Xunliao Bay, also known as Xunliao Coastal Tourism Resort, is located at the southwest corner of Renping Peninsula in Huidong County, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, on the east bank of Daya Bay. It is a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction and one of the first batch of provincial-level tourist resorts in Guangdong Province. The resort covers a total area of 105 square kilometers, including 73.93 square kilometers of land, with a total coastline of 27 kilometers featuring seven hills, eight bays and eighteen scenic spots. The resort is famous for its clear water, white sand and unique rocks. The beach sand is white and fine with a silicon content of 96%. The shallow flat water over one meter deep stretches more than 200 meters outward, forming a natural seawater bathing beach. Both seawater quality and atmospheric quality meet the national Class I standard. It is reputed as the "Natural White Sand Embankment" and "Pearl of the South China Sea". The resort boasts numerous natural islands and coastal leisure facilities, including clusters of resort hotels, folk commercial streets, yacht marinas and leisure fishing ports, making it a popular coastal holiday destination in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
History and Culture
Most ancestors of Xunliao Bay moved here in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. They made a living by half farming and half fishing, relying on the ocean for generations, and fishing culture took root here. The local Huidong Fishing Ballads originated in the Southern Song Dynasty and were introduced from the coastal areas of Fujian. They are ballads sung by fishermen while working at sea and returning from fishing. Today, Huidong Fishing Ballads are listed on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List and serve as an important carrier of the fishing culture of Xunliao Bay. Traditional customs such as fishing weddings, sea worship and fishing opening ceremonies have long been passed down in local fishing villages.
Mazu culture is another important cultural vein of Xunliao Bay. According to legend, a Mazu statue drifted to the beach of Xunliao Bay with the tide in ancient times. Local fishermen regarded it as an auspicious sign and built a simple shrine for worship. There is a unique folk legend that the statue is enshrined alternately at Fanhe Port and Xunliao Tianhou Palace. After multiple renovations and expansions, the Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Block was replanned and constructed in 2006. The resort holds the Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival every year, which is a large-scale folk festival in the area, carrying fishermen’s wishes for safe voyages.
During the development of ancient maritime trade, Xunliao Bay served as a natural sheltered harbor in Daya Bay. Fishing boats and merchant ships often docked here for supplies. Maritime trade promoted the integration of Minnan and eastern Guangdong coastal cultures, forming a coastal folk style with both Lingnan and Minnan characteristics. In modern times, it remained a traditional fishing port. With tourism development, traditional fishing villages have gradually transformed into a coastal tourism resort, and fishing culture and Mazu culture have been incorporated into cultural and tourism exhibitions.
Main Scenic Spots
White Sand Beach
White Sand Beach is the core beach of Xunliao Bay, also known as the "Natural White Sand Embankment". The beach stretches endlessly with soft and white sand and a gentle seabed. It is suitable for wading, swimming and beach leisure, and is also a good spot to watch sunrise and sunset. Many resort hotels line the beach. The public open areas allow tourists to walk freely, and it is the first check-in spot for visitors to Xunliao Bay.
Mozi Stone Park
Mozi Stone Park is famous for its sea-eroded exotic rock landscapes. It has rock reef clusters formed over hundreds of millions of years, with the iconic Wind-Moving Stone featuring strangely stacked boulders. The park is adjacent to the sea. The reef flats are ideal for seascape portrait photography and sunset viewing. At low tide, visitors can go tide pooling on the reefs to collect shells and small crabs. The park is open to the public for free and is a landmark reef attraction of Xunliao Bay.
Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street
Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street centers on Tianhou Palace Mazu Temple and is built in the style of ancient Lingnan architecture. The block contains temples, opera stages, shops and alleys. It has a strong festive atmosphere when lanterns are lit at night. It is the venue for Mazu folk activities. Tourists can come here to pray, visit specialty shops, taste local snacks and experience fishing folk culture.
Delta Island
Delta Island lies on the sea of Xunliao Bay. It is a natural island hailed as "China’s Maldives". The seawater around the island is clear with high visibility. The island has beaches, reefs and vegetation, and supports activities such as snorkeling, sea fishing and beach recreation. Visitors need to take a speed boat for round trips. The island is equipped with basic leisure facilities and charges admission fees.
