, sail a fishing boat, and catch the sunrise and sunset. Spend a few days capturing stunning photos while basking in the sea, snapping away!
---
📅 Total Budget: 2,980 RMB (based on one person, two people travel for a better deal)
| Activities | Cost |
|------|------|
| Round-trip Transportation (High-Speed Rail + Local Taxi) | 1,000 RMB (if departing from Fuzhou/Wenzhou/Xiamen) |
| Accommodation (Two Nights in a Seaview B&B) | 800 RMB (One Night in a Photography B&B: 500 RMB + One Night in the City: 300 RMB) |
| Meals (Six Meals + Seafood Dinner) | 650 RMB (Average Daily Cost: 325 RMB, including a Specialty Dinner) |
| Photography Experience + Boat Fee + Entrance Fees | 480 RMB |
| Emergency Items/Souvenirs | 50 RMB |
| Total | 2,980 RMB |
> 💡 Tip: If two people share a room, the cost per person is only 1,490 RMB—incredible value!
---
🚄 Recommended Departure Locations (Choose One)
- From Fuzhou:
- High-speed rail to Xiapu Station (40 minutes, 35 yuan), round-trip 70 yuan;
- Taxi to the county seat or Beiqi (approximately 50 yuan), total transportation cost approximately 120 yuan.
- From Wenzhou:
- High-speed rail to Xiapu (1.5 hours, 93 yuan), round-trip 186 yuan.
- From Xiamen:
- High-speed rail to Xiapu (3.5 hours, 158 yuan), round-trip 316 yuan.
> ✅ Recommended High-speed rail + local taxi/charter: Xiapu's attractions are scattered and there's no subway, making taxis the most convenient option.
---
📅 Itinerary: Three days, two nights, a complete experience of light, fishing boats, and seafood
---
Day 1: Arrive in Xiapu + Beiqi Sunset + Shajiang S Bay Lights
- Arrive at Xiapu Station and take a taxi to the Beiqi Tidal Flats (approximately 40 minutes, 80 yuan);
- Recommended accommodation: Beiqi Shiguang Seaview B&B (500 yuan/night, with a view of the mudflats from the window, a top choice for photographers);
- 4:00 PM: Depart for Beiqi Tidal Flats (admission 30 yuan)
- Photograph the sunset: seaweed racks, fishing boats, and fishermen at work, like a moving painting;
- Best vantage point: The observation deck on the hill behind the B&B (the owner can lead the way).
- Evening: Return to the B&B for a short rest.
- Dinner: The B&B will prepare a seafood feast, 80 yuan per person. Must-try dishes:
- Xiapu razor clams (sweet and juicy), seaweed scrambled eggs, oyster omelette, and yellow croaker soup.
- Night Photography (Optional): If the weather is good, you can capture star trails on the mudflats (tripod required).
---
Day 2: Sunrise at Shajiang S Bay + Xiaohao Tidal Flats + Fishing Lights in Dongbi Village
- 5:00 AM: Wake up and head to Shajiang S Bay (30 minutes from Beiqi, about 60 RMB taxi ride)
- Photograph the sunrise over the sea of clouds: The Z-shaped seaweed racks are reflected on the water, shrouded in mist, creating a fairyland-like scene;
- Best camera position: Poles 6 and 7, reserve your spot in advance!
- Morning: Depart for Xiaohao Tidal Flats (40 RMB taxi ride)
- Photograph the colorful mudflats: After low tide, the seaweed cultivation area is vibrant with color, reflecting the light.
- You can go to the beach to experience the sea (wear wellies) and collect shells and small crabs.
- Lunch: Xiaohao Village Fisherman's Restaurant, 50 RMB per person, for seafood rice noodles and seaweed pancakes.
Afternoon: Depart for Dongbi Village (50 RMB taxi), check in:
Dongbi Shijianhai B&B (if budget permits, you can change rooms or stay in a standard ocean view room for 300 RMB/night);
Evening: Photograph the sunset and fishing lights on Dongbi Beach
Fishing boats return to port, their lights twinkling, the sea and sky blending into one, a truly romantic scene;
Take a small fishing boat out to sea for photography (charter 200 RMB/hour, you can share).
Dinner: Aqiang Seafood Stall in Dongbi Village, 70 RMB per person. Recommended:
Steamed swimming crab, seafood rice, and braised pork ribs with kelp.
