"Is this really Guangxi?! Feels like traveling back to a port city on the Maritime Silk Road a hundred years ago!"
Don’t just know Beihai Silver Beach! Guangxi hides a Han Dynasty Maritime Silk Road starting port
White-walled Nanyang ancient fortress, rivers filled with ancient merchant ships, red lanterns hanging along the river
At dusk, the sunset over Orange Sea, and at night, fishing lights and lanterns cover the water surface, creating an atmosphere that’s simply divine✨
📍Address: Hepu, Beihai, Guangxi · Maritime Silk Road First Port
🎫Tickets: Online group purchase is more cost-effective, including evening live performances, iron flower shows, and water fireworks
⏰Visiting hours: 15:00–21:00, recommended to enter in the afternoon to experience both daytime and night scenes in one visit
Highlights of the entire port city, a thousand-year-old commercial dock time travel
1. Ancient Merchant Ships on the River|Instantly transported to an ancient trading port
From the high viewing platform at the entrance, overlook the entire inland river, dozens of replica ancient wooden ships neatly docked along the river
On both sides, layered Nanyang-style pavilions combined with Han-style towers, white walls paired with blue tiles create a strong exotic feel
Under the clear blue sky, every casual shot looks like a classic ancient port scene, no post-editing needed, naturally cinematic
2. Lantern-lit Ancient Streets by the Water|Divine at night
As dusk falls, all the lanterns along the river light up, thousands of red lanterns hanging down create reflections on the water
The bluestone paths extend along the river, arched bridges span the water, and the lanterns gently sway in the breeze
Wearing Hanfu or modern Chinese-style clothes while walking here feels like being in a bustling market from a thousand years ago on a maritime trade route
3. Mangrove Coastal Boardwalk|Best spot for Orange Sea sunset
The park’s outer side leads directly to the Beibu Gulf coastline, with a wooden boardwalk winding through thousands of acres of mangroves
At dusk, the sunset dyes the sea orange-gold, the sea breeze is gentle, and visitors are few
Perfect for atmospheric seaside portraits, clean and soothing, avoiding the crowds of Silver Beach
4. Hilltop Ancient Fortress Lawn|Guangxi’s hidden "Little Potala Palace"
Layered white-walled fortress buildings, standing on the lawn for wide-angle shots of grandeur
Afternoon soft light hits the walls, the architectural lines are clean and simple, perfect for stunning photos
The lawn is spacious and open, ideal for running, sitting quietly, or shooting full-body portraits from a distance
5. Nighttime Water Live Show + Iron Flower Fireworks
Save the best for night! Live water performances tell the story of the Han Dynasty Maritime Silk Road
Iron flower fireworks pour over the water, combined with water fireworks, lights blend with the shimmering sea
Brilliant and breathtaking, a rare water night scene hard to find elsewhere
6. Maritime Silk Road Culture Museum
Indoors displays Han Dynasty ancient ships, ceramics, and Silk Road artifacts, providing a complete understanding of Hepu’s Maritime Silk Road history
Soft and quiet lighting, perfect for taking cool, artistic cultural photos, combining sightseeing and education
Lazy visitor’s no-detour route
Enter in the afternoon → high viewing platform for panoramic ancient port shots → fortress lawn for photos → mangrove boardwalk for sunset
Evening stroll through lantern-lit ancient streets → museum to learn Maritime Silk Road history → wait for night performances and iron flower fireworks
Leisurely 4–5 hours, relaxed pace without rushing
Photo outfit & best lighting
▫️Best light: 16:30–18:00 for Orange Sea sunset; 19:30 after lights on for lantern night scenes
▫️Recommended outfits: Hanfu, modern Chinese style, light-colored long dresses, vacation-style dresses
White, cream, light blue match perfectly with white-walled ancient buildings and orange sunset
Travel and transportation guide
1. Self-driving preferred: 40 minutes from Beihai city center, free large parking lot at the park
2. Public transport: Take a bus from Beihai Bus Station to Hepu, then a 15-minute taxi to the scenic area
3. Group travel: Carpooling round trip saves time and effort
Local authentic food
✅ Hepu big mooncakes, shrimp cakes, fried squid, seafood porridge
✅ Steamed flower crab, mantis shrimp, sea snails, fresh and affordable coastal seafood
✅ Street desserts like locust flower jelly and mung bean soup, perfect for cooling down after touring
Insider tips to avoid pitfalls
1. Strong sea breeze at dusk, significant day-night temperature difference, bring a light jacket
2. Night performances are popular, arrive 10 minutes early to secure a spot at the waterside viewing platform
3. Many mosquitoes on the boardwalk, bring insect repellent in summer
4. For photos of empty ancient streets, visit on weekday afternoons; weekends get crowded at dusk
5. Do not touch artifacts in the museum; flash photography damages exhibits
6. UV rays are still strong at sunset, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must
No need to travel overseas, you can encounter a thousand-year-old Maritime Silk Road ancient city right in Guangxi
See Nanyang ancient fortress and sea sunset by day, enjoy lantern-lit rivers and iron flower fireworks by night
Sea views, ancient architecture, culture, and night scenes all in one place—definitely a must-visit in Beihai!