An Old City in Fujian Praised as China's Most Beautiful Place, with Mountains, Sea, and Cuisine, Yet Far Less Famous than Xiamen

Fujian has many popular travel destinations, such as Xiamen, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, etc., attracting countless visitors with their attractions and food. Yet there is also a low-key city with almost no travel guides, hiding fairy-tale ancient villages and picturesque islands, where hundreds of traditional snacks lurk in the streets and alleys, and where fresh fruits can be enjoyed all year round. This city is Ningde, located in eastern Fujian. Despite being repeatedly listed by National Geographic as "China's Most Beautiful Place," it remains unassuming and quietly beautiful.

You may never have heard the name Ningde in Fujian, but you must have been struck by the colorful photos of Xiapu at sunset. At first glance, Xiapu's photos seem filtered, but only when you truly visit do you realize that Ningde has such a dreamlike coastline. From the rising sun to the setting sun, the day's light creates ever-changing scenery in Xiapu, a poetic landscape that has made it a paradise for photographers.

Xiapu is a small county in Ningde, Fujian, located at the border of Fujian and Zhejiang. Its advantageous environment of mountains and sea makes it an excellent winter escape. With a 480-kilometer coastline, the longest in Fujian, Xiapu has always been niche and low-key. In autumn and winter, the blue sea and silver beaches see few tourists, allowing you to immerse yourself in this hidden tidal flat wonderland.

The long coastline has created many natural bays in Xiapu, such as Xiao Hao Beach, Beiqi Tidal Flat, Dongbi, Shajiang, and Weijiang. Xiao Hao Beach is the first stop for photographers, offering the best spot for sunset shots. Beiqi Tidal Flat has vast seaweed farms, full of rhythm during the busy season. Dongbi, nestled between mountains and sea, features a unique scene of fishermen drying nets under the sunset. Shajiang's bamboo pole tidal flat is a stunning sight. Weijiang's Mantou Mountain, intertwined with the sea, creates a moving picture.

The sea is an important part of Ningde, while mountains and hills dominate its terrain. Ningde is home to three famous mountain ranges: Taimu Mountain, Yushan Island, and Baiyan Mountain. Taimu Mountain is best known as the birthplace of Fuding white tea. Baiyan Mountain is famous for the "Baiyan Cave" housing the Great Sage King's ancestral hall. Yushan Island, actually part of Taimu Mountain, is unique for being half grassland and half sea. From a distance, it looks like a solitary island floating on the sea.

To reach this island far from the mainland, you can take a boat. Due to the lack of large-scale commercial development, there are only two or three boats per day. Most visitors choose to camp on Yushan Island, often setting up tents near the Great Heavenly Lake. Sheltered by peaks above, the wind is relatively light and safe. At night, you can enjoy the lake and mountains under the sunset; in the morning, you can watch the grass waves and listen to the sea breeze. On clear days, the sky is filled with stars and the Milky Way stretches like a ribbon.

Located in the northwest of Jiaocheng District, Ningde, Huotong Ancient Town has a history of nearly 4,000 years. Inhabited since the Xia and Shang dynasties, it is also the birthplace of Taoism in southeastern China. The town preserves well-maintained ancient buildings such as the Wenchang Pavilion and Ming-Qing ancient streets, as well as various ancient trees. These are treasures of Huotong Ancient Town, accompanying each other for millennia.

Although Huotong Ancient Town is a famous town in Ningde, it has long remained hidden and unknown, which instead contributes to its tranquility and antique charm. Walking along the streets, various shops in ancient commercial styles are arranged in an orderly manner. Tea houses, scissors workshops, blacksmith shops, etc., reveal its former prosperity. In the sealed old houses, millennium-old crafts are everywhere. Exquisite carvings depict the flavors of eastern Fujian, lifelike and vivid.

Every year on the second day of the second lunar month, Huotong Ancient Town holds an annual lantern festival, which is listed in Fujian's Intangible Cultural Heritage. During the lantern festival, various folk arts and crafts are on display. Intangible cultural heritages such as Huotong string lions and iron branches are highly popular. The string lions, controlled by strings, show different postures, even performing tricks like chasing and finding a ball.