---
Day 3: Yangjiaxi Banyan and Maple Forest + Return Trip
- Morning: Take a taxi to Yangjiaxi Scenic Area (40 minutes from the county seat, approximately 100 yuan).
- Entrance fee: 45 yuan, take photos of the thousand-year-old banyan and sweetgum forests.
- In the morning mist, the silhouettes of grazing cattle resemble a landscape painting (best photo opportunity: 6:30-8:00 AM).
- Ask a villager to lead the cattle for photo opportunities (tip: 20 yuan).
- Lunch: Yangjiaxi Farmhouse, 50 yuan per person, featuring a stewed chicken, wild vegetables, and sweet potato rice.
- Afternoon: Return to Xiapu Station (taxi fee: approximately 80 yuan).
Return by high-speed rail, concluding the three-day scenic journey.
---
🎣 Xiapu Must-Shoot Camera Spots List
| Attractions | Best Time | Highlights | Tickets |
|------|----------|------|------|
| Beiqi Tidal Flats | Sunrise/Sunset | Seaweed Racks, Fishing Boats, Light and Shadows | 30 RMB |
| Shajiang S-Bay | Sunrise | Zigzag Tidal Flats, Reflections of the Sea of Clouds | Free (Observation Deck Fee: 10 RMB) |
| Xiaohao Tidal Flats | After Low Tide | Colorful Mud, Sea-Catching Experience | Free |
| Dongbi Village | Sunset | Fishing Fires, Fishing Boats Returning to Harbor | Free |
| Yangjia Creek | Early Morning | Ancient Banyan Trees, Silhouettes of Cattle Grazing | 45 RMB |
| Seaweed Farming Area (Sansha) | September-November | Seaweed Harvesting | Free |
---
🍜 Xiapu Must-Eat Seafood Food List
| Food | Highlights | Recommended Spots |
|------|------|--------|
| Xiapu Razor Clams | A tidal flat specialty, fresh and juicy | Beiqi B&B |
| Seaweed | Home-grown and sun-dried, rich and fragrant, sand-free | Various farmhouses |
| Oyster Omelette | An upgraded version of oyster omelette, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside | Dongbi Food Stalls |
| Scalloped Rice | Seafood and rice stewed together, with a crispy rice crust | Aqiang Food Stalls |
| Kelp | Xiapu is known as the hometown of kelp in China | Dried goods available |
| Seaweed Pancakes | Handmade, salty, fragrant, and crispy | Old Street Stalls |
---
🏡 Accommodation Recommendations
1. Beiqi Shiguang Seaview B&B: 500 RMB/night, a great choice for photography, with the owner's expert camera locations;
2. Dongbi Village Standard Seaview B&B: 300 RMB/night, convenient for watching the sunset;
3. Xiapu Vienna Hotel: 280 RMB/night, in the heart of the county, perfect for the night before your return trip.
---
💡 Danqing's Private Tips
1. Best Photography Seasons:
- April-June: Nori harvesting season, with the most beautiful light and shadows;
- September-November: Kelp farming season, with rich scenes of people working;
- Avoid typhoon season in July and August.
2. Essential Equipment:
- Camera + tripod, polarizing filter, and shutter release cable;
- Wellies (for beach activities), sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.
3. Car Rental Tips:
- Contact the B&B owner to arrange a day-long car rental (approximately 400 yuan/day), saving you time and effort.
4. Buy Some Souvenirs:
- Kasumigaura Nori (50 yuan/bag), Dried Kelp (30 yuan/jin), and Seaweed Pancakes (20 yuan/box).
---
For 3,000 yuan, you'll enjoy a three-day, two-night feast of light and shadow.
In Xiapu, you can not only capture Instagram-worthy photos, but also enjoy the freshest seafood, listen to the waves crashing on the shore, and watch the twinkling fishing lights.
It's imperfect, yet authentic; it's niche, yet breathtaking.
If you're a photography enthusiast or looking to escape the city,
then come to Xiapu—a seaside town where mudflats create poetry and fishing lights paint paintings.
It's waiting for you to press the shutter and capture that moment of eternity.
—Danqing, a travel blogger who will help you create photos worth 30,000 yuan with just 3,000 yuan ❤️