Weizhou Island

Weizhou Island

Weizhou Island is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction and a national geopark.

Weizhou Island is located in the vast sea to the southeast of Beihai City, about 36 nautical miles from Beihai. It stretches 65 kilometers from south to north and 6 kilometers from east to west, covering an area of 25 square kilometers. The highest elevation on the island is 79 meters. The island is home to over 2,000 households and a population of more than 16,000, with over 85% being Hakka people. The island not only boasts a pleasant climate and abundant resources, but also features stunning landscapes and picturesque scenery. With spring-like weather all year round, the warm and humid climate provides fresh air rich in negative ions. It is a destination exceptionally rich in the “three S’s” (sea, sun, and sand) that the global tourism industry values, hence earning the nickname “the Immortal Isle of Penglai.”

Facing Beihai Silver Beach across the sea, Weizhou Island was formed by volcanic eruptions and is the largest and youngest volcanic island in China. The island boasts unique marine erosion, sedimentary, and lava rock formations. Its coastal waters are crystal clear and azure, with vibrant and diverse living corals and precious marine life beneath the surface. The southern part features uniquely beautiful eroded volcanic bays and enchanting beaches, perfect for strolling while collecting seashells and sea snails. Among its scenic spots are “Turtle Arching Over the Azure” and “Dripping Water Red Cliff,” two of Beihai’s famed sights. The island is shaded by dense foliage and fragrant year-round. Architectural sites such as the Three Goddesses Temple, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, and the Catholic Church each have their own distinctive charm. The locals are warm, hospitable, hardworking, and simple, embodying an old-world charm. In 1994, it was designated as a provincial-level tourist resort.

Xiaoyang Island is located in the southeastern sea area of Weizhou Island. Also formed by volcanic eruptions and sedimentation, it lies 9 nautical miles from Weizhou Island and 44 nautical miles from downtown Beihai, covering an area of 1.89 square kilometers. It earned the name Xiaoyang Island (meaning “Slanting Sun Island”) because, from Weizhou Island, one can watch the sun cast its slanting rays over the entire island, and also because it lies to the southeast—where the sun rises—of Weizhou Island. The island is shaped like a blooming lotus, indented in the middle and protruding around the edges. Its coastal cliffs drop sharply into the abyss, where sharks, strange fish, shellfish, and coral are clearly visible. The island enjoys warm winters and cool summers, teems with wildflowers, and is covered in pristine forests with winding mountain paths. Its marine erosion, sedimentary, and lava formations are extraordinary, making it a paradise for explorers seeking tranquility and adventure.

Over 2,000 Hakka people live on Xiaoyang Island. The locals are warm and hospitable, with simple and unsophisticated customs. There is currently no public market on the island, and no thieves. Fish caught by local families that are not consumed are often placed in the seawater by the shore and taken as needed. Visiting Xiaoyang Island allows you to experience a lifestyle reminiscent of primitive simplicity.

Strolling around the island, you’ll be enchanted by the strong religious atmosphere and the pristine, rustic island charm. Notable attractions include “Blue Crab Holding the Bowl,” “Turtle Arching Over the Azure,” the Catholic Church, the “Undersea Ribbon,” the island’s sunrise viewpoint, “Dripping Water Red Cliff,” the Three Goddesses Temple, and the site from which Tang Xianzu viewed the sea.

Currently, Weizhou Island offers supporting facilities for tourists, and there are daily round-trip ferries between Beihai and Weizhou Island.

Blue Crab Holding the Bowl

The port of Weizhou Island faces south, with its east, north, and west sides surrounded by land, forming an oval shape. The South Bay Harbor resembles a small green bowl, not very large, covering about 3 square kilometers. The entire bay looks like a blue crab from behind, seemingly crawling toward the harbor. South Bay Street is situated right on the crab’s “mouth.” Though the town is small, the houses along the street are closely packed, nestled against the mountains and water. Looking out to sea, the boundless ocean spreads out as far as the eye can see, with misty waves stretching into the distance. Up close, the inner harbor is calm, with emerald-green waters, silver-white seabirds, and lush green hills and forests on the coast reflecting one another. Fishing boats weave densely through the inner harbor, creating a beautifully picturesque scene both inside and outside the port.

Turtle Arching Over the Azure

About 100 meters away from the island in the bay lies a small verdant island that strikingly resembles a crouching fat pig. Below the eastern cape of Weizhou Island is a cave, near whose entrance lies a stone shaped like a turtle. The small island in the sea that looks like a big fat pig is called Piglet Islet. The base of Piglet Islet is a large piece of eroded residual hill. Due to ongoing erosion, the rocky cliffs on the residual hill have developed into the shape of a small fat pig. With its tiny eyes, short ears, high forehead, plump body, and rugged, stocky frame, it is an uncanny likeness. The cave next to Piglet Islet is called Turtle Cave, and the turtle-shaped stone at the cave’s mouth is called Turtle Stone.

Catholic Church

The French Gothic-style Catholic Church is quite distinctive. It stands 13.5 meters tall, is 56 meters long, and 17 meters wide. The entire structure is built from rocks, coral particles, bamboo, wood, and tiles, covering a floor area of 1,500 square meters, with a capacity to accommodate 1,500 worshippers. The church was first built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1861–1880) and took 20 years to complete. It is said to have been one of the four major churches in China at the time. The church complex includes a bell tower, monastery school, hospital, and orphanage. Due to the destruction of the “Four Olds” during the Cultural Revolution, only the church and bell tower remain. To this day, it still serves as a place for believers to hold Mass and prayers, as well as a site for visitors to admire. There are now over 2,000 believers, and every Sunday, worshippers gather here for services, creating a lively atmosphere.

Undersea Ribbon

Only 9 nautical miles separate Xiaoyang Island and Weizhou Island. Along this stretch of sea, there lies an undersea ribbon. This area features well-developed underwater reefs, ranging from a few hundred meters to over a thousand or even two thousand meters in length. These reefs are covered with large colonies of coral. The coral growth zone is generally only eight to nine meters below the surface. Through the clear seawater, the expansive coral belts can be seen emerging under the sunlight, taking on various shapes—some like fans, some like straw hats, some resembling jade trees, and others like delicate branches. They cluster densely, in varied colors including white, blue, brown, and tan, mostly white, shining brilliantly. Schools of fish swim to and fro among the coral, adding vitality and liveliness to the coral belt.

Island Sunrise Viewing

Gaze toward the eastern sea—just a moment ago it was pitch black, pitch-dark, and you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. Unnoticed, a faint white light begins to appear on the distant horizon. Moments later, a glimmer of dawn brightens the sky’s edge. Then, pale pink hues emerge slowly, red tints reflecting off the sea, dyeing the eastern waters a broad swath of crimson. Suddenly, a tiny red dot jumps out from the horizon. The surging waves make it flicker in and out of view. In the blink of an eye, the red dot stretches into a crimson arc, then resembles a bright red eyebrow. A couple more blinks, and a huge red ball emerges from the edge of the sky, from the far reaches of the sea, as red as flame. The sun floating on the sea’s surface appears even larger than when hanging in the sky. The large red ball gradually shrinks and turns into a golden sun, slowly rising into the sky. The lower red orb transforms into fragments of crimson, scattering across the surface of the sea...

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