Xiapu Family Beach Road Trip
Some say: Travel is leaving the place you're tired of to go to the place others are tired of. I've always wanted to take my kid on a little trip, but on regular weekends there are several extracurricular classes in a row, leaving no time for a long journey or family time. Taking advantage of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, and also to let the kid relax before exams, we hastily decided to go to Xiapu.
I'd wanted to visit Xiapu for a long time, having been tempted by online travelogues and stunning photos from many veterans. It's very different from the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region—after seeing so many small bridges, flowing water, and ancient towns, we wanted to experience a different culture and landscape.
We originally planned to take the train, but the timing didn't work out. So we chose to drive, enjoying the feeling of being on the road (I personally love that road-movie vibe).
To have more time to play, right after work on June 21, we drove straight to Xiapu. We arrived at Xiapu after 10 p.m. We booked a homestay near the county town on Ctrip, so it was convenient for eating and shopping. After checking in, the room was very clean and offered great value for money. Since it was late, we washed up and went straight to bed.
Before leaving, I searched online for various guides, wanting to visit as many places as possible. But in reality, a rushed itinerary doesn't suit a family trip; we needed to be more relaxed. Also, the kid wasn't very interested in many scenic spots; playing on the beach was more suitable.
On the morning of the 22nd, it kept raining on and off. We decided to first go to the Yangjiaxi Rongfeng Park to see the ancient banyan tree grove and check in at a popular photo spot. In summary: don't expect too much—go if you have time, but you won't regret skipping it. The ancient banyan trees are quite beautiful for photos. But don't be fooled by online pictures; there's a gap between reality and art.
Rongfeng Park is small, mainly for seeing the ancient banyan trees—tourists pay for photos (the price isn't cheap, so I won't mention it here). Also, there's a group of geese actors, allowing kids to experience the joy of herding geese in the countryside. Since it was drizzling, we didn't rush to the next spot; we just sat in the park pavilion, ate some snacks, chatted, and rested.
By lunchtime, the rain finally stopped temporarily, and the kid clamored to go to the beach, so we went to the nearest Xiaohao Beach. When we arrived, we first found a place to eat nearby. We weren't too particular about food while traveling, so we randomly picked a roadside shop. As luck would have it, the food at this small shop was delicious, especially the stir-fried crushed snails—it was our first time trying them, and they were amazing. The portions were large, so I recommend fellow travelers order moderately when visiting Xiapu (the next few days at other places, the portions were also generally large, comparable to the north; thumbs up for that).
After lunch, we went to the beach just as the tide was going out, revealing the gravel. The kids enjoyed the thrill of beachcombing—they kept turning over stones, finding small crabs, hermit crabs (my first time seeing them), and small fish, having a great time.
In the afternoon, the rain suddenly intensified, so we had to return to the hotel early to rest and also check where to eat dinner. We found a popular seafood restaurant online (I won't name it to avoid complaints). Combined with our dining experience over the next few days, I concluded: don't choose restaurants based on scores on certain apps, as those are for tourists. Instead, go to areas with many restaurants and pick ones where locals gather. That roadside shop at lunch tasted better than the trendy restaurants.
A small story: When buying breakfast in the morning, we passed a fruit shop near the hotel and bought some lychees, bayberries, and grapes. They were cheap and tasted excellent. In the following days, we also found dining and lodging in Xiapu to be very affordable with great taste—a definite shout-out.
The next day was overcast but rainless. We headed straight to Dajing Beach early in the morning. Dajing Beach is semicircular, wide with a gentle slope, making it very suitable for kids. I have to say Dajing Beach is really nice—the sand is clean, and since it had just been renovated, everything was quite new. There were some supporting facilities for dining, shopping, and beach activities, but not many—I believe they will improve soon. Online it said the entrance fee is thirty yuan, but it was free when we went.
To keep the itinerary simple and easy, we decided to only go to Xiawei Island and Lüxia Lighthouse in the afternoon.
Xiawei Island is not actually an island but a long, narrow mini-peninsula jutting into the sea. It's popular among tourists and photography enthusiasts for its fascinating rock formations and sea-eroded caves. This should be the hottest spot in Xiapu, where you can take very stylish photos (except for me).
Lüxia Lighthouse, known as the 'Little Kenting' of Xiapu, is a must-visit on the southern route. Drive all the way to the lighthouse—it feels like the edge of the world. The road near the lighthouse is bumpy, so cars with low ground clearance should drive slowly. One thing to note: along the way, you can see several wind turbines. Previously, I'd only seen them from afar on mountains or at sea, so they didn't feel impressive. But now, with the wind turbines right by the roadside, you have to look up to see the full height. The visual impact of these giant mechanical structures is strong and awe-inspiring.
With only the last day of the holiday left, we went to Gaoluo Beach to fully satisfy the kid's desire to play in the water. Commercialization around Gaoluo Beach was noticeably better than at Dajing, and it would be perfect if order could be better managed. The beach was crowded, with vendors loudly peddling their wares, giving a lively atmosphere. The only downside was the many tricycles and electric scooters driving around on the beach, which wasn't a great experience. Objectively speaking, compared to Gaoluo Beach, I personally prefer the environment and sand quality of Dajing Beach.
Since we had to head back in the afternoon, we made a point to go to Sansha Town for lunch to enjoy our last meal in Xiapu. We ordered local specialties—simply delicious.
During this trip to Xiapu, it was cloudy and rainy throughout. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see either the sunrise or sunset. But the spontaneous travel arrangement made me feel more comfortable. Xiapu is indeed worth a visit.
