As the weather gets hotter, the number of people heading to the beach has increased significantly! Escaping to a seaside location, waking up to the sound of the waves, and falling asleep to their lullaby… this is the lifestyle that many people yearn for. Recently, the frequency with which stakeholders are inquiring about coastal cities and island travel guides has also risen. Summer is truly on the way!
When it comes to underappreciated coastal cities, I would love to vote for Huizhou. Recently, CCTV’s “China’s Beautiful Life Survey” revealed that during the May Day holiday, Huizhou became one of the top five cities that young people most want to visit for travel.
Previously, when I wrote about the city walk in Huizhou and the time-honored local delicacies, many comments mentioned visiting Huizhou to see the sea. Therefore, today I’m going to take some time to discuss Huizhou’s coastline.
In fact, Huizhou’s beaches are quite famous within Guangdong province, but outside of the province, their recognition is average, which is a bit of a pity. From the starting point of the coastline in Huizhou at Yapo Cape to the resort area of Xunliao Bay, known as the “Maldives of China,” and then to the crescent-shaped Daya Bay Golden Coast… Huizhou boasts over 280 kilometers of coastline and more than 160 islands, with abundant marine resources.
The tourism development of the islands here is not very advanced; many islands retain a more natural state, which makes them suitable for in-depth exploration. Huizhou also has many well-developed beach resorts that get very lively on weekends, with numerous friends from Shenzhen and Guangzhou coming here for vacation.
Beach Resorts
The beach resorts in Huizhou feature beautiful scenery and excellent facilities, particularly Double Moon Bay and Xunliao Bay. These two scenic areas are top spots for seaside enjoyment in Huizhou. If you’re coming a long way to Huizhou, these well-developed beaches with convenient transportation will be sufficient.
📍Double Moon Bay
Advantages: Beautiful natural scenery, good accommodation facilities
Disadvantages: Possibility of being overcharged, large crowds
Attractions: Sea Turtle Nature Reserve, Daxing Mountain Viewing Platform, Pingsai Ancient City
Double Moon Bay is arguably one of the most famous bays in Huizhou. It consists of two adjacent crescent-shaped bays, with the left bay calm and mirror-like, while the right bay is filled with rolling waves, creating different scenic views for both.
From Lion Island to Lover’s Causeway in “Vanke Double Moon Bay,” this area is perfect for photo opportunities, featuring spots like the Water Drop Library, the Cliff Art Museum, and Lover’s Bridge. It is also very suitable for family beach activities, with a coastline of 20 kilometers and a beach width of about 200 meters, making it ideal for various beach games.
Most importantly, Double Moon Bay hosts the only sea turtle nature reserve on the Asian continent, where you can take your children to visit the exhibition hall and learn about the life stages of sea turtles from hatching to maturity. The beach here is also wonderful, with fine and soft sand, but please note that access to this beach is fee-based.
If you have time, the viewing platform at Daxing Mountain is worth a visit, where you can get a panoramic view of both the “Double Bay” and “Double Sea” of Double Moon Bay. However, parking is only available at the foot of the mountain, requiring a hike to the top.
Compared to the gentle waves of Daya Bay, the other side—Red Sea Bay—has larger waves, making it suitable for surfing.
However, many tourists reflect that the prices at Double Moon Bay can be quite high, and you may encounter overcharging, so caution is advised. For seafood, you could consider visiting nearby Pingsai Town, which offers many affordable restaurants and the chance to explore the 600-year-old Pingsai Ancient City and the vibrant Pingsai Market. (The nearby Port Town market is also worth visiting).
Transportation and Accommodation Arrangements?
You can take a taxi or catch a ride-share from Huizhou East Station to Double Moon Bay for about 120 yuan, and there are also bus routes—Express Line 3.
There are quite a few hotels near Double Moon Bay, and I recommend staying at Vanke Double Moon Bay, as it has the best facilities and is the first stop on the coastal road.
📍Xunliao Bay
Advantages: Open early, best facilities, a variety of activities
Disadvantages: Crowded, higher prices
Attractions: Beach Combing Park, Mozi Stone Scenic Area, Leisure Beach, Tianhou Palace
Equally famous as Double Moon Bay, Xunliao Bay was developed earlier and has more robust commercial facilities. It remains one of the cleanest bays for hundreds of kilometers in eastern Guangdong. Once you exit the highway, you will find many popular photo spots, parks, and scenic areas along the way.
Xunliao Bay features the Beach Combing Park, which is one of the few parks in the Greater Bay Area themed around beachcombing, making it suitable for families with children to collect shells and catch crabs at low tide.
Xunliao Bay also has a well-known “Little Kamakura of Huizhou,” which is essentially a single-sided striped path along the coastal road, yet perfect for photography.
The beach resources at Xunliao Bay are abundant, with each beach offering unique experiences. The public beach from Double Fish Island to Leisure Beach is the liveliest and most exciting, where you can enjoy numerous fun water and beach activities.
The Mozi Stone Scenic Area is a representative of the shallow sea stone forest in Xunliao Bay, featuring bizarre-shaped rocks along the shore, perfect for photography. Although the scenic area is a bit far from the main beach, it is less crowded and offers stunning views. There’s also a historically significant Mozi Stone Pier from which you can catch a boat to Delta Island.
Eating here is not a worry either, as there are many seafood stalls near Xunliao Bay—such as Jiedahuan Seafood Restaurant, Xunwan Restaurant, and Xike Seafood Restaurant. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, there are dessert shops (highly recommend Zengji Dessert) and beef hot pot available as well.
