2025 Couples' Self-Drive Casual Trip Stop 24: Xiapu

Woke up at 6:20 AM, rainy and windy. One word: cold!

At 9:36, left the hotel for Xiapu, set a homestay as destination, navigation showed 271 km, estimated time 3 hours 15 minutes.

At 10:05, arrived at Hanjiang Toll Gate, about to get on the expressway.

The rain got heavier, but luckily the expressway was wide, with four lanes in one direction, relatively safe.

Few cars on the road, rain came and went.

Clouds floating in the sky with high moisture content, ready to sprinkle down anytime.

The tunnel here had three lanes, very spacious.

That bright semicircle in the tunnel is actually a reflective device; it lights up when our headlights are on, my husband told me. Later, when I saw a good opportunity, I asked him to turn on the headlights and flash them so I could take a photo. Kind of fun.

After passing the Daixi Tunnel, the sky brightened.

At 11:00, arrived at Changle Service Area.

At 11:07 I started driving; now at 12:28 we arrived at Fu'an Service Area. This service area was under renovation, so the original restrooms and service building were demolished, now there are temporary hot water stations and toilets. We refueled here, costing 440 yuan. This is the fourth refueling on this trip.

The destination is still 45.9 km away, about 39 minutes by car.

Surrounded by endless mountains, the water area has also expanded, not sure if it's sea or river, right on the right side of the expressway.

Really dense forests and high mountains, a good place for guerrilla warfare in the old days.

Xiapu, here we come!

Whether it's sunny or rainy, we will stay one night to experience it.

Xiapu County has many high-rise buildings, lining both sides of the road one after another.

There is an island in the sea,

There is a temple on the mountain...

The road has two lanes and is well built.

At 12:58, arrived at Sansha Toll Gate, toll fee 146 yuan.

Soon after the toll gate, we started going uphill, then a sharp turn downhill.

The car kept spiraling up and down along the coast. At 1:46, we arrived at the homestay we originally wanted to book. Went in to ask, the price exceeded my expectation, and along the way I saw some pretty good homestays, so we could ask around.

Later, at a homestay in the middle of Dongbi Village, I checked in. Two nights for 700 yuan, including breakfast. The owner was happy with the price, and I liked the environment.

Handling things in the room, sitting on the tatami for too long was uncomfortable, so I asked the owner for a chair.

At 5:50, went downstairs to find a restaurant for dinner. The homestay owner recommended a seafood restaurant. At 6 o'clock, sitting by the window, watching the miserable wind and rain outside, trees swaying, it felt good to eat something warm indoors. The outdoor temperature felt like 2 degrees Celsius. Luckily I put on my down jacket again, back to winter mode.

We ordered a portion of steamed green crab with sticky rice, a portion of tomato and egg soup, and half a portion of fried small yellow croakers, totaling 350 yuan. But we gave the owner feedback: the crab was not like the one displayed in the tank; it was a very skinny swimming crab. The owner didn't admit it but still deducted 30 yuan...

Back at the homestay, I went to the third-floor balcony to see the night view, took a few photos, and got my clothes wet.

Tomorrow we plan to just walk around nearby, visit that Sansha most beautiful seaside temple, and hope the sky clears up in the afternoon for a brilliant sunset.