Chisha Tide Pool Park
Chisha Tide Pool Park is a dedicated tide pooling area. It is covered by seawater at high tide, and large reef flats are exposed at low tide. It is suitable for family tourists to go tide pooling to find shellfish, small crabs and other marine creatures. Visitors need to arrange trips according to tide tables. The area is free to enter and offers authentic local fishing tide pooling fun.
Rose Chapel
Rose Chapel is a white triangular building facing the sea, paired with beach swings. It is a popular online check-in spot with excellent lighting at sunset, perfect for seascape portrait shooting. The attraction is free and located near the Jiuming Yuhai area.
Tour Routes
One-day Compact Route: White Sand Beach → Mozi Stone Park → Chisha Tide Pool Park → Rose Chapel → Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street
Two-day Classic Route: Day 1: White Sand Beach → Mozi Stone Park → Rose Chapel → Night Tour of Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street; Day 2: Boat Trip to Delta Island → Visit Seafood Market at Leisure Fishing Port
Tour Suggestions
- Visit Xunliao Bay on sunny days. Avoid midday heat in summer; early morning and evening are better for seaside walks and photography.
- Tourists planning tide pooling should check the local tide table in advance, visit Chisha Tide Pool Park at low tide and prepare tide pooling tools.
- Sea conditions around Delta Island change rapidly. Visitors prone to seasickness should take motion sickness medicine beforehand. Choose sea activities according to personal physical conditions.
- For seafood, buy ingredients at regular seafood markets and have them processed at nearby restaurants. Confirm processing fees before consumption.
- A two-day-one-night stay is recommended for a leisurely trip. You can enjoy water activities, visit the island and admire the night view of the folk block.
- Electric scooters can be rented for travel within the resort to connect different scenic spots, suitable for group trips.
Notes
- UV radiation is strong by the sea. Take sun protection measures, wear sun-protective clothing and hats, apply sunscreen and bring mosquito repellent.
- Only swim in designated safe bathing zones. Do not swim far from the shore. Follow warning signs and avoid swimming in unguarded reef areas.
- Reef surfaces are slippery. Walk carefully in Mozi Stone Park and tide pooling zones and do not climb dangerous reefs.
- Choose formal operators for sea activities and speedboat trips. Reject unlicensed private boats. Monitor weather warnings and avoid boat trips in strong wind or thunderstorm weather.
- Parking spaces are tight during holidays. Arrive early or take public transport and on-site shuttle vehicles.
- Protect the marine environment and do not litter. Do not catch protected marine creatures while tide pooling.
- Temperature difference between day and night is large by the sea. The sea breeze is cool in the evening, so bring a light jacket.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Take Huizhou-Shenzhen Coastal Expressway and exit at Xunliao Bay. It generally takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours from cities in the Pearl River Delta. Multiple parking lots are available in the resort.
- High-speed Rail: Take high-speed rail to Huidong Station, then transfer to Bus H2 or H8 or take a taxi to Xunliao Coastal Tourism Resort.
- Coach: Arrive at Huidong Bus Terminal and take the coach bound for Xunliao Bay.
- On-site Transport: Rent electric scooters or take area sightseeing buses for short trips.
Opening Hours
The free sites including all beaches of Xunliao Bay, Mozi Stone Park, Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street, Chisha Tide Pool Park and Rose Chapel are generally open all day. Speedboat services for Delta Island usually operate from 09:00 to 17:00 and may suspend temporarily due to wind and weather. Supporting amusement facilities such as Sea Park Water World have separate opening hours subject to on-site notices. Some sea activities and island routes may be closed temporarily in typhoon, rainstorm or other severe weather.
Tickets
The main beach of Xunliao Bay, Mozi Stone Park, Tianhou Palace Lingnan Folk Culture Street, Chisha Tide Pool Park and Rose Chapel are open free of charge. Visitors to Delta Island need to buy a package ticket including round-trip speedboat rides, and the price fluctuates with seasons. Activities such as Sea Park Water World, jet skiing, snorkeling and fishing tours are charged separately.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.