Zhanjiang

The southernmost city on mainland China, famed across southern China for oysters and seafood, with the volcanic coast of Naozhou Island, the Huguangyan maar lake and the "Sea of Pineapples".

Zhanjiang is on the Leizhou Peninsula at the southwestern tip of Guangdong. It is the southernmost prefecture-level city on mainland China, surrounded by sea on three sides, and the Port of Zhanjiang is a natural deep-water harbor. From 1899 to 1945 it was the French leased territory of Kouang-Tchéou-Wan (Guangzhouwan), which left behind arcaded qilou streets, a Catholic cathedral and French colonial government buildings. Zhanjiang oysters, white-cut chicken and seafood food stalls are famous throughout southern China.

The area divides into four parts: ① Chikan District — Chikan Old Street, Cunjin Bridge Park, the Zhanjiang Museum and Jinsha Bay, good for exploring on foot and snacking; ② Xiashan District — the former French Legation, Victory Cathedral and the Seaview Promenade, with boats to Techeng Island; ③ Islands and volcanoes — Huguangyan maar lake, and boats to Naozhou Island from Longhaitian Beach on Donghai Island, with Nansan Island on the east side of the bay; ④ The southern route — Leizhou Ancient City (Sanyuan Pagoda, West Lake, Tianning Temple and the Leizu Shrine), then further south to Xuwen for the "Sea of Pineapples" and Denglou Cape, the southernmost point of the mainland.

The best time to visit is from October to April, with Xuwen's pineapples ripening in spring; Jun–Sep is hot with frequent typhoons that often disrupt ferries to the islands. Getting there: high-speed trains connect Guangzhou, Nanning and Haikou, and Zhanjiang Wuchuan Airport has flights to many cities; taxis are easy to get in town, but for the southern route and the islands, driving or hiring a car is recommended. Allow 3–4 days.

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Itineraries