Haunting Dreams of Mountains and Seas: Ningde, the Oldest County in Eastern Fujian, Home to China's Largest Tidal Flat and Most Beautiful Sunrise

Long ago, I had heard of Xiapu's fame. As an international tidal flat photography destination, it attracts countless photography enthusiasts every year, with different scenery in each season. Xiapu boasts the most beautiful coastline and the largest tidal flat area in China, where you can watch the tides ebb and flow, sunrise over the sea, and fishing villages.

Main attractions in Xiapu include: Beiqi Tidal Flat, Dajing Beach, Huazhu Village, Yangjiaxi, Xiao Hao Village, Dajing Castle, Dongbi, Bachi Men, etc.

Besides photography, you can also find a beach for vacation in Xiapu. Compared to tidal flat photography, Dajing Beach is much more low-key. Dajing Beach is known as the 'Fujian Hawaii' or 'Northern Fujian Beidaihe'. The beach is 3,000 meters long and over 200 meters wide. It is not yet fully developed and is open to the public free of charge. Although the seawater at Dajing Beach is not the clearest, the sand is the finest and softest, silent to the touch and leaving no trace when walked on. Walking on the beach washed by the sea is extremely comfortable.

With the sound of waves, taking a stroll on the beach, taking photos, and picking up seashells are all great choices. There are boats on the shore to take you to the islands ahead. I think this is a great place to visit in summer, where you can chase and play in the water, ride jet skis, or lie on the beach enjoying the sunshine and sea breeze.

The waves crash layer by layer along the coastline and then recede. For a better experience, you can also take a speedboat around the island at your own expense, enjoy the thrill of speeding over the sea, or charter a boat to go fishing and eat seafood.

According to local fishermen, the seawater is relatively turbid around the 15th of each month due to spring tides. If you want to see clear water, avoid this time! Besides the beautiful sea views and soft sand, there is also a 600-year-old Dajing Castle nearby to visit. It is the longest rural ancient castle in China today, well-preserved.

If you have time to watch a sunrise here, Huazhu Village and Beiqi Tidal Flat are also good choices for sunrise viewing!

Beiqi Tidal Flat is a famous sunrise photography spot in Xiapu. It is China's largest tidal flat, only 5 kilometers from the city center. It attracts a large number of photography enthusiasts every year. The most famous tiger-skin patterned tidal flat markings are vast, along with countless poles, human figures, and boat shadows on the sea. At high tide, busy boats shuttle between the buoys and poles, and fishermen work on the textured tiger-skin flats.

There is a small hillside along the road, which is the best place to watch the sunrise. Climbing up, you can see the entire sea. On a clear day, photography enthusiasts gather there early, some even arrive as early as 3:30 to reserve a spot!

Huazhu is a sunrise landmark in Xiapu, an excellent place to photograph sunrise over the sea, about 32 kilometers from Xiapu county town. Huazhu Village has a commanding view, where the sky and sea merge with an endless depth.

Two specially built viewing platforms allow you to capture scenes of Fuyao Islands, strange rocks on the sea cliffs, and seaweed. In the foreground are floating poles and bamboo rods, in the middle ground are fish raft huts, and in the background are islands and sailboats—the whole scene is orderly. To photograph the sunrise, you must arrive at the photography spot before dawn. Bring lighting tools, and be careful as the area has steep cliffs and narrow winding paths—safety first!

Tips: 1. The weather in Xiapu is sometimes not ideal. It's best to check the weather before going. 2. Accommodation: Hotels in Xiapu county town, budget hotels around 150 RMB are good value. There are also many nearby B&Bs, with relatively higher prices but good locations for enjoying the scenery anytime. 3. Dining: There are many food stalls in Xiapu county town, about 70 RMB per person for dinner, and various breakfast shops with local specialties for about 7 RMB per person. Xiapu's street food is cheap and tasty. PS: Xiapu's seafood is very famous, caught and eaten on the same day. The freshness of seafood is the highlight, making it a top choice for foodies.