Qinzhou

See Chinese white dolphins at Sanniang Bay, cruise the Qishierjing islets and visit the former homes of Liu Yongfu and Feng Zicai, with Nixing pottery and oyster feasts as local highlights.

Qinzhou lies in southern Guangxi on the northern shore of the Beibu Gulf, with Beihai to the east, Fangchenggang to the west and Nanning about 120 km to the north. The Nanning–Qinzhou and Qinzhou–Beihai high-speed railways put Nanning, Beihai and Fangchenggang within 30 minutes to an hour. Qinzhou offers both sea and city: the downtown stretches along the Qin River, where the Sanxuan Hall residence of Liu Yongfu and the former home of Feng Zicai recall the late-Qing resistance against France, while the arcaded old street of Zhongshan Road and the Nixing Pottery Art Museum showcase the craft of this "pottery capital of Lingnan". About 40 km south, Xiniujiao Town has Sanniang Bay and Malan Island, where heading out by boat to spot Chinese white dolphins is the signature experience. To the southwest, where Maowei Sea meets Qinzhou Bay, lie the Qishierjing islets, the fishing village of Longmen Port and extensive mangroves; take a boat among the islands and eat oysters on the fish rafts. In Qinbei District to the north, Bazhaigou offers forest waterfalls for a cool summer escape, and Lingshan County, about 90 km northeast, has the Ming–Qing mansions of Dalu Village and Liufeng Mountain. The climate is south-subtropical maritime monsoon: dolphins can be seen March–November, June–August is hot with frequent typhoons, and winters are mild. Qinzhou is China's "home of big oysters"; oysters, peanut worms, mud crabs, pig's trotter rice noodles and pickled cucumber skin are all worth trying. Allow 2–3 days, easily combined with Beihai and Fangchenggang.

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