A 5-Day, 4-Night Classic Tour of Weizhou Island and Beihai
Hey, foreign friends! I’m excited to share with you my wonderful journey to Weizhou Island and Beihai. This is a comprehensive guide that combines a 4-day, 3-night exploration of Weizhou Island and a 1-day tour of Beihai, offering you a perfect 5-day, 4-night travel experience.
1. Introduction to Weizhou Island
Weizhou Island is a small and extremely pristine island. It’s so pure and simple, much like Chiang Mai, but even more peaceful as you can enjoy the sea view from every corner. The island is full of lush greenery, with banana trees, jackfruit trees, and phoenix trees everywhere. It’s a subtropical paradise filled with colorful flowers and delicious fruits.
2. Transportation, Itinerary, and Preparations
Flights
There are daily direct flights from Chongqing to Beihai, mostly in the morning at around 6:00, 9:00, and 10:00, operated by China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. The return flights from Beihai to Chongqing also depart in the morning, usually at around 8:50, 11:45, and 12:50. The flight duration is about 1.5 hours each way, and the ticket price ranges from 400 to 700 yuan per one – way trip.
Ground Transportation in Beihai
Beihai Fucheng Airport is about 25 kilometers from the city center. There are direct bus lines to the city and the Weizhou Island Wharf. The fare to the city is 20 yuan per person, and to the Beihai International Passenger Terminal is 25 yuan per person. There are also bus lines between the terminal and the Beihai High – speed Railway Station. Taxis and Didi are also available in Beihai. The starting price of a taxi is 8 yuan.
Ferries
The passenger ferries to Weizhou Island only depart from the Beihai International Passenger Terminal. The ferry ride takes less than 1.5 hours. The ticket prices vary according to different cabins. For the Beiyou 12/Beiyou 16 high – speed ferries, the tickets for Areas A, B, and E are 150 yuan per person per one – way trip, 180 yuan for Areas C and D, and 240 yuan for the VIP cabin. The Beiyou 28/Beiyou 18 also has a 120 – yuan – per – person cabin option. It’s advisable to book your ferry tickets in advance, especially during the peak season.
3. Itinerary
Day 1: Chongqing – Beihai – Weizhou Island – South Bay Seafood Market
Arrive in Beihai by plane, then take a bus to the wharf and board the ferry to Weizhou Island. Head to the South Bay Seafood Market to buy fresh seafood and have it cooked at a nearby restaurant. Stay at the Dushhe Boutique B&B (Weizai Store).
Day 2: Colorful Beach for Sunrise – Crocodile Mountain Volcano Park – Muya Cliff for Sunset
Get up early to watch the sunrise at the Colorful Beach. Then visit the Crocodile Mountain Volcano Park, where you can see the most complete volcanic activity relics on the island. In the evening, go to Muya Cliff to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Have dinner at the Sanmei Seafood Restaurant near the South Bay Seafood Market and stay at the Dushhe Boutique B&B (Weizai Store) again.
Day 3: Dripping Water Screen – Blue Bridge – South Bay Ocean Sports Park – Sailing/Yachting Experience – Shiluokou Beach for Sunset
In the morning, go to the Dripping Water Screen, a unique beach with water dripping from the cliff. Then visit the Blue Bridge. In the afternoon, head to the South Bay Ocean Sports Park to experience sailing, yachting, or other water sports. In the evening, watch the sunset at Shiluokou Beach and stay at the Mars Dome Theme Hotel.
Day 4: Shell Beach – Sheng Tang Catholic Church – Weizhou Island – Beihai Silver Beach for Sunset – Qiaogang Ancient Street
Spend the morning visiting Shell Beach and Sheng Tang Catholic Church. Then take the ferry back to Beihai. Watch the sunset at Beihai Silver Beach and have dinner at Qiaogang Ancient Street. Stay at the Beihai Silver Beach Pearl Hotel.
Day 5: Beihai Old Street – Snail – Picking Noodles – Beihai – Chongqing
Visit Beihai Old Street, try some local snacks, and then head back to Chongqing.
4. Accommodation
- Dushhe Boutique B&B: It has two branches on the island, the Weizai Store and the Beigang Store. The rooms are renovated from traditional coral – stone houses, retaining the original layout. It offers a butler – style service, including seafood processing and electric vehicle rental. There’s a package that includes 1 – night stay, double breakfast, a choice between a double – person sailing or yachting experience, a one – way ferry ticket from Beihai to Weizhou Island, and pick – up and drop – off service from Weizhou Island’s Xijiao Wharf, all for 698 yuan.
- Mars Dome Theme Hotel: The rooms are in a unique blue – and – white Greek – style spherical shape, like the houses in a Mars base in the movies. Each room is named after a zodiac sign. It’s located near the South Bay Ocean Sports Park, with a convenient view of the sea. There’s also a package similar to the one at Dushhe, priced at 688 yuan.
5. Attractions and Activities
South Bay Seafood Market
This is a bustling place where local fishermen sell a variety of fresh seafood, such as prawns, scallops, and flounders. When buying seafood here, you need to be careful. Check the fair – scale and the black – and – red list outside the market. Choose the fresh ones yourself, and don’t be afraid to bargain. After buying the seafood, you can have it cooked at a nearby restaurant. I highly recommend the “Chongqing Flavor” restaurant, where the Sichuan – style seafood and the sour – and – spicy shredded potatoes are extremely delicious.
Colorful Beach
It’s the best place to watch the sunrise on the island. In June, you need to get up at 5:00 to arrive here and can see the sunrise at around 5:30. The beach is full of black pebbles like sesame seeds, and after the tide goes out, the volcanic lava on the beach shows colorful patterns under the sunlight.
Crocodile Mountain Volcano Park
This is the only scenic area on the island that requires ticket inspection. You can either walk for 15 – 20 minutes or take a scenic shuttle bus (20 yuan per person) to the entrance. The park has many attractions, such as the Crocodile Mountain Lighthouse, Tang Xianzu’s Platform, and the Volcano Crater Site. It’s a great place to experience the volcanic heritage of Weizhou Island.
Muya Cliff
It’s one of the best places to watch the sunset. The red volcanic rocks on the cliff, along with the sea and the setting sun, create a magnificent view. There are also some popular photo – taking spots here, but it’s dangerous to go down to the cliff, so it’s now restricted.
Dripping Water Screen
The water on the cliff drips like a curtain, and the red rock has clear layers due to sea – erosion. It’s a unique beach where you can take some amazing photos.
Blue Bridge
It’s an abandoned oil – tanker wharf. Although you can’t go on the bridge, it looks spectacular from afar. There’s a B&B called Beihai Changfeng Courtyard nearby, which has many photo – taking props for guests to use.
South Bay Ocean Sports Park
Here you can experience various water sports, such as sailing, yachting, diving, and water – motorcycling. The sailing and yachting experiences usually last for 30 minutes, and the diving experience takes about an hour with 30 minutes underwater.
Shiluokou Beach
It’s a good place for diving and watching the sunset. There are also some beach entertainment facilities and a barbeque and beer house with a Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – themed wall.
Shell Beach and Sheng Tang Catholic Church
Shell Beach is the longest beach on the island. After visiting the beach, you can go to the nearby Sheng Tang Catholic Church, a magnificent Gothic – style building built in the late Qing Dynasty. It’s now a national cultural relic protection unit.
6. Food
- Sanmei Seafood Restaurant: A popular local seafood restaurant in South Bay, offering fresh and delicious local – style seafood.
- 24 – Building Dessert Shop in Qiaogang Ancient Street: It’s very famous for its affordable and delicious desserts, such as the Five – Ingredient Dessert.
- Snail – Picking Noodles and Huang Li Ji Guilin – Liuzhou Snail Noodles in Beihai are must – try local snacks.
7. Beihai City Tour
- Beihai Silver Beach: Known as the “Number One Beach in the World” for its flat beach, fine sand, clean water, gentle waves, and no sharks.
- Qiaogang Ancient Street: It has a strong Vietnamese flavor, with many Vietnamese restaurants and specialty stores.
- Beihai Old Street: A historical street with Western – style arcade buildings, where you can find many local snacks and souvenirs.
So, friends, if you’re looking for a relaxing and exciting tropical island vacation, Weizhou Island and Beihai are definitely worth a visit! Just follow this guide, and you’ll have an unforgettable journey.
