北海市
A good beach city with a French-era lane and a volcano island
Why this place
Beihai is the best beach city in Guangxi, and its old street — a lane of arcaded buildings built in the French concession era — is unexpectedly charming. Offshore, Weizhou Island is a volcanic island with clear water and coral.
What to see
- Beibu Gulf beaches: Silver Beach and the city's seafront
- The old street (Zhuhai Road) with its 19th-century arcaded shophouses
- Weizhou Island — volcanic rock, coral, and the old French Catholic church on the island
- The mangrove wetland at Shankou
What to eat
- Beibu Gulf seafood — squid, prawns, oysters and shellfish, cheap and fresh
- The local 'mantou' and Cantonese-influenced cooking
Best time
October–December and March–April; typhoons in summer
Practical tips
- Weizhou Island needs a ferry from Beihai and is worth an overnight — book tickets in advance in holidays
HSKHSK 3
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