Volcano Island Scenic Area

Volcano Island Scenic Area

The Volcano Island Scenic Area is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

I. Location and Scope

The Volcano Island Tourist Scenic Area is situated in the eastern sea area of Hongsha Village, Guangpo Town, Gangkou District, Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, within the waters of Qinzhou Bay in the northern part of Beibu Gulf. It is the most scenic and vacation-friendly island among the Hongsha Islands of Fangchenggang. Adjacent to the Qinzhou Bay Longmen Islands (Seventy-two Routes) Scenic Area, it falls within the Fangchenggang Gangkou District tourism planning zone and the autonomous region's marine economic aquaculture area. Visitors can reach Volcano Island by ferry from either the Hongsha Village Pier in Guangpo Town, Fangchenggang, or the Qinzhou Port Pier.

The central area of the Volcano Island Tourist Scenic Area includes islands such as Liudun, Daxia, and Quezi Island, which are among the few volcanic sea islands in the Qinzhou Bay area and also the most valuable for tourism and sightseeing.

II. Geology and Landforms

Fangchenggang City is located in the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea, featuring numerous islands, beautiful shorelines, and unique coastal landscapes, earning it the reputation of "China's No. 1 Bay." The Volcano Island Scenic Area consists of ancient Paleozoic volcanic rock strata, with most of the islands formed from volcanic rock. The terrain, characterized by volcanic lava layers, hills, and beaches, exhibits distinct features and high aesthetic value.

III. Climate

Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, the scenic area lies within Qinzhou Bay and enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate. The climate is characterized by abundant sunshine, plentiful rainfall, no severe heat in summer or extreme cold in winter, long spring, summer, and autumn seasons, a very short winter, and minimal temperature variation. The average annual temperature is 22°C, with an extreme maximum of 36°C and an extreme minimum of 8°C above zero. With long hours of sunshine, regulated rainfall, high seawater temperatures, and persistent sea breezes of force 3–6, the area offers excellent tourism climatic conditions, particularly well-suited for vacation-style sightseeing.

IV. Vegetation and Marine Biological Resources

As the scenic area falls within a marine aquaculture zone, its vegetation is well-preserved. The zonal vegetation here is subtropical maritime rainforest. The beaches host nationally protected plants such as mangroves and cat thorn, as well as highly ornamental ancient fruit trees (sea pineapple) and longleaf pines.

The scenic area boasts good vegetation and high-quality marine waters, serving as habitats and breeding grounds for wildlife. Species such as dolphins (a Class I nationally protected animal) inhabit the area within a 10-kilometer radius, along with egrets, cranes, seagulls, eagles, lovebirds, and red-billed magpies. Marine life includes various fish and shellfish such as oysters (large and small), shrimp, blue crabs, squid, cuttlefish, large sea bass, red snapper, and flying fish.

V. Environmental Quality for Tourism

1. Air Quality

Natural ecological marine areas account for 75% of the scenic region, while aquaculture zones make up 25% of the sea area. The islands feature well-preserved trees, original vegetation, landscapes, and ecological environments, ensuring fresh air with high concentrations of negative oxygen ions. There are no nearby industrial enterprises affecting air quality, resulting in overall excellent environmental air conditions.

2. Seawater Quality

The scenic area mainly consists of volcanic basalt rocks and heavy metal ores, which hold significant tourism and aesthetic value. There are no radioactive parent rocks causing soil disasters. The seawater quality is good, supporting a variety of marine fish species.

VI. Unique Tourism Resources

The tourism resources of the Volcano Island Scenic Area integrate volcanic basalt rocks, heavy metal ores, hills, tides, beaches, marine life, ancient beach plants, and habitats for egrets and cranes. With diverse types and high quality, these resources complement those of surrounding tourist areas. Additionally, the area boasts rich marine biodiversity, a favorable natural ecological environment, and a comfortable, pleasant tourism climate, making it an ideal destination for scientific research tourism, eco-tourism, leisure tourism, and fishing village experiences.

VII. Transportation

Volcano Island enjoys convenient transportation and possesses the locational advantage of being both coastal and border-adjacent.

Nanning–Fangchenggang Expressway (140 km), Fangcheng–Qisha First-Class Highway (16 km), and a secondary road to the nuclear power plant and Hongsha Village Pier (9 km) plus rural cement roads (4 km); Volcano Island is 28 km from Fangchenggang City and 95 km from Dongxing City on the China-Vietnam border.

Nanning–Qinzhou Port Expressway (140 km), with Qinzhou Port just 9 km from Volcano Island.

Within the tourism development framework of Guangxi, Fangchenggang City, and Qinzhou City, the scenic area lies at a key midpoint along the golden tourism routes of Nanning–Qinzhou–Fangchenggang–Dongxing–Vietnam and Beihai–Fangchenggang–Dongxing–Vietnam. It serves as an important link in Fangchenggang’s tourism industry and a leading hub for coastal island tourism development.

Six Major Attractions of Volcano Island

First Attraction: Sightseeing of islands, peculiar rocks, volcanic rocks, and ancient plants; touching volcanic rocks for recreational experiences and volcanic geological plant science education.

Second Attraction: Volcanic rocks, volcanic eggs (the only ones discovered in Guangxi), Olympic rocks; ancient plants—ancient dragon trees and mangroves.

Third Attraction: Joyful Fishing Village Experiences—going out to sea to haul nets, catch fish, fish by encircling the shore, angling for sea fish, and digging for clams for fun.

Four major attractions: stay in seaside wooden cabins, watch the tides, enjoy mud baths, and play water sports on the large sandy beach

Five major attractions: Oyster Feast --- go oyster fishing on local fishermen’s oyster rafts, then grill and feast on fresh oysters

Six major attractions: Egret Homeland --- watch thousands of egrets soaring above Egret Village and experience harmony between humans and nature

Travel Tips

Romantic Volcanic Island Leisure Vacation Travel Tips:

★ The climate in the scenic area is subtropical maritime monsoon, with no severe cold in winter or extreme heat in summer—pleasant all year round, suitable for travel in any season.

★ Mobile, Unicom, and other network signals cover every corner of the scenic area.

★ Scenic Area Reception Capacity:

★ Dining: fresh and delicious seafood meals.

★ Accommodation: 19 seaside wooden cabins (standard double rooms) with ocean views; camp on the beach in tents for a unique outdoor experience.

★ 24-hour parking onshore, with safe and comfortable tour boats available at all docks daily.

★ Local specialties: large oysters, coastal Guangpo chickens, small oysters, crabs, squid, sandworms, etc.

★ Entertainment options: exploring nearby sea areas, bonfire parties, barbecues, sea fishing, shell collecting, catching sand crabs, net fishing, and more.

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