Sansha Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Antelope Reef Community
Antelope Reef, also known as Kuangzai Reef, is a small atoll in the southwestern part of the Yongle Great Atoll, the core area of China's Xisha Islands. It stretches 12 kilometers from north to south and is about 4 kilometers at its widest point from east to west, resembling an antelope or a basket, hence the fishermen call it Kuangzai. The sandbar on it is called Kuangzai Sandbar, and the Antelope Community is located on the Kuangzai Sandbar at the southwest corner of Antelope Reef. It is also known as the southernmost fishing village in the Xisha Islands. The waters around Antelope Reef are among the most difficult to navigate in the Xisha Islands, and the difficulty of transportation leads to a severe scarcity of resources on the island. As a result, the houses here, from the beams to the roofs, are all made of hard corals and shells that have been ground and piled up. From a distance, they present a gray-white texture. This building material not only withstands the invasion of typhoons but also provides insulation, adapting to the tropical monsoon climate. The fishermen here can not only live and work in peace and contentment but also enjoy modern living facilities. There is electricity supply, communication networks, medical and health services, cultural and entertainment activities, education and training, and even a small library. Through their hard work, the fishermen have turned the Antelope Reef Sandbar from a barren island into a bright pearl in the ocean. The new comprehensive buildings, modern residences, and green vegetation constitute a beautiful picture of the island. The resolution of electricity and fresh water issues means that residents no longer worry about survival but can focus more on developing fisheries and tourism, bringing new prosperity to the island. In 1935, the government of the Republic of China announced the name as Antelope Reef, in 1947 the government of the Republic of China announced the name as Antelope Reef, and in 1983 the government of the People's Republic of China announced the name as Antelope Reef.
🧳Preparation before departure:
There is no public transportation; access is by chartered or dedicated boat.
⏳Visiting time:
Free admission, the visiting and inspection time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Xisha Laolongtou
Xisha Laolongtou is a stele on the stone island next to Yongxing Island of the Xisha Islands. The stone island is located in the Xisha Xuande Archipelago of China, in the northeastern part of the Yongxing Island reef plate, covering an area of 0.08 square kilometers, with an altitude of 15.9 meters, which is the highest point of the Xisha Islands. In 2012, there was an approximately 800-meter-long man-made stone dike or small road connecting it to Yongxing Island, and by 2014, the island had merged with Yongxing Island. The stone island is flat like a platform, with steep sides all around, actually being a 10-meter-high plateau terrain, formed by the coral reefs that make up the stone island. Some of these reefs are cemented by coral sand deposits. The secondary coral reefs, originally in a nearly horizontal state, remained horizontal after uplift, thus forming the flat plateau terrain. These deposited gravel layers are not yet firmly cemented and are easily eroded by waves, hence the formation of vertical cliffs. On the island, there is a Chinese sovereignty monument and the 'Xisha Laolongtou' stele, as well as a veterans' forest, planted by the soldiers guarding the stone island when they left. Additionally, the entrance to the stone island is guarded, but a simple greeting allows entry. There are no obstructions on the island, and the vegetation consists of weeds and one or two artificially planted plants' withered stalks.
⏳Visiting Time:
Free admission, visiting time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Sansha, a city-island more beautiful than Sanya in Hainan's C City
When it comes to Sanya, everyone is familiar, but only a few have heard of the city Sansha, located 180 nautical miles away from Sanya! This is the prime city of Hainan Province🏖, with scenery and cuisine that are no less spectacular than Sanya, truly a Chinese version of the 'Maldives'🔥~
Sansha consists of more than 280 islands, sandbanks, submerged reefs, and other maritime areas🏝, including the well-known Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha archipelagos.
✔Xisha Archipelago
It has only been officially open to tourists since 2013, and only accepts citizens from mainland China! Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a true secret haven. The waters of Xisha boast a clarity that rivals the Maldives💦, crystal clear.
✔ Yongxing Island
Yongxing Island is an island in the Xisha Archipelago, located in the Xisha, Nansha, Dongsha, and Zhongsha archipelagos. The island has high-rise buildings, banks, and post offices. Yongxing Island is picturesque, with lush greenery🌴, perfect for a vacation.
✔ Yongle Dragon Hole
In the Yongle Archipelago of Xisha, there is the Yongle Dragon Hole, a marine blue hole confirmed to be one of the deepest in the world🕳, reaching a depth of 300.89 meters. Its depth indeed sparks infinite imagination and is particularly awe-inspiring~
✔ Xisha Marine Museum
A marine museum founded by stationed officers and soldiers, displaying many marine creatures🔖. Exhibits include the horseshoe-shaped 'Horseshoe Snail', pyramid-shaped and various fish species🔖, as well as uniquely shaped coral flowers and stone flowers, making the entire museum a fascinating and fun-filled place.
