Guangzhou's Xiachuan Island: That's a 'Never Again' From Me.
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Phew, I just can't help but share my disappointment with some travel experiences on Xiacalang Island.
Critiques:
- The "coconut forest" is simply a narrow, sandy road with some coconut trees planted on the side; don't expect it to be some lush forest.
- Moving onto "Rice Rock," all I saw were tall grasses
that surpassed human height! I sincerely hope that they'll take the time to tidy up this place soon, otherwise, I keep expecting to see snakes
or some creature roaming around.
- The "Cow's Mouth Park" is just a solitary statue of a cow standing there. There, that's it.
Positive aspects:
- Of course, the beach
๏ธ itself still has a certain charm! Walking through the sands is extremely relaxing, and picking driftwood and various small shells
would surely satisfy a kid who'll gleefully dig up crabs
.
Inlet Mountain Adventure๏ผA Cautionary Tale):
- Inlet Mountain
๏ธ is slightly disappointing since we couldn't head up.
- Important Notes for Your Reference, Friends:
- Only a motorbike
๏ธ fueled by fuel can make it to the top; both small electric cars
and cars
canโt go up due to the steep road.
- It's quite a treacherous elevation, so proceed with caution!
- Especially noted: In theory, the authorities don't allow visitors to climb up.
- Safety First! Reportedly it could encounter animals like cows
, snakes
, and goats
up there. Thus, it would be wise to travel together with friends, rather than alone, and ensure safety is prioritized.
- Only a motorbike
- Important Notes for Your Reference, Friends:
Circumnavigation & Sun Protection:
- This "Circumnavigation" is merely about riding motorcyclesๆฉๆ่ฝฆ around the island, the view? Just okay
๏ธ.
- Crucial Tips: The sun
here burns very fiercely! It's essential everyone takes proper sun protection measures! Consider wearing long-sleeved UV protective clothing, otherwise, skin burns are no joke as they truly hurt!
Nightlife Spots:
- Near the "Dragon Lady"้ๅ, there is a restaurant/pub๏ผI forget its specific name, but it features a captain figurine at the entrance๏ผ, which serves pizza
and drinks๐ฅคor beer
, and even provides Karaoke
singing. Enjoy a pleasant night out in the evening breeze, eating and chatting, sometimes witnessing a fireworks
display makes it a delightful experience overall.
Transportation & Parking:
๏ธ Self-driving car parking: Navigate directly to "Mountain Entrance Port" (the pier to Xiacalang Island), parking will cost 50 RMB per day.
Tickets: A package ticket priced at 210 RMB includes round-trip ferry tickets, bus tickets within the island, and admission to the main scenic spot, "Wang Family Island."
- However, we bought the tickets separately. After arrival, our accommodations provided us with transportation, thus saving us the additional expense of island transit fees
(40 RMB).
- However, we bought the tickets separately. After arrival, our accommodations provided us with transportation, thus saving us the additional expense of island transit fees
Eating & Experience:
Cuisine: Although this time, I didn't sample the local seafood shrimp
on the island, we did visit a restaurant named 'Yan Sister Hunan Cuisine,' which was fairly delicious, if not a little pricey. Note that Huxiang cuisine originates from Central China's Hunan Province, known for its spiciness and richness in flavor.
- Next door to the restaurant, thereโs a shop named 'Long-lasting Coconut' selling refreshing coconut jelly ๐ฅฅ which I highly recommend you try!
Accommodation Services:
Lodging: We stayed at a guesthouse called "Goldenๅท Tranquility Home," whose rooms remain clean and affordable, recently remodeled in 2024.
- The cons, however, exist: it's located slightly far from the main beachๆตทๅฒธ๏ผabout 3-5 minutes away via motorbike rentals๏ผ
- And due to the mountain roads filled with sharp turns, riding motorbikes or electric bikes must be done with extreme caution. During our trip, two girls riding a motorbike fell off.
- Numerous rental places await visitors near the beach, offering various vehicles ranging from sedans
, pick-up vans๐ป, motorcycles
, and motorbikes
๏ธ, allowing people to choose according to their needs. Prices remain relatively transparent among different establishments.
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Is it really not that fun?
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Honey, it's honestly not that fun. If you're just going there to play in the water, it's really not worth the trip.
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Hey sis, if we take the 2:30 PM boat, can we explore everything and leave the island on the same day? We'd prefer not to stay overnight.
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That might be a bit tight. I think the last boat back is around 6 PM.
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I feel the same way. I went last week, and it's pretty much just a beach.
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Exactly! I was looking forward to it for ages, but it really wasn't fun. We just watched endless buses carting people off to Wangfuzhou.
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I'm planning to go next week, but based on your feedback, it sounds like it's not much fun.
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The beach itself is okay, and you could try activities like jet skiing. I couldn't participate due to health reasons, though.
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I just got back from Xiachuan Island and personally, I think it's quite nice. Couples can rent an e-scooter or an ATV for an island tour, watch the sunrise and sunset together, and go beachcombing โ it's very romantic! It's even more suitable for family trips with kids; there's sand and water, and you could easily spend a week just at the beach in the Wangfuzhou Scenic Area. The seawater is clean, and the sand is fine. Food and accommodation on the island aren't too expensive; a really good meal can be had for 200-300 RMB. Over towards Niutou Park, there's a shop (called 'Pig Head Sister's' locally) where things are reasonably priced โ tofu pudding is 8 RMB a bowl, and large steamed pudding cakes (Put Chai Ko) are 10 RMB for three. The sun is very strong, though, so just make sure you've got good sun protection.
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If we're staying at a guesthouse, will the sightseeing shuttle take us there?
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Has anyone tried beachcombing (ganhai)? I'm not sure if there's a fee. My understanding was that you could just find a beach at the right time and do it for free, right?
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Beachcombing (Ganhai) seems to be 198 RMB per person.
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If it were that great, people from Guangdong wouldn't even need to go to Hainan. Though, to be fair, in Hainan, only a few islands like Wuzhizhou are actually decent.
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I don't know... I feel like it's not even as fun as Weizhou Island.
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This place is called Jellyfish Inn. Highly recommend!
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Yeah, that place is actually pretty decent and quite comfortable.
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Is that the one in Jiangmen? I went too, and it wasn't fun at all.
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Yeah, I suppose so. Bottom line, it's just really not fun.
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Agreed!
I never want to go there again.