With an 18,000-km coastline, China has plenty of stunning beaches where you can relax and rejuvenate. In this blog, we will cover the best beaches in China. If you plan to travel to China's beaches, invest in comprehensive travel insurance.
Best Beaches of China
The beautiful beaches in China are famous for their crystal clear water, coastal scenery, white sand, natural features, etc. Some of these beaches are even historically significant. Let's explore a few of them in some detail.
1. Wuzhizhou Island
Located in Haitang Bay, Sanya, Wuzhizhou Island is often referred to as the "Maldives of China". This beautiful island offers stunning scenery, including lush plant life and a vibrant underwater world. Visitors can dive into the crystal-clear waters to explore the colourful reefs, but it's best to arrive early as diving spots fill up quickly. The island also features two historical sites, the Matsu Temple and the Guanri Cliff, which are must-see attractions. The northern and western shores of the island boast flat, sandy beaches with crystal-clear water, making them ideal for scuba diving with visibility up to 90 feet. If you stay at the Wuzhizhou Island Resort Sanya, you'll enjoy exclusive access to the beach before and after the tourists have left.
2. Tianya Haijiao
Also located in Sanya on Hainan Island, Tianya Haijiao is one of the most romantic and picturesque beaches in China, often referred to as "Heaven's Edge Sea's Corner". This spot is famous for being the southernmost tip of China and holds special significance in Chinese culture, symbolising eternal love as couples vow to stay together "to Tianya Haijiao". Inspired by an old legend, the beach is lined with large, uniquely shaped stones that add to its mysterious charm. Though beautiful, the area tends to be crowded year-round. The beach is part of a park that stretches along the shore, offering scenic views. With an average temperature of 25°C (78°F) year-round, it’s a perfect destination for a tropical getaway. For a more private experience, the Narada Resort & Spa Sanya offers a secluded beach area for guests to enjoy, away from the crowds.
3. Yalong Bay
Yalong Bay, often called "Oriental Hawaii", is considered the best beach in China. With its clear blue waters and soft white sand, it's a paradise for beach lovers. It's recommended to enjoy the private beach offered by your hotel, as the public beach tends to be crowded. Many top international hotel chains have set up luxurious resorts in Yalong Bay.
To reach Yalong Bay, you can fly from Beijing in about five hours, followed by a 40-minute taxi ride. If coming from Guangzhou, it takes around one hour and forty minutes by flight, plus the same taxi time.
Yalong Bay boasts a 7-kilometre (4-mile) crescent-shaped beach, a world-class golf course, and rolling green hills that provide a cool escape from the sun. The area is filled with domestic and international hotels, making it an ideal winter getaway with an average January temperature of 23°C (73°F). For a luxurious stay, Horizon Resort Spa offers a 9-kilometre-long private beach and is conveniently located near Yalong Bay Center Square and Yalong Bay International Golf Club.
4. Beihai Silver Beach
Silver Beach gets its name from its stunning quartz sands that sparkle like silver when they catch the sunlight. This makes it feel like a beach made of shimmering silver. Silver Beach in Beihai is known as a paradise for swimmers and offers a wide range of fun activities. The sand is fine and pure, and the beach stretches long and flat, making it an ideal relaxing spot. The clean seawater has an average temperature of 23.7°C, making it perfect for swimming and other sea sports. The air here is exceptionally clean. Some people even visit the beach for medical treatments, earning it the nickname "Beidaihe River in the South".
The holiday resort at Silver Beach includes three main areas: Silver Beach Park, Seashore Park, and the Hengli Seashore Holiday Resort Center, which has villas and hotels. Visitors can also enjoy beach volleyball, football, go-karting, water bungee, and sailing. You can sunbathe on the beach and explore the underwater world by diving to see beautiful corals.
5. Beidaihe Scenic Area
Beidaihe Scenic Area is famously termed "the Government's Summer Palace". Beidaihe stretches 13 kilometres along Bohai Bay, with sandy beaches extending 100 metres into the sea. It is famous as a bird-watching retreat. Hence, it has earned the nickname "the Mecca of bird watching". The marine climate keeps Beidaihe cool in summer and warm in winter. Visitors can enjoy the golden sand and sunshine along the scenic coastline.
Just an hour's drive from Beidaihe, you'll find the Laolongtou Great Wall Section. Here the eastern end of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea. This section is part of the Shanhai Pass defence system, which spans mountains, seas, plains, and towns.
To reach the Beidaihe Scenic Area from Beijing, it takes about three hours by bullet train or car. For a place to stay, Beidaihe Building 36 Haijing Hotel offers the best views, with the beach right at its doorstep.
6. Putuoshan Island
Putuoshan Island is renowned for its rich, religious culture, and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in China. Often called "the purest land in the world", Putuoshan offers a peaceful retreat where you can walk along the shore and listen to the calming sound of the sea. The island's most famous beaches are Hundred Step Beach and Thousand Step Beach.
Putuoshan Island is located about 150 kilometres southeast of Shanghai, in the west of Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province. The island is also home to Putuo Mountain, one of Buddhism's Four Sacred Mountains.
For a luxurious stay, you can put up at the Landison Hotel Zhoushan, a five-star hotel near Thousand Step Beach and Fayu Temple.
7. The Bathing Beaches
Qingdao is a beautiful coastal city known for its captivating old town with scarlet-capped roofs nestled among green hills. The city is famous for its Tsingtao beer, spicy clams, and sandy beaches. The most renowned of these is Number 1 Bathing Beach. It is a stunning 580-metre stretch of golden sand along Huiquan Bay. If you walk east along the coastal paths from Number 1, you will reach Number 2 Bathing Beach. This beach is a peaceful cove with charming pastel-painted changing rooms. Further along, you will find Number 3 Bathing Beach. This beach is bordered by towering skyscrapers and features water sports clubs and cafes on its western edge.
8. Dameisha Beach
One of the best beaches in Shenzhen, Dameisha Beach is located in Mirs Bay in Shenzhen's Yantian District. It is the longest beach in the city, stretching 1,800 metres. Dameisha Beach Park was developed to cater to various visitor needs. It offers activities such as swimming, motorboat rides, sunbathing, hosts barbecue parties, etc.
In the centre of the park, Sun Square serves as a relaxing area, featuring three shade sails made from tensile membranes across its 13 hectares. To the west, Moon Square, a smaller area, offers numerous restaurants and shops where visitors can enjoy local specialities. The "Sunlight Corridor" connects the two squares, providing a resting spot with azaleas overhead and long stone benches. On the eastern side of Sun Square stands the Wishing Tower, where it's believed that wishes made at the top will come true.
9. Gulangyu Beach
Gulangyu Island is a place of relaxation and music, known for its tranquil atmosphere and the 600 pianos scattered across the island.
Located off the southeast coast of Siming District in Xiamen, Fujian Province, Gulangyu Island is celebrated as "Piano Island" due to its strong musical heritage. Gulangyu Beach invites visitors to slow down and enjoy life's simple pleasures. You can stroll along the sandy shores and soak in the beach’s peaceful surroundings. You can also explore the island's historic sites.
The island features natural beaches with soft sand and gentle waves. For a comfortable stay, the Gulang Villa Hotel is conveniently located near the pier, offering easy access to the beach and a pleasant environment for tourists.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed in fair detail the best beaches in China. We have discussed what these beaches are famous for and what you can enjoy. If you are planning to visit China, make sure to invest in travel insurance.