History & Culture: Beihai has a long history. It opened to foreign trade in 1876 and was one of China's earliest treaty ports. The arcade street on Zhuhai Road in the old town preserves a modern architectural blend of Chinese and Western styles and recalls the prosperity of those years. Southern pearls have been famous since ancient times: 'Western pearls are not as good as eastern pearls, and eastern pearls are not as good as southern pearls.' Beihai's culture brings together the fishing culture of the Tanka people, southern pearl culture and its history as a treaty port. The Tanka made their homes on the sea for generations, developing a distinctive life on the water and a tradition of fishing songs. Hepu's southern pearls have been renowned since ancient times, and the story of 'pearls returning to Hepu' is still told today. The opening of the port in 1876 left a large stock of Chinese-Western arcade buildings. The annual Marine Culture Festival displays the richness of Beihai's maritime culture.
Geography: Beihai lies at the southern tip of Guangxi on the shore of the Beibu Gulf, surrounded by sea on three sides, with flat terrain. It has a southern subtropical marine monsoon climate, warm and humid all year, with fresh air and a high negative oxygen ion count. Beihai sits in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where landforms, rivers and climate have together shaped the city's spatial pattern. Spring (Mar–May) is pleasant; summer (Jun–Sep) is best for a seaside holiday, with sunshine and sand. Natural and cultural sites are fairly concentrated, so a one- or two-day itinerary by area works well. Light, vegetation and water levels change with the seasons; check the weather and official notices before setting out. Roads and railways are the main connections, and the main sights can be linked from the city or county town.
Highlights: Swim at Silver Beach, dive at Weizhou Island, stroll the old street and sample the seafood, enjoying the blue sea and sky of the Beibu Gulf at an easy pace. Core sights include Beihai Silver Beach, Weizhou Island, Jinhai Bay Mangrove Forest and Beihai Old Street (Zhuhai Road). They cover history, nature and city life, and can be combined freely. Pair the main sights with nearby streets, museums or food streets for a half- or full-day route. If time allows, slow down and leave room for walking and meals. First-time visitors can start with the most representative sights, then add museums, old streets or nature as time allows. Local food is part of the itinerary — save a meal for a time-honoured shop or a local market.
Food Culture: Beihai is all about seafood: shrimp cakes are crisp outside and tender within, full of shrimp flavour; sandworms are sweet, crisp and highly nutritious; crab noodle soup has a rich, fresh broth; and charcoal-grilled oysters, tender and juicy, are a must at the night market.
