Short trip in Guangdong. Niche hidden gem. Few people, beautiful scenery. Spontaneous weekend trip to Yangjiang Shaba Bay.
🏖️🐳Yangxi Shaba Bay | Twin bay sea view + affordable seafood + family beachcombing
I. Basic overview
📍Location: Shaba Town, Yangxi County, Yangjiang City, a town with twin bays (Shaba Bay + Moonlight Bay)
🎫Overall free: The two major beaches and Beieling Observation Deck have no entrance fee; only Qingzhou Island speedboat and water activities are charged
Key differences between the twin bays (important distinction)
1. Shaba Bay (lively area)
Gentle waves, fine sand, safe shallow waters, suitable for family swimming and beachcombing; equipped with a Ferris wheel, night market, and fishing port; watch the sunset, vibrant atmosphere
2. Moonlight Bay (7.5 km long coastline)
Bluer water, open views, fewer people, quiet, jelly-like sea, great for photos; watch the sea sunrise, suitable for walking and surfing
Best time to visit
· Off-season preference: May–June, September–October, fewer crowds, lower accommodation prices, fewer typhoons, delicious seafood
· Peak season: July–August for summer water activities, need to book accommodation in advance
· Not recommended: November–March of the following year, strong sea winds, low water temperature, unable to go into the sea
II. Transportation guide
1. Self-driving (recommended)
Guangzhou/Foshan 3h, Shenzhen 4h, take Shenhai Expressway → Yangxi Exit; navigate to "Shaba Bay Tourist Center"
Parking lots throughout the town are free, ample parking spaces during peak season
2. High-speed rail and public transport
1. Take high-speed rail to Yangxi Station (Guangzhou South 1.5h)
2. Options from the station:
· Take a taxi directly to Shaba Town: CNY 80/car, 30 minutes
· Carpool: CNY 25–30/person
· Bus: Yangxi Bus Station shuttle bus CNY 10, 40 minutes to Shaba Town
3. Getting around town
Rent an electric scooter for CNY 50/day, super convenient for touring the twin bays, fishing port, and Beieling; most guesthouses offer free beachcombing tools
III. Must-visit attractions & activities
1. Shaba Bay Beach (free)
· Daytime: Wade in the waves, swim, beach amusement (carousel, mini train CNY 10–20), beachcombing on the mudflats (clams, moon snails, small crabs)
· Evening: Seaside Ferris wheel CNY 30/person, ascend to overlook the entire bay, stunning sunset silhouette
· Night: Beach night market, BBQ, fresh coconut, sky lanterns, full of atmosphere
2. Moonlight Bay Beach (free)
7.5 km crescent-shaped white sand beach, sea water gradually changes to blue; shallow and gentle, can enjoy banana boats, parasailing, beach ATVs; stunning sea sunrise in the early morning, quiet and suitable for photos and relaxing
3. Beieling Observation Deck (free, highest point in town)
10-minute walk to the summit, 360° panoramic view of both Shaba Bay + Moonlight Bay, best spot for sunset orange sea; equipped with a rainbow road, great for casual photos
Hidden branch: Take a small path down to Xiaoyu Bay wild beach, almost no tourists, a niche secret spot
4. Fishing port pier (free)
Fishing boats return to port daily from 6:00 AM–10:00 AM, freshest and most affordable seafood; after 4:00 PM, more room for bargaining when purchasing, buy and find a restaurant to process, save half the cost
5. Qingzhou Island (Yangxi Eight Sceneries · Qingzhou Fishing Lights)
Speedboat round trip CNY 50/person, 15 minutes to the island; pristine small island, snorkeling, sea fishing, shell picking; at night, fishing lights cover the sea, stunning starry sky; suspended during rough seas, prepare motion sickness medication
6. Popular photo spots
· Xinhai Cafe: Thatched-roof sea view cafe, window seats for blue sea photos
· Haizai Lake Boardwalk: Free for walks, lake reflections of the sunset are super healing
· Seafood Street: Buy dried squid, seaweed, fish maw as souvenirs
IV. Complete guide to beachcombing (a must for families)
1. Best spots: Mudflats north of Shaba Bay, Changjiaozui Salt Farm Beach