🌊🌊Coming to the seaside, of course, you can't miss tasting the fresh seafood and enjoying a seafood feast!🦐🦑🐙🦞🦀🐚
📣Local specialty food recommendations: various seafood, Sansha Minnan paste, Sansha kueh zi, chicken rolls, Sansha kitten porridge, Sansha fish balls
This is not the Maldives or Semporna, this is the Xisha Islands where only Chinese people can go
The waters of the Xisha Islands are extremely rich, with various coral reefs, fish, seaweed, etc. Here is the king of food - king crabs, the place where mermaids are - island reef beaches, and the refreshing sea water is refreshing!
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Woody Island (Yongxing Island) Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Yongxing Island
Yongxing Island is located in the Xisha District of Sansha City, Hainan Province, China, surrounded by the South China Sea on all sides. It is a sandy secondary coral island, and now the Shidao Island connected to Yongxing Island is a rocky secondary coral island. Including Shidao, the area of Yongxing Island exceeds 3 square kilometers. Yongxing Island is high around the edges and low in the middle, with the sequence from the edge to the center being the beach, sand dunes, sand flats, and low-lying areas. The highest point of the island is the sand dune in the northwest (8.5 meters), and the Shidao in the north reaches 15.9 meters. Yongxing Island is the largest island in the South China Sea with the most concentrated population and the highest intensity of development and utilization. It is the seat of the People's Government of Sansha City and the People's Government of Xisha District, and it is an important national defense island, known as the hub of the South China Sea. Yongxing Island is the economic, military, and political center of Sansha City, where the municipal people's government, municipal units, and the Yongxing Work Committee Management Committee are located. The island has government buildings, schools, banks, post offices, hospitals, shops, hotels, libraries, airports, docks, ports, meteorological stations, etc. Among them, the Sansha City Government Office Building is a European classical-style building with a Renaissance-style dome in the middle and Gothic-style side chambers, combined with the ancient Chinese high-platform building technique, further highlighting the grandeur of the building. Sansha Square on Yongxing Island faces the sea and features elements that condense the spirit of the Chinese nation, such as the Gate of China and the Motherland Mother Sculpture, further consolidating the patriotic sentiments of the people and improving the quality of leisure spaces for the permanent residents of Sansha. Beijing Road is a road located in the Xisha District of Sansha City, Hainan Province, China, with a total length of about 300 meters, featuring supermarkets, postal services, telecommunications, hospitals, rural credit cooperatives ATMs, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China outlets.
⏳Visiting Time:
Free admission, visiting time 1 hour to 2 hours.
Xisha Laolongtou
Xisha Laolongtou is a stele on the stone island next to Yongxing Island of the Xisha Islands. The stone island is located in the Xisha Xuande Archipelago of China, in the northeastern part of the Yongxing Island reef plate, covering an area of 0.08 square kilometers, with an altitude of 15.9 meters, which is the highest point of the Xisha Islands. In 2012, there was an approximately 800-meter-long man-made stone dike or small road connecting it to Yongxing Island, and by 2014, the island had merged with Yongxing Island. The stone island is flat like a platform, with steep sides all around, actually being a 10-meter-high plateau terrain, formed by the coral reefs that make up the stone island. Some of these reefs are cemented by coral sand deposits. The secondary coral reefs, originally in a nearly horizontal state, remained horizontal after uplift, thus forming the flat plateau terrain. These deposited gravel layers are not yet firmly cemented and are easily eroded by waves, hence the formation of vertical cliffs. On the island, there is a Chinese sovereignty monument and the 'Xisha Laolongtou' stele, as well as a veterans' forest, planted by the soldiers guarding the stone island when they left. Additionally, the entrance to the stone island is guarded, but a simple greeting allows entry. There are no obstructions on the island, and the vegetation consists of weeds and one or two artificially planted plants' withered stalks.
⏳Visiting Time:
Free admission, visiting time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Sansha, a city-island more beautiful than Sanya in Hainan's C City
When it comes to Sanya, everyone is familiar, but only a few have heard of the city Sansha, located 180 nautical miles away from Sanya! This is the prime city of Hainan Province🏖, with scenery and cuisine that are no less spectacular than Sanya, truly a Chinese version of the 'Maldives'🔥~
Sansha consists of more than 280 islands, sandbanks, submerged reefs, and other maritime areas🏝, including the well-known Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha archipelagos.
✔Xisha Archipelago
It has only been officially open to tourists since 2013, and only accepts citizens from mainland China! Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a true secret haven. The waters of Xisha boast a clarity that rivals the Maldives💦, crystal clear.
✔ Yongxing Island
Yongxing Island is an island in the Xisha Archipelago, located in the Xisha, Nansha, Dongsha, and Zhongsha archipelagos. The island has high-rise buildings, banks, and post offices. Yongxing Island is picturesque, with lush greenery🌴, perfect for a vacation.
✔ Yongle Dragon Hole
In the Yongle Archipelago of Xisha, there is the Yongle Dragon Hole, a marine blue hole confirmed to be one of the deepest in the world🕳, reaching a depth of 300.89 meters. Its depth indeed sparks infinite imagination and is particularly awe-inspiring~
✔ Xisha Marine Museum
A marine museum founded by stationed officers and soldiers, displaying many marine creatures🔖. Exhibits include the horseshoe-shaped 'Horseshoe Snail', pyramid-shaped and various fish species🔖, as well as uniquely shaped coral flowers and stone flowers, making the entire museum a fascinating and fun-filled place.
🌊🌊Coming to the seaside, of course, you can't miss tasting the fresh seafood and enjoying a seafood feast!🦐🦑🐙🦞🦀🐚
📣Local specialty food recommendations: various seafood, Sansha Minnan paste, Sansha kueh zi, chicken rolls, Sansha kitten porridge, Sansha fish balls
Explore the mystery of Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands, with direct flights back and forth
📍Yongxing Island, located in the Xuan De Qun Island in the eastern part of the Xisha Islands🏝️, is a coral island formed by the accumulation of white coral🪸 and shells🐚 on the reef platform, in an oval shape, and is the largest island🏝️ in terms of land area in Sansha City.
Direct flight by plane✈️
Gather at Haikou Airport or Boao Airport, arrive in 1 hour by special plane
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🏝️4 days and 3 nights exploration and investigation activities on Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands
✅Submit personal information for application half a month in advance
✅Sansha special person to pick up the plane
✅Accommodation on Yongxing Island in Xisha Hotel or Military Guest House
✅Direct flights from Haikou/Boao/Sanya to Sansha
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🏝️Itinerary
D1: Hainan Airport✈️Yongxing Island-South China Sea Islands Monument-Sea Battle Bunker-South China Sea Fishing Village
D2: Dongsha Zhou, Xisha Zhou—Old Site of the Village Committee Coral Stone House Sovereignty Monument
D3: Flag-raising ceremony-Stone Island-Special person explains Xisha Marine Museum
D4: Yongxing Island✈️Hainan Airport
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🌟Highlights of the itinerary
✅Catch the sea on Yongxing Island and make a seafood feast
✅Send a postcard at the southernmost post office in China
✅Watch the tide rise and fall at the tide watching pavilion
✅Watch the century-old lighthouse in the sea that has experienced storms
✅Wait for a late-returning fishing boat at Yongxing Port
✅Watch the sunrise in the morning and the galaxy at night
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⚠️Precautions
✔️The ultraviolet rays on Yongxing Island are particularly strong, so be sure to prepare SPF40 or higher sunscreen, mosquito repellent, wind oil, sunglasses, sun protection clothing, sun hats, etc.
✔️The bank on the island🏦 is only open to residents on the island, so you can bring a small amount of cash for emergencies.
✔️The investigation of Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands is a unique journey, so be well prepared, bring common items and 💊
✔️You can eat all kinds of seafood in Xisha, but vegetables and daily goods are relatively monotonous, you can bring some food and fruits
✔️It is forbidden🚫 to bring drones and cameras📷 to the island privately
Yinyu Island Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
You must visit the Xisha Islands, which only Chinese citizens can go to, at least once
After returning from Xisha 🎈, I no longer care for the sea 👀, and henceforth, the Maldives are just another passerby 😒. This holiday 😜, I actually managed to check in at the beautiful and fertile Xisha Islands 🌴 mentioned in our primary school Chinese textbooks, which is the southernmost part of our motherland 💪, accessible only to our citizens 🚩, and a place where only 0.01% of the population has ever set foot 👣. I was captivated by the stunning beauty of the seven-colored seas 😍.
The waters of Xisha are truly beautiful 🌊, the flag-raising scene is truly awe-inspiring 🇨🇳, and the sunshine is truly intense 🌞.
As for the means of travel: you can choose between a cruise ship 🚢 or a sailing boat ⛵ (prices range from 6k to 20k).
