Yangjiang Hailing Island | A romantic date with the sea
🌊On the southwest coast of Guangdong, there is a beautiful island - Yangjiang Hailing Island, which is like a shining pearl inlaid on the azure South China Sea. It is an intoxicating holiday destination with its long sandy beaches, clear waters, charming sunsets and abundant seafood. Next, follow this guide and start your trip to Hailing Island!
1. Travel preparation
- Documents: ID card, driver's license (if driving), student ID card, etc. (may have ticket discounts).
- Clothing: Light and breathable summer clothes are recommended. Remember to bring a swimsuit, swimming cap, and swimming goggles for playing in the water at the beach. It may be a bit chilly in the morning and evening, so bring a thin jacket.
- Sun protection: sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sun protection clothing. The ultraviolet rays on the island are strong, so you must do a good job of sun protection.
- Others: power banks, common medicines (gastrointestinal medicine, cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, etc.), toiletries.
2. Transportation Guide
- Self-driving: Starting from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other places, it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive along the highway. The advantage of self-driving is that you have a flexible itinerary and can stop at any time to enjoy the scenery along the way.
- High-speed rail + bus/taxi: Take the high-speed rail from Guangzhou South Station to Yangjiang Station, then take a bus or taxi directly to Hailing Island. This method is suitable for tourists who do not want to drive themselves, as it is convenient and fast.
- Bus: There are buses departing from Guangzhou South Bus Station, Tianhe Bus Station and Provincial Bus Station that go directly to Zhapo Station, making it convenient for tourists to reach the island directly.
3. Check in at scenic spots
- Dajiao Bay Scenic Area: One of the most famous attractions on Hailing Island and a national 5A-level tourist attraction, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the vast South China Sea. The spiral bay looks like a huge bull's horn, hence the name "Dajiao Bay". The ticket includes the natural bathing beach and water park, which have complete entertainment facilities, golden and clean sand, and clear and transparent water, making it suitable for family fun.
- Shili Silver Beach: One of the longest beaches certified by the Guinness World Records, it is 9.7 kilometers long, with fresh air and clean and uniform sand. It is the best place to watch the sunrise. Watching the sunrise here in the morning and feeling the first ray of sunshine on your body is magnificent. There are also many water activities on the beach, such as beach motorcycles, parasailing, etc., where you can fully enjoy the charm of the ocean.
- Mawei Island: The best viewing spot for watching the sunset. The island is covered with trees, the seabed is flat and the water surface is calm. It is a great place to enjoy a quiet island time. When the tide is low, you can hike to Lover's Island, dig shells, pick up conches, and experience the fun of catching seafood.
- Beiluo Secret Land: It integrates scenic spots and hotels, and has popular check-in spots such as the cliff swimming pool and the sky swimming pool. The white sand beach and the seaside boardwalk are great places for taking photos. In the evening, it is so pleasant to take a walk on the boardwalk and admire the beautiful sea view.
- Windmill Hill: A great place to overlook the entire Hailing Island. The viewing platform and Moonlight Hall are the best spots for taking photos. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset in the evening. Standing on the top of the mountain, feeling the sea breeze on your face, watching the windmills all over the mountain turning with the wind, and the endless sea in the distance, the view is super wide, and every shot you take is a blockbuster.
4. Food Guide
- Seafood food stalls: Of course you have to eat seafood when you come to Hailing Island! You can taste a variety of fresh seafood at affordable prices at the seafood stalls on the beach. Recommended dishes include salt and pepper mantis shrimp, steamed grouper, spicy fried clams, etc. They are delicious and leave you with an endless aftertaste.
- Xincheng Fishing Village: A time-honored teahouse located on Shili Silver Beach, famous for its seafood and morning tea. The sea urchin rice here is a must-order. The golden sea urchin is spread on the steaming rice, which is full of fragrance and every bite is super satisfying. There are also steamed prawns, the shrimp meat is tender and chewy, and the original flavor.
- Mawei Island Dahai Renjia Fishing Boat: Provides seafood feasts on the bay of Mawei Island. The seafood is caught on the spot and cooked and eaten immediately, which is a unique flavor. Admiring the beautiful sea view and tasting delicious seafood is one of the great enjoyments in life.
- Special snacks: In addition to seafood, Hailing Island also has some special snacks that are not to be missed, such as pig intestine rolls, which look a bit like rice noodle rolls, but have a chewier texture and taste great with a special sauce; there is also fish ball soup, the fish balls are chewy and smooth, and the soup is fresh and delicious.
5. Accommodation Recommendations
- Dajiaowan area: The surrounding supporting facilities are complete and there are many hotel options, but some hotel facilities may be older. We recommend Guanhua Hotel, Luozhou Haiji Hotel, Elong Ruiyun Hotel and Pingzhou Seaview Hotel, etc. These hotels offer free parking, first-line sea view rooms and other services, making travel and dining very convenient.
- Shili Silver Beach Area: It has a very long coastline, good air quality and clean beaches. We recommend the Bi Hai Jia Holiday Apartment and Yangjiang Hailing Island Four Seasons Holiday Apartment. These apartments usually have beautiful environments and complete facilities, and are very suitable for vacation and leisure.
- Beiluowan area: It integrates scenic spots and hotels, suitable for high-end vacations. Beiluo Bay Resort offers luxurious villas, Chinese restaurants, Western restaurants and other facilities, as well as the popular cliff swimming pool and sky pool, where you can enjoy a private and luxurious holiday experience.
6. Tour route planning
- Day 1: Arrive at Hailing Island in the morning and check into a hotel near Dajiao Bay. After a short rest, go to Dajiao Bay Scenic Area to play in the water and experience various water sports. In the afternoon, go to the Nanhai No. 1 Museum to learn about the history of the Song Dynasty shipwreck "Nanhai No. 1". In the evening, eat seafood at a seafood stall near Dajiao Bay, and after dinner, go to Luozhou Park to watch the sunset.
- Day 2: Get up early to watch the sunrise at Shili Silver Beach, and then play on the beach; in the morning, go to Fengche Mountain to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the entire island and take photos; in the afternoon, go to Beiluo Secret Realm to check in the cliff swimming pool and white sand beach; in the evening, go to Mawei Island to watch the sunset, and eat seafood near Mawei Island at night.
- Day 3: In the morning, go to the Mangrove Wetland Park, stroll along the wooden boardwalk on the sea, and enjoy the wetland ecological landscape; in the afternoon, go to Zhapo Fishing Port to feel the lively atmosphere of the fishing port, and you can also buy some seafood as souvenirs; then prepare to return.
VII. Precautions
- Pay attention to the weather in advance and avoid traveling during bad weather such as typhoons.
- The ultraviolet rays on the island are strong, so take good sun protection measures to avoid sunburn.
- Be careful when swimming in the sea, choose areas with lifeguards, and do not rush into deep water areas.
- When eating seafood at seafood stalls, pay attention to the prices to avoid being ripped off.
- When traveling during peak season, remember to book hotels and tickets in advance to avoid delays.