The Zhanjiang Bay Bridge Photo: VCG

 

With China's traditional Mid-­Autumn Day and National Day holidays combined this year, people in China will have an eight-day vacation, giving them extra time to enjoy themselves following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. 

With people's lives heavily impacted by the deadly virus, many are looking to the long vacation to lift their spirits by planning a trip to relax and spend time with loved ones, especially as popular international destinations like Southeast Asia are still not accepting tourists. 

However, China is also home to many coastal cities where you can catch the last days of summer. The large country offers various options to enjoy urban sea views, tradition and history.

A vendor selling fish in Zhanjiang Photo: VCG

Opposite the popular Hainan island, Zhanjiang, the southernmost city in the mainland, is an ideal place for lovers of sandy beaches, sea views and city sceneries, and, of course, delicious food. Like many other cities in China, Zhanjiang not only boasts a modern section where you can witness its rapid development and improving living standards, but also cherishes its long history as an ancient Chinese harbor connecting the mainland with the outside world.

Harbor tour 

Located in the southern end of the mainland in South China's Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has 2,000 kilometers of coastline. Taking a cruise to Zhan­jiang Bay, one of China's best harbors and also home to China's Southern Theater Command Navy, is always a good way to get to know the place, including its most iconic sites, which include a glorious cross-sea bridge, its five small islands as well as a distant view of the country's advanced military ships. 

Tickets for the 80-minute cruise cost 168 yuan ($25). The journey starts from Fisherman's Wharf and goes along the bay to Techeng Island and Nansan Island, then to the trip's highlight, the 10-mile military harbors, where you can find China's latest and most advanced destroyers and frigates. But remember to only observe them from a distance, and never take photos of them. 

After the boat goes under the 4-kilometer-long Zhanjiang Bay Bridge, a splendid coastal city view is unveiled in front of you, made up of a water sport center, coastal tourism resort, parks and a sea view promenade. 

Fishing vessels get ready to set sail on August 16 in in Zhanjiang. Photo: VCG

After the tour, you can take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the view just like the locals. Walking along the coast with a loved one, you get the feeling that eternal love and romance don't only exist in fairy tales. When night falls, you can enjoy a wonderful dinner at one of the nearby popular restaurants or while the evening away at a bar and feel the sea breeze on your face. 

French exotic customs

Walking in the city center of Zhanjiang, you will be surprised to find some French-style buildings, giving you the feeling that you're walking in the streets of Paris. The city was ceded to France as a leased territory in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and was known as Guangzhou Bay back then. 

It was from this Guangzhou Bay period that the city began to take shape, and included sites like the French Minister Department, Cathedral of St. Victor, French Police Headquarters and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. Walking along the French Style Street in Xiashan district and studying the remains of these buildings are the best way to learn about that period of history. 

A grocery store that has become famous as a filming location of hit drama The Bad Kids Photo: VCG

Another street that you can't miss is Chikan Old Street, which went viral on ­China's Twitter-like social media platform Weibo and was searched millions of times due to the hit drama The Bad Kids. The street featured heavily in some of the drama's main scenes, prompting curious netizens to visit the street and post their photos on Weibo. 

The street is known for its French-style buildings as well as a number of late-Qing Dynasty and early-Republic of China (1912-1949) historic qilou, which are similar in style and function to the shophouses in Southeast Asia designed for both residential and commercial use.

Volcanic geopark

Besides the historical buildings and streets, the city also has a number of parks that locals are fond of visiting daily. Huguangyan Volcanic Geopark is one of the most popular, with trees, plants and a large clean lake, and is Asia's only maar volcanic lake, formed by an eruption dating back 140,000 to 160,000 years. 

The best time to visit is in the morning or at dawn, when you can take a jog along the lake and visit sites like a temple and a small museum. With its large blankets of greenery, the air quality is regarded as the best in the country.

Taste of seafood 

Guangdong, or Cantonese, cuisine is extremely popular in China thanks to its fresh ingredients and healthy cooking methods. Zhanjiang is also known as the Seafood Capital of China, and who doesn't like seafood? Cantonese cooking methods and the local chefs' skills make Zhanjiang stand out among other coastal cities that are also popular for their local seafood. 

Shrimps for sale in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province Photo: VCG

With its large choice of local snacks, tourists never need to worry about what to eat, and their only problem will be trying to decide from the many options available. 

Zhanjiang used to be one of the most popular destinations in China, receiving millions of tourists from home and aboard every year. However, due to the deadly coronavirus, the city has only received 1 million visitors in the past few months. Everyone is hoping that the global outbreak will go away as soon as possible, so that travelers around the world can also share the joy of the city with the locals. 

The pool of a diving school in Zhanjiang Photo: VCG

 

Rules of thumb 

How to go:

Take a flight: The city has direct flights connecting most Chinese major cities like ­Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. As the airport is ­located in the city center, it's just a 10-minute taxi ride to the hotels. However, the new airport, which will go into operation in 2022, is much larger and can handle more international flights, but is further from the center. 

Take a high-speed railway: Taking a train is always a good way to travel in China, especially when storms hit and air travel is not possible. If you live in the southern part of China, taking the train is also a convenient choice.

Accommodation: 

As a tourist city, Zhanjiang offers a variety of choices from budget hostels to luxury international hotel chains, ranging from 100 to 800 yuan per night. There's a full range of options of food for you to choose from, from seafood to local snacks.