Located at the most southwestern point of China’s coastline, Fang Chenggang is surrounded by sea. On the map, it can be found south of Guangxi autonomous region.

With a population of only 1 million, it doesn’t enjoy much fame worldwide. However, the city is an interesting blend of modern life and pristine beauty. Stretches of beaches, gleaming sand, and all-year-round sun glare, mean it’s easily mistaken for Hawaii by some. A trip here will reveal much more fun.

The aerial view of Fang Chenggang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Huang Songhe]

The harbor lit by neon lamps is the biggest in the western region of China.[photo/Qian Guiqian]

Scenic spots:

A tour here includes three must-do activities: Going to the beach, mountain climbing and going abroad.

People lounge in their chairs on the Wanwei golden beach, Dongxing.[Photo/Yang Min]

Bailang Beach, honored as “The Oriental Hawaii”, is situated in the southeast of Jiangshan Peninsula. The beach stretches 5.5 kilometers long and 2.8 kilometers wide, which makes it a good place for people to enjoy sports such as beach soccer and volleyball. Here the waves strike the shore row after row, and that’s how the beach gained its name. [Photo/Liang Zongyang]

The breathtaking scenery of Shiwan mountain, Shangsi county. [Photo/Yang Fuying]

Covered with colorful stones, the rock patch looks gorgeous in the hue of sunset.[Photo/Liang Zongyang]

The well-protected ecological environment has attracted many egrets to settle there.[Photo/Long Xiangdong]

Festivals of Jing minorities

The Jing minority, characterized by its unique traditional customs, is one of the most distinctive minorities in the South China Sea. They have lived on Jing Peninsula, Dongxing (a county-level city of Fang Chenggang) for generations and make a living by fishing. The Hajie Festival is held annually to show respect to the “sea-god”. The Chinese word “Ha” means singing. During the festival, people sing and dance all day and night, and it’s quite a spectacle to see how they offer sacrifices to the “sea-god”. A single-string instrument is played by people of all ages. It is regarded as a traditional treasure and sounds extremely beautiful.

Women in costume perform a bamboo dance to celebrate the harvest.[Photo/Chen Yicai]

People in the ceremony offer sacrifices to the “sea-god”. [Photo/Liang Zongyang]

Jing people play the single-string instrument during a ceremony. [Photo/Zhang Dajin]

Spending most of their time on the sea, Jing people have developed a bizarre halieutic called “fishing on stilts”. Here is how it works: the fisherman ties his feet to a pair of one-meter-high stilts and then with a large net slung on his shoulder, walks toward the shallow sea to hunt for his target, river prawns. Why do they need to wear “high heels”? I was confused at first, until the locals explained that with the help of the stilts, whose ends are pointed, fishermen can move faster in the sea to catch the swimming shrimps. In addition, the fisherman can be raised to the right height to capture as much river prawns as he can. What a brilliant innovation!

The bizarre halieutics “fishing on stilts”. [Photo/Liu Xiaoming]

Jing people embrace a harvest of shrimps.[Photo/Zhou Lisheng]

Another way of fishing is to pull the net for crabs and fish. [Photo/Long Xiangdong]

Young boys make the sea a playground for themselves.[Photo/Long Xiangdong]

Dong Xing: Hustle and bustle

Dong Xing, a county-level city in Fang Chenggang, is in the southwest of Vietnam. Because of the location, the city has become a hub of cooperation with Asian countries, especially Vietnam. As the local people say, the easiest way to go abroad is to walk across the Beilun Bridge from Dong Xing Custom to get to Mong Cai, a city in Vietnam.

Shopping provides an alternative to going abroad. The fairs along Dongxing-Mong Cai have various items on sale. Goods like perfumes, made in Vietnam, are pleasantly cheap. Vietnamese vendors, who can be easily identified by their green helmet, will stop you now and then to promote their jade, jewels, bracelets and horn combs. Fruits like durian, manggis and red bayberry are piled high like mountains in baskets.

Above all, Dong Xing is a prominent market for importing mahogany from Asian countries. . Products made from mahogany, such as classical furniture and handicrafts, are extremely popular with both locals and people from abroad.

What is my last tip for your trip here? Remember, friendly bargaining is allowed here!

National flags adorn a whole street in Dong Xing.[Photo/Chen Yicai]

The market is “Heaven for shopping”.[Photo/Chen Yicai]

A man is smiling as the Maitreya Buddha does.[Photo/Huo Yan]

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