Nanwan Bay & Old Street

南湾

The port and daily hub of Weizhou Island, a natural harbor formed in a flooded ancient volcanic crater. It has fishing boats, a seafood market and arcade-style shops on Nanwan Old Street, and it is where you can rent e-bikes and eat seafood.

Nanwan lies in the south of Weizhou Island. It is a natural harbor formed by a flooded ancient volcanic crater, surrounded on three sides by volcanic cliffs such as Crocodile Hill and Zhuzailing. The bay is calm. It is where the island's fishing boats moor and where passenger ferries arrive at Nanwan Pier, and it is the island's commercial and daily-life center. Nanwan Old Street runs along the harbor, lined with low arcaded buildings and volcanic-rock houses, with seafood restaurants, cafés, guesthouses and car rental shops. The Nanwan seafood market is busiest in the morning and afternoon, when fishing boats return to harbor. You can buy seafood and have it cooked at the stalls next door (processing about RMB 10–20 per dish). Common varieties include scallops, oysters, grouper and shiluo snails. At the end of the street, the Nanwan Marine Sports Park offers sailboats, kayaks and paddleboards. At night, the old street has a night market and barbecue stalls, which is all the nightlife the island has. Nanwan Old Street is free to visit. Suggested itinerary: on your first day on the island, rent an e-bike in Nanwan (about RMB 60–100 per day, with a deposit) and use it as a base for circling the island. Return in the evening to watch the fishing boats come in and eat seafood. The viewpoint in the direction of Zhuzailing offers a panoramic view of the harbor, and the classic view of Nanwan is from the summit of Crocodile Hill looking back. Getting there: most ferries dock at Xijiao Pier, about 3 km from Nanwan, with shuttle buses available; some boats dock at Nanwan Pier. Notes: seafood market and restaurant prices are charged by the jin (catty), so always ask the price and check the scale first. When renting an e-bike, check the battery and brakes. Roads at night have no streetlights. The ground in the fishing harbor area is slippery. During typhoon season, entry to the harbor area is prohibited when fishing boats return.

Nanwan Bay & Old Street

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby