Beihai 2-Hour Circle|These 6 “Chill” Towns Are the Ultimate Escape Spots!
Girls, stop crowding Silver Beach! There are so many “hidden gems” around Beihai, just a 2-hour drive away. No tourist hordes, only pristine fishing villages, ancient ports, and delicious food. Keep this “chill” guide handy and spend a few days as an “islander” this weekend!
1. Qiaogang Town: The “Food Paradise” of Vietnamese Returnees
📍Location: Qiaogang Town, Yinhai District, Beihai City
🚗 Transportation: About 20 minutes from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Qiaogang Cultural Street, rice rolls, sweet soups, tide pooling
This is a settlement of Vietnamese returnees, full of rich Southeast Asian vibes. Qiaogang Cultural Street is a must-visit, offering a dazzling array of Vietnamese snacks like rice rolls, fried ice, and sweet soups that you won’t want to stop eating. In the morning, watch fishing boats return at the pier and soak in the lively fishing port atmosphere; in the evening, enjoy seafood by the seaside while watching the sunset and feeling the sea breeze—this is the real vacation life.
📸 Photo Spots:
• Qiaogang Beach: Capture sunset silhouettes with a great ambiance.
• Cultural Street Night Scene: Lanterns light up at night, perfect for Southeast Asian vibes.
• Pier Fishing Boats: Photograph fishermen at work, capturing local life.
🍜 Must-Try: Vietnamese rice rolls, fried ice, sweet soups, seafood stalls.
2. Liuxia Village: The “Japanese-Style Fresh” Internet Celebrity Village
📍Location: Liuxia Village, Haicheng District, Beihai City
🚗 Transportation: About 30 minutes from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Japanese-style streets, Instagrammable spots, artsy shops
Liuxia Village is a coastal ancient village with over 300 years of history, recently popular online for its Japanese-style fresh aesthetic. The village streets are clean and tidy, lined with low houses and greenery, perfect for photos. There are many artsy shops and cafes where you can sit down for a coffee, read a book, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
📸 Photo Spots:
• Big Banyan Tree at Village Entrance: Capture the peaceful countryside vibe.
• Artsy Shop Entrances: Show off the Japanese-style fresh look.
• Seaside Path: Highlight the coastal fishing village charm.
🍜 Must-Try: Local farmhouse dishes, seafood.
3. Shankou Town: The “Secret Realm” of Mangroves and Ancient Architecture
📍Location: Shankou Town, Hepu County
🚗 Transportation: About 1.5 hours from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Mangroves, Dashi Pavilion, ancient village
Shankou Town lies at the border of Guangxi and Guangdong, featuring vast mangroves and ancient buildings. Dashi Pavilion is a Ming Dynasty structure made entirely of precious ironwood components, without a single nail or iron piece, yet it has withstood storms and earthquakes, a true architectural marvel. Standing beneath the pavilion, touching the wood weathered by sea winds, and listening to locals tell stories of the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty’s Yong’an Ancient City offers a unique travel experience.
📸 Photo Spots:
• Dashi Pavilion: Capture the weathered charm of ancient architecture.
• Mangroves: Photograph ecological scenery.
• Ancient Village: Capture rural life.
🍜 Must-Try: Farmhouse dishes, seafood.
4. Dangjiang Town: The “Sandbar Prairie” of Lianzhou Bay
📍Location: Dangjiang Town, Hepu County
🚗 Transportation: About 40 minutes from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Sandbar prairie, sheep herds, mangroves
Dangjiang Town is located in Lianzhou Bay, home to a sandbar prairie known as “Little Altay.” The sandbar features vast flat grasslands once used by local herders to graze sheep, creating a poetic scene reminiscent of northern Xinjiang. The mangrove wetlands on both sides contrast sharply with the grasslands, and at low tide, you can observe fiddler crabs and other creatures up close.
📸 Photo Spots:
• Sandbar Prairie: Photograph sheep and grasslands for a poetic feel.
• Mangroves: Capture ecological scenery.
• Seaside: Photograph sea views.
🍜 Must-Try: Seafood, farmhouse dishes.
5. Quzhang Township: The “Little Erhai” of Liuhu Reservoir
📍Location: Quzhang Township, Hepu County
🚗 Transportation: About 2 hours from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Liuhu Reservoir, lakeside road, Hakka earthen walled village
Quzhang Township centers around Liuhu Reservoir, with a lakeside road stretching for kilometers, known as the “Little Erhai of Guangxi.” The reservoir is long and narrow like Erhai Lake, with clear water. The lakeside road winds along mountains and water, with views of green hills, rice fields, and windmills, perfect for a self-driving tour. Nearby are historical sites like Lingyin Temple and Chen Mingshu’s former residence, as well as traditional Hakka earthen walled villages, ideal for in-depth exploration.
📸 Photo Spots:
• Lakeside Road: Capture lake and mountain scenery.
• Hakka Earthen Walled Village: Photograph ancient architecture.
• Reservoir Dam: Capture panoramic views.
🍜 Must-Try: Hakka cuisine, reservoir fish.
6. Fucheng Town: “Stream Trekking and Camping” at Shuiliubeng
📍Location: Fucheng Town, Yinhai District
🚗 Transportation: About 40 minutes from downtown Beihai
💡Chill Keywords: Shuiliubeng stream, stream trekking, camping
Shuiliubeng in Fucheng Town is a pristine stream camping and summer retreat spot. The stream is crystal clear and shallow, generally only ankle-deep, perfect for family stream trekking, picnics, and camping. The stream is shaded by dense trees, cool and pleasant in summer, with shallow pools upstream for floating and playing in the water. Near the airport, planes often fly low over the stream, offering unique photo opportunities of “planes flying through the forest.”
📸 Photo Spots:
• Stream: Capture stream trekking and water play.
• Forest: Photograph light and shadow.
• Plane Flying Through Forest: Capture unique shots.
🍜 Must-Try: Farmhouse dishes, barbecue.
💡Chill Tips (General)
• What to wear: Comfortable flat shoes (lots of walking by the sea), bring a light jacket (cool mornings and evenings by the sea).
• Must-eat: Seafood, Vietnamese snacks, farmhouse dishes.
• Accommodation: Recommended to stay in homestays in Qiaogang Town or Liuxia Village, very quiet at night with the sound of the sea.
• Mosquito protection: Many mosquitoes by the sea, always carry mosquito repellent!
Stop squeezing into crowded attractions; spending a few days “chilling” in these small towns is the best way to experience Beihai!