South Guangxi coast
Beihai & Weizhou Island 北海涠洲岛
China's youngest volcanic island and a beach break without the crowds.
- Region
- South Guangxi coast
- How long
- 2 to 3 days (1 on the island minimum)
- Best time
- October to April (dry, comfortable)
- Climate
- Coastal subtropical, 18-32°C; the dry, comfortable window is October to April
What is there to see in Beihai & Weizhou Island?
- -Weizhou Island volcanic cliffs
- -Silver Beach
- -Beihai Old Street arcades
- -Crocodile Hill crater
- -Fresh seafood at the market
What it was like on the ground
The ferry to Weizhou Island pitched in the swell, and half the boat turned green, but stepping off into the banana groves was worth it. We rented a scooter for CNY 80 and spent the day circling the island: black cliffs at Crocodile Hill, the coral-stone church where a caretaker told us the French built it for the fishermen, and a sunset at Shiluokou with the whole beach almost to ourselves. Dinner was the win: a bag of shrimp and clams from the market, handed to our guesthouse kitchen, on the table for a fraction of restaurant prices.
How do you get to Beihai & Weizhou Island?
Beihai is on the south coast, reached by rail or air; Weizhou Island is a 40-70 minute ferry offshore.
By train: High-speed rail from Nanning (1.5h, CNY 60-100) and Guilin (4h, CNY 180).
By air: Beihai Fucheng Airport (BHY) has flights from major cities; the ferry to Weizhou runs about CNY 150 each way.
What should you eat in Beihai & Weizhou Island?
Weizhou seafood (涠洲海鲜) CNY 50-100/person
Buy shrimp, clams and grouper at the morning market and pay your guesthouse to cook it. The freshest and cheapest meal in Guangxi.
Shrimp paste (虾酱) CNY 15-30
A pungent Beihai condiment used in stir-fries. An acquired taste, but it is the taste of the coast.
A sample day in Beihai & Weizhou Island
Day 1
- Morning: ferry to Weizhou Island
- Afternoon: rent a scooter and circle to Crocodile Hill
- Evening: seafood from the market, cooked by your guesthouse
Where should you stay in Beihai & Weizhou Island?
Silver Beach hotels (CNY 200-500) — Beachfront stays near the main strand, easy for an early ferry departure.
Weizhou Island guesthouses (CNY 150-400) — Family-run inns among banana groves; most will cook your market seafood.
Is Beihai & Weizhou Island right for you?
Worth it for
Beach travelers, families, anyone who needs a break from karst and stairs
Skip it if
Travelers seeking big-city nightlife; Beihai is a beach town, not a metropolis
Know before you go
Ferry seasickness
The Beihai-Weizhou ferry is rough in wind. Book the faster boat and take motion-sickness medicine if you are prone.
Island prices run high
Restaurants near the ferry pier charge tourist rates. Eat where locals eat, or use the guesthouse kitchen.
Beihai & Weizhou Island FAQ
2 to 3 days (1 on the island minimum). Best suited to: Beach travelers, families, anyone who needs a break from karst and stairs.
October to April (dry, comfortable). Coastal subtropical, 18-32°C; the dry, comfortable window is October to April.
High-speed rail from Nanning (1.5h, CNY 60-100) and Guilin (4h, CNY 180).
Weizhou seafood (涠洲海鲜) — CNY 50-100/person; Shrimp paste (虾酱) — CNY 15-30.
Silver Beach hotels: CNY 200-500; Weizhou Island guesthouses: CNY 150-400.
Other places in Guangxi
- Guilin 桂林 The karst landscape that put China on the postcard
- Yangshuo 阳朔 Karst peaks, bamboo rafts and the slowest pace in China
- Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田 Zhuang and Yao villages carved into the steepest terraces on earth
- Chongzuo & Detian Waterfall 崇左德天瀑布 Asia's largest transnational waterfall on the Vietnam border
- Liuzhou 柳州 The birthplace of luosifen, the noodle soup that took over the world
- Huangyao Ancient Town 黄姚古镇 A 1,000-year-old town of stone lanes and karst, still lived in
- Bama & Hechi 巴马河池 The 'longevity village' and Guangxi's karst secret world
Planning the whole region? See all Guangxi destinations, the ready-made itineraries, the food guide and the best time to visit.