Located in the middle of Beibu Gulf just off the costal Chinese town of Beihai, and north-west of the famed Hainan Island and Vietnam, this island was borne out a violent volcanic reaction when the European plate collided with the Asia Plate over fifty-million years ago.

Though China is not known for its beaches or island adventures, Beihai Weizhou Island is definitely worth a visit. Exploring the tide pools, sea caves, lava rock formations, banana plantations, markets, and gothic churches will easily fill up your day.

How to get to Weizhou Island, Guangxi Province

First you need to get to Beihai, Guangxi Province and then to take the ferry from there.

Travel by train

Travelling from Shenzhen: take the train to Guangzhou (high speed: 1 hour) ) and change for the train to Beihai (high speed train: 3 hours) or take the train from Shenzhen to Guilin or Nanning (normal train: cca 11 hours).

Travelling from Guilin: take the high speed train (3 trains daily - 2 hours) or using the connecting trains with a transfer from Nanning (15 trains daily - cca 6 hours)

Travel by bus

There is also a bus from Shenzhen to Beihai - direct bus, overnight sleeper bus leaving Shenzhen at 6 o’clock and arrival at 6 am the next morning in Beihai.

Travel by air

You can also take the flight from Shenzhen - 2 hours.

From Beihai to Weizhou Island

Once you arrived to Beihai, you need to take the ferry to Weizhou Island - there are five ferries a day, the trip takes about 70 minutes. (150 yuan)

Travelling around Weizhou Island: you can either rent a car -need Chinese driver’s licence-, or rent a local “tuk-tuk” or use the taxies.

You can also drive your own car, and take the ferry.