Nan’ao, a stunningly blue island located in Shantou, Guangdong, is a picturesque coastal town covering just 112.049 square kilometers. This jewel-like island is akin to an emerald, nestled in the azure sea.
With its windmills, lighthouses, waves, and sunsets, Nan’ao Island fulfills all your imaginations of a perfect island getaway. The island sees a fraction of the tourists compared to Sanya, with visitor numbers not even reaching 1% of the popular destination.
This allows you the freedom to rent an electric vehicle and ride along the coastline, enjoying the emerald-green shallow waters reminiscent of the Maldives, the blue skies and coconut groves that rival Hawaii, and the refreshing and artistic coastal roads similar to those in Xiamen.
While the island is delightful to explore, lacking a proper travel plan might lead to some regrets. To help you out, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Nan’ao Island Travel Guide, covering attractions, transportation, accommodation, dining, and more. If you’re planning a trip to Nan’ao Island, keep this article handy!
Nan’ao Island
Situated in Shantou, Guangdong, Nan’ao Island lies south of the South China Sea. The island boasts an incredible environment, serving as an important habitat for Chinese White Dolphins. Often referred to as the “Hawaii of the East,” Nan’ao Island is the only island-wide AAAA-level national tourist attraction in China!
Despite its modest size, Nan’ao Island is home to numerous attractions. We recommend spending around two days on the island, allowing you to explore at a leisurely pace—the perfect approach to island travel.
The island offers various ways to explore, including cycling, self-driving, and public transportation, each providing a unique experience. Let’s take a brief look at some of the attractions, and you can plan your itinerary according to your preferences.
🏖️Qing’ao Bay
Qing’ao Bay boasts soft, white sand that stretches for 2,400 meters along a stunning coastline. It’s an ideal spot to watch the sunrise, being the first place in Guangdong to catch the sun’s first rays.
If you’re traveling by car, consider bringing along camping tables, chairs, and lanterns. Set them up on the beach and sit back as you watch the sun slowly rise over the horizon, painting the sky in dreamy colors that will become one of your most cherished memories from the trip.
Donning light-colored clothing for a photoshoot on the beach will yield incredibly photogenic results, perfectly capturing the summer vibe.
🏝️Dingpeng Island
Dingpeng Island is one of the outlying islands off Nan’ao, and the farthest from the main island. Surrounded by reefs and rocks, the seawater here boasts a visibility of up to five or six meters, making it absolutely stunning!
The island is home to shallow waters perfect for snorkeling. Even if you can’t swim, you can still experience the joys of snorkeling and immerse yourself in the charm of this pristine island!
🌳Huanghua Mountain Forest Park
🎫Ticket: 20 yuan/person
The only island-based national forest park in Nan’ao! With a forest coverage rate of 90%, the park is filled with lush greenery and fresh air. It even features a marker for the Tropic of Cancer, allowing you to cross between the northern and southern hemispheres in an instant!
Stroll along the “Most Beautiful Coastal Road in Eastern Guangdong,” and climb to the top for breathtaking sunset views overlooking the vast, boundless sea.
📌Guazaipeng Windmills
Drive or ride an electric vehicle (ensure the battery is fully charged) to the mountaintop, where you’ll be greeted by hundreds of wind turbines forming a spectacular wind farm. It’s an awe-inspiring sight that feels like stepping into a fairy tale world, showcasing the wondrous power of nature.
🐟Yun’ao Fishing Port
Yun’ao Fishing Port, a filming location for the movie “Four Seas,” is a tranquil fishing village and one of the largest fishing ports in Guangdong. It’s a place where you can truly experience the raw, authentic charm of island life.
Every day, hundreds of fishing boats enter and leave the port, creating a grand spectacle. A wide variety of seafood is unloaded from the boats in baskets, many of which you may have never seen in markets before.
If you wish to catch the fishermen’s morning market, plan to arrive by 6:00 AM (and avoid wearing white clothing or shoes). Indulge in a fresh seafood feast here to satisfy your taste buds!
📌Qian’ao Bay Lighthouse
The lighthouse stands tall, overlooking the expansive seascape. Waves crash against the rocks, sometimes surging high and creating layers of foaming spray, roaring incessantly. Here, you can witness a rare and magnificent scene.
Transportation to Nan’ao Island
✈️ How to get to Nan’ao Island?
From other cities to Shantou: Nan’ao Island is an island located in Shantou, Guangdong. First, take a high-speed train to [Shantou Station] or a plane to [Jieyang Airport] (there’s an airport express to Shantou city center).
From Shantou to Nan’ao Island: After arriving in Shantou, you can take a taxi or drive to the island, which requires a 96 yuan bridge toll. For public transportation, take bus 105 directly to Nan’ao Island for a fare of 12 yuan. (Taking the bus does not require a bridge toll.)
🚗 Transportation on the Island
Nan’ao Island is not very large, but there are many attractions scattered around. A loop around the island is about 60+ kilometers, and you can drive, rent a car, take a bus, or rent an electric vehicle.
Renting a small electric vehicle (convenient and fun)
No need to worry about traffic jams; you can stop and go as you please, making it more enjoyable (but do pay attention to safety!). It’s recommended to find an electric vehicle that offers a daily rental package, which is more cost-effective. You can also inquire with your hotel or homestay about rental services.
Island-loop bus (time-consuming, early closing)
There’s a bus stop at the visitor center, mainly serving the southern half of the island. The advantage is that it’s cheap, costing only around 10 yuan to circle the island. However, the disadvantages are obvious: the bus runs every half hour, wasting valuable sightseeing time, and it stops operating around 6-7 PM, so you need to be mindful of the return time.
Car rental/self-driving (suitable for friends from surrounding provinces and cities who can drive)
The roads on the island are quite easy to navigate. It’s recommended to use GPS navigation throughout the journey and download offline maps in advance. Try to avoid small roads to prevent getting lost.
Nan’ao Island Routes
Reference route for electric vehicle 🛵 island loop tour:
Sanlongyan Lighthouse – Qing’ao Bay Tropic of Cancer – Zhuqi Wan – Jinyin Island – Baisha Bay – Zouma Village in Shen’ao Town – Longbin Road in Houzhai Town – Xiangyun Square
Reference route for car 🚗 self-driving tour:
Nan’ao Bridge – Changshanwei Lighthouse – Tianzi Geological Park – Island Ring Road – Qian’ao Bay Lighthouse – Qianjiang Bay Internet-famous Wall – Tianyushanzhuan – Sanlongyan Lighthouse – Windmill Mountain – Qing’