Beihai and Weizhou Island: Guangxi Beaches Without the Crowds

Guangxi by the Sea

Beihai is Guangxi's port city on the Gulf of Tonkin, and it is the least-visited seaside destination of its size in China: a long waterfront, a street of colonial-era buildings, seafood markets, and a short ferry ride to Weizhou Island, a volcanic island with beaches, coral and a genuinely slow pace.

Beihai Itself

The city's appeal is unhurried: the old street with its arcaded facades, the silver beach along the coast, and a seafood culture where you choose from tanks and pay by weight. A day is enough for the city and a sunset on the beach; two if you want the markets and the mangrove reserve nearby.

Weizhou Island

Weizhou is the reason to come: China's youngest volcanic island, with black basalt cliffs, coral shallows, a lighthouse, churches left by nineteenth-century missionaries, and villages where fishing still structures the day. Electric scooters and bicycles are the way to move, and the pace is set by the ferry timetable rather than the tour bus.

Practical Notes

The ferry from Beihai takes about an hour and a half and sells out in holiday periods, so book ahead; crossings can be cancelled in rough weather. Autumn through spring is the best window, while summer brings heat, humidity and typhoon risk. Bring cash for island villages and expect basic accommodation — this is not a resort island.

Frequently Asked Questions