Transportation and Accommodation Arrangements?
For transportation, driving is more recommended; the entire coastal road is stunning, though it can be quite congested during holidays. There are numerous camping bases in Xunliao Bay, with most offering good scenery and facilities, making camping here a great option. It has been developed for a longer period, with many hotels available for different family types, including well-known chains like Sheraton.
📍Golden Coast Beach
Advantages: Wide and gentle sands, convenient transportation
Disadvantages: Overall smaller area
Compared to the previous two bays, Golden Coast Beach is merely a beach. However, the sand quality here is excellent; walking barefoot gives a soft and comfortable sensation.
There is a dark red boardwalk beside Golden Coast Beach, which winds its way up to the coastal path, extending about 5.8 kilometers—perfect for biking.
To summarize:
Ease of Access: Golden Coast > Xunliao Bay > Double Moon Bay
Completeness of Development: Xunliao Bay > Double Moon Bay > Golden Coast
Natural Scenery Quality: Double Moon Bay > Xunliao Bay > Golden Coast
Treasure Islands
The difficulty level of this section has skyrocketed. The islands of Huizhou are mainly concentrated in the Daya Bay area formed by the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula and Huizhou Peninsula. Many are uninhabited islands with good ecological protection, showcasing stunning scenery. However, transportation and accommodation can be a challenge.
📍Delta Island
Advantages: Sea sickness-friendly, good infrastructure
Disadvantages: Very small island, poor signal
Transportation: A speedboat from Xunliao Bay takes two to three minutes (approximately 120 yuan, including entry fee)
Delta Island is adjacent to Xunliao Bay, only about 1 kilometer away, making it very accessible for those who may experience motion sickness. The island is small and features many rocks, making it ideal for beachcombing at low tide.
After years of development, Delta Island has quite decent infrastructure. There is only one guesthouse on the island (the entire island is privately owned), and while the conditions are okay, the cost-effectiveness is not high. There is no cable power, only generator electricity, which may be unstable.
Currently, there are many activities available on the island such as jet skiing, snorkeling, banana boating, parasailing, cliff swinging, and horseback riding. Although the island is small, the scenery is truly remarkable.
📍Three Door Island
Advantages: Great ecological environment, strong exploratory potential
Disadvantages: Poor accommodation
Transportation: 20-minute speedboat from Dongchong Pier in Shenzhen
Though Three Door Island belongs to Huizhou, it is closer to the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula, so the best way to reach it is to take a speedboat from Dongchong Pier in Shenzhen. The island is well-preserved in terms of natural ecology, featuring dense forests, colorful volcanic rocks, and clear seas, showcasing one of the most primitive and unspoiled landscapes in Huizhou. However, accommodation options are quite basic, with only aging inns available.
Additionally, it offers calm waters without strong currents, making it ideal for snorkeling, likely the closest quality snorkeling area to Shenzhen. If you want to learn to snorkel on Three Door Island, you can find half-day snorkeling experiences on travel apps that include round-trip boat tickets, equipment, and lessons at a reasonable price.
Three Door Island was previously a significant military base, preserving the most comprehensive air defense facilities, making the exploration of the air defense tunnels a fascinating experience.
📍Daliaojia Island
Advantages: Good ecological environment, high exploratory potential, less crowded
Disadvantages: Overnight camping only
Transportation: Charter a boat to the island; the easiest way is to join a one-day tour group
Similar to Three Door Island, Daliaojia Island was also a military base, appealing to backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts. The sands here are entirely natural, with three freshwater beach camps available (not recommended for inexperienced campers to overnight here).
On the island, you can see remnants of former barracks, with a hiking trail winding along the hillside leading to the summit of Daliaojia Island. The waters here are also clear, and many groups visit for snorkeling.
📍Dongsheng Island
Advantages: Vibrant local life, fishing experiences
Disadvantages: Somewhat lacking in natural scenery, focused more on culture
Transportation: Take a speedboat to Dongsheng Island from Aotou Pier
Also known as Dongsheng Fishing Village, Dongsheng Island sits east of Aotou Port, facing Shenzhen across the water. Unlike the previous remote islands, this one is lively and bustling with life. As one of the “30 Most Beautiful Nostalgia Tourism Villages in China,” Dongsheng Island remains quite low-key.
On Dongsheng Island, you can experience authentic fishing village life, such as going out to sea to fish and cooking seafood delicacies together. The island retains the characteristics of Minnan fishing families, with homes situated near the coastline, leading to many accommodations with excellent views. Some inns even provide free boat transfers to the island!
While there are many eateries on Dongsheng Island, many visitors have reported that they can be quite expensive.
Aside from the islands mentioned above, there are nearly two hundred smaller islands in Daya Bay, including Xiaojia Island, Chizhou Island, and Nanwan Island, but there are usually no fixed transport schedules to these islands, making group booking or chartering boats the norm. If time allows, you can bring a tent to camp, stargaze, have bonfires, and set off fireworks on the island. If you’re short on time, you can enjoy half a day on the island and return in the afternoon.
Huizhou is truly a city filled with a sense of happiness. It boasts one of the most beautiful coastlines in Guangdong, hot springs known as “Lingnan’s First Soup,” and an abundance of delicious food that could fill eight meals in a day. This early summer, let’s go to Huizhou and see the sea!