2. Golden hours: Arrive 1 hour before the lowest tide during the spring tides on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month; download "Tide Table Elf" to check daily low tide times
3. Essential tools: Small bucket, shovel, salt (to lure razor clams), non-slip wading shoes, gloves (sharp rocks and barnacles)
4. Harvest: Clams, moon snails, small crabs, razor clams; sea urchins and sea cucumbers smaller than 5 cm are recommended to be released
5. Safety reminder: Do not go deep into rocky areas, retreat immediately when the tide rises, no bare feet on rocks
V. Two classic itineraries
Option 1: Day trip (round trip from Pearl River Delta on the same day)
08:00 Depart from Guangzhou by car
11:30 Arrive at Shaba Town, buy seafood at the fishing port pier and process for lunch
13:30 Play in the water and take photos at Moonlight Bay Beach
16. 00 Beachcombing for shells at Shaba Bay during low tide
17. 30 Watch the twin bay sunset from Beieling summit
19:00 Ferris wheel + beach night market for snacks
21:00 Return trip
Option 2: Two days and one night (in-depth vacation, highly recommended)
Day 1 Sunset + vibrant atmosphere
Arrive at the guesthouse at noon and drop off luggage
Afternoon: Wade in the waves at Moonlight Bay, visit a sea view cafe
Evening: Purchase seafood at the fishing port, process at the guesthouse/food stall
17:30 Panoramic sunset at Beieling
Night: Stroll around Shaba Bay Ferris wheel, night market, enjoy the sea breeze on the beach
Day 2 Sunrise + beachcombing/island hopping
05:30 Watch the sea sunrise at Moonlight Bay
08:00 Beachcombing after breakfast
Choose one:
① Leisure: Explore Seafood Street in town, ride an electric scooter around the island
② Island: Take a speedboat to Qingzhou Island for snorkeling, sea fishing
Noon: Seafood feast, return trip in the afternoon
VI. Accommodation recommendations by area (choose according to needs)
1. Moonlight Bay area (quiet sea view, CNY 200–600)
Lanxing Peninsula, Moonlight Bay Sea View Hotel, direct access to the beach downstairs, floor-to-ceiling windows with sea views; fewer people, quiet, suitable for photos, watching sunrise, family hotels with children's playgrounds
2. Shaba Bay Binhai Road (lively and convenient, CNY 150–450)
First-line sea view guesthouses, 3-minute walk to the beach, Ferris wheel, night market; owners can lend beachcombing tools for free, process seafood on behalf of guests, convenient for dining
3. Shaba Town Center (affordable and cost-effective, CNY 120–280)
Not by the sea, but with complete dining and supermarkets, 5-minute electric scooter ride to the beach; preferred for low budgets
4. Multi-person team building villas (CNY 500–900)
3–5 bedroom villas near the sea, with BBQ, mahjong, kitchen, suitable for family/friends gatherings
VII. Must-try food | Seafood freedom guide
Seafood (CNY 50–80 per person for a full meal)
1. Purchase at the pier: Flower crab CNY 30/jin, mantis shrimp CNY 20, nine-section shrimp, golden pomfret, prices half of restaurants
2. Processing fee: Steamed CNY 10/jin, stir-fried/salt and pepper CNY 15, braised CNY 20
3. Signature dishes: Sea urchin fried rice, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, grilled oysters, steamed grouper, sand worm porridge
Local specialty snacks (CNY 5–15)
Pig intestine rolls, cuttlefish cakes, fried sweet potato (sprinkled with sour plum powder), grandma's seafood noodles, pineapple jelly, coconut sago
Recommended restaurants
Zhongshu Cuisine, Fengfeng Food Stall (frequented by locals, clearly priced with no overcharging)
VIII. Packing list & avoidance guide
Travel essentials
1. Sun protection set: Strong UV rays by the sea, hat, ice sleeves, sunglasses
2. Swimsuit, wading shoes (for water activities + beachcombing)
3. Mosquito repellent, light jacket (cool sea breeze in the evening)
4. Beachcombing tools (CNY 5–10 a set at town supermarkets, guesthouses may lend)
5. Power bank, tide app