Strolling Along the Coast of Xiapu, Encountering the Most Beautiful Mudflat Moments

I have visited countless bays, but only Sandu Ao’s beauty needs no elaboration; everywhere you look is a scenic view. It encompasses true sunshine, azure sea, and islands with reefs, boasting a pleasant climate and clear waters—a rare pristine place.

Arriving at Sandu Ao feels like stepping into a fairy tale world. Ancient and magical legends, along with whimsical rocks scattered across the islands, captivate my eyes at every turn. Its unique landscapes and elegant charm are renowned far and wide, earning Sandu Ao the nickname “Pearl of the Sea.” Within the bay, there are numerous reefs and rocky shores of various shapes, with fantastic peaks and strange rocks, creating beautiful scenery that attracts many visitors every year.

Sandu Ao is also the hometown of the precious large yellow croaker. Every late spring and early summer, schools of large yellow croaker migrate here to spawn, making it a well-known fishing ground in eastern Fujian. The undulating waves and interconnected fishing rafts stretch for dozens of kilometers, forming a unique “floating city on the sea.” Visitors can enjoy watching the sea, observing fish, fishing, and tasting seafood here—a joyful and intoxicating experience.

Sandu Ao has nineteen islands, among which Doudou Island is one of the most unique and representative in terms of landscape resources. It gathers the beauty of Sandu Ao and has long been a tourist destination in eastern Fujian. Guo Moruo once wrote a poem here: “Sandu’s fine harbor is unmatched in the world, deep waters and wide bay like a celestial lake.”

“The morning sun opens over the river, the evening glow rises from the sea.” The beauty of Dajing Beach in Xiapu lies in its elegance. Stretching over 3,000 meters in length and more than 200 meters in width, it is wide, gentle, and as clean as washed, earning it the reputation of “Fujian’s Hawaii” and “Northern Fujian’s Beidaihe.” Walking on the beach, listening to the crashing waves, watching seagulls soar and sailboats dot the horizon, and seeing blue waves churn—everything charms you. The most enchanting part of Dajing Beach is the sand dune called “Shalonggang” by locals. The entire beach is flat, with sand as pure and smooth as jade; it makes no sound when touched and leaves no trace when stepped on. Walking barefoot on the beach is an indescribably wonderful feeling, one that you can only understand by taking off your shoes and experiencing it yourself.

As evening arrives, everything becomes even more enchanting. Accompanied by the salty sea breeze and the continuous sound of waves, strolling on the vast beach, with lush vegetation and steep cliffs on both sides, I feel carefree, and before my eyes lies this captivating blue that haunts my dreams. Climbing high to look out at the sea, the picturesque sunset glow interplays with the sea surface and mudflats, ever-changing and unpredictable, as if stepping into a fairyland.

Dongbi is a small fishing village facing the sea in Sansha Town, Xiapu. It has a history of nearly 600 years and is a famous production area for laver (seaweed). About several decades ago, the Dongbi village began artificially cultivating Porphyra haitanensis, which has now developed into large-scale farming with a particularly large output, so it is sold throughout Fujian and even other provinces.

There are no modern high-rise buildings here, no hurried passersby. The winding coastal road is highly characteristic, original, and natural, with only simple small villages and leisurely villagers. In the distance lies the boundless sea.

The mudflats here are hailed as the most beautiful in China—blue sea, silver beach, and fishermen singing in the evening. On the mudflats, rows of square net frames made of tens of thousands of bamboo poles stretch from near to far, spanning dozens of miles, forming a picturesque scene crowded with photography enthusiasts. Under the setting sun, a golden beam of light penetrates through the blue seawater, moving fishing boats, and clouds, illuminating the bamboo frames used for cultivating laver on the sea surface, making them glitter gold. Such a poetic and picturesque exquisite scenery is unique to Dongbi Village in Xiapu.

During high tide, busy boats shuttle among the buoy poles and shadows, blending harmoniously with the sparkling sea, distant mountains, and islands—a magnificent sight. During low tide, the texture of the mudflat gradually reveals its elegance, and hardworking fishermen move about on the beach, adding a rhythmic and dynamic beauty to the scene.

Over the long years, through countless ebbs and flows, Dongbi has formed its unique landscape. Every year, it attracts over a hundred thousand photography enthusiasts from around the world to Xiapu for creative photography. Because there, you can not only capture the spectacular sunset but also scenes of fishermen fishing and mending nets, and even lines as graceful as a galaxy falling from the sky. Who wouldn’t be tempted?