Beiqi sunrise
Over the poles.
Weiguang Teng — CC BY 3.0 · 爵士鼓手 — CC BY 3.0 · Allervous — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 颐园居 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Weiguang Teng — CC BY 3.0 · 爵士鼓手 — CC BY 3.0 · 中国郑开亮 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Weiguang Teng — CC BY 3.0
A long coast in north-eastern Fujian on the Taiwan Strait, where wide mudflats stretch between islands, laced with thousands of poles and nets planted in the sea to farm seaweed and oysters, which turn at sunrise and sunset into compositions of lines and reflections that draw photographers from across China. Xiapu's coastline runs some 480 kilometres, the longest of Fujian's coastal counties. Xiapu is among the oldest counties of eastern Fujian, more than 1,700 years old, and its name is said to come from its river, which shone like coloured clouds at sunrise. Visitors move between photo spots: Beiqi for sunrise and Xiaohao for sunset, about 18 kilometres from town, watching fishing boats and the seaweed harvest, with the scenes changing with the tides and the seasons. Most of the mudflats are free, a few spots ask small fees, and the best time is April to December, especially October and November, per visitor guides. Fast trains reach Xiapu from Fuzhou.
Over the poles.
On the flats.
In the sea.
Xiapu County coast, Ningde, north-eastern Fujian
April to December, best in October and November when there is less rain; it helps to check the tide times, as the scenes change with them.
Xiapu is known for seafood and halal restaurants are rare, so order fish and seafood cooked without pork; Fuzhou has more choice.