🚢 Cruise ship - You have the choice of 'Nanhai Dream' (a bit old 😅) and 'Changle Princess' (newer 🤩), each with different departure times, so you can choose according to your schedule. I chose 'Nanhai Dream', which has quite comprehensive facilities 👍, with six-person rooms (no bathroom), four-person rooms (with bathroom), two-person rooms (with bathroom), and luxury suites (personally, I think the four-person rooms are quite cost-effective). The public baths 🛀 and toilets are very clean, meals are enjoyed in the restaurant as a buffet, and there is a restaurant bar on the deck with very transparent pricing 💰! Overall, the environment is quite comfortable 😌!
⛵ Sailing boat: I did some research before traveling, it's more free, and you can also go fishing 🎣!
About landing on the islands: Currently, only Yinyu Island and Quanfu Island are open, and there are speedboats from the cruise ship to the islands every day. The flag-raising ceremony on Yinyu Island is quite shocking 😲, and there are delicious seafood to taste, which is extremely fresh 😋! Quanfu Island is uninhabited, only suitable for taking photos, extremely exposed to the sun, with no shelter, so everyone quickly leaves after taking photos 🚶!
About water activities: Currently, there are no water activities available on the cruise ship (such as snorkeling, swimming, paddleboarding, etc.), but you can inquire about the situation on the sailing boat 🙋!
⚠️ Precautions:
Wear sandals or slippers with heels on the island 👡, prepare in advance!
Be sure to apply sunscreen, it's really extremely sunny, with no shade at all 🌚!
There is no signal at sea 📶, download some shows in advance!
Be sure to wake up early to watch the sunrise 🌅, it's beautiful!
The great beauty of Xisha
Xisha Islands' Quanfu Island and Yinyu Island are two very small islands, but they are breathtakingly beautiful.
Shidao Island Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Xisha Laolongtou
Xisha Laolongtou is a stele on the stone island next to Yongxing Island of the Xisha Islands. The stone island is located in the Xisha Xuande Archipelago of China, in the northeastern part of the Yongxing Island reef plate, covering an area of 0.08 square kilometers, with an altitude of 15.9 meters, which is the highest point of the Xisha Islands. In 2012, there was an approximately 800-meter-long man-made stone dike or small road connecting it to Yongxing Island, and by 2014, the island had merged with Yongxing Island. The stone island is flat like a platform, with steep sides all around, actually being a 10-meter-high plateau terrain, formed by the coral reefs that make up the stone island. Some of these reefs are cemented by coral sand deposits. The secondary coral reefs, originally in a nearly horizontal state, remained horizontal after uplift, thus forming the flat plateau terrain. These deposited gravel layers are not yet firmly cemented and are easily eroded by waves, hence the formation of vertical cliffs. On the island, there is a Chinese sovereignty monument and the 'Xisha Laolongtou' stele, as well as a veterans' forest, planted by the soldiers guarding the stone island when they left. Additionally, the entrance to the stone island is guarded, but a simple greeting allows entry. There are no obstructions on the island, and the vegetation consists of weeds and one or two artificially planted plants' withered stalks.
⏳Visiting Time:
Free admission, visiting time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Yongle Archipelago Scenic Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Jinqing Island of Xisha
beautiful the Xisha Islands are Cultural Notes domestic islands are awesome the beauty of nature together sea Jinqing Island is the southernmost oval-shaped island in the Yongle Atoll of the Xisha Islands, with an area of 0.21 square kilometers, and the sandbank is 3-5 meters above sea level. Among the various islands of Xisha, Jinqing Island is relatively larger in size. It is also a natural harbor for sheltering from the wind. When typhoons come, there is no need to hide on other islands; one can safely shelter from the wind on the island itself. The island also has more vegetation, which is conducive to living. In 1909, the admiral of the Guangdong navy, Li Zhun, named it 'Fubo Island' after his accompanying warship 'Fubo'. In 1935, it was announced as 'Dulanqiao Island', and in 1947, it was announced as Jinqing Island, in memory of Shi Jinqing, the pacification envoy of Sanfoqi who assisted Zheng He's voyages during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of Ming. Jinqing Island has white sandy beaches with fine sand grains, and colorful shells surge to the shore, making shell collectors so happy that they forget to return home. The driftwood on the beach and the roots of trees blown by the wind become the focus in the photographer's lens. There is a mission tower on Jinqing Island, and from the top of the tower, one can overlook many islands and reefs of the Yongle Archipelago.
⏳Visiting time:
Free admission, visiting time is 1 hour to 2 hours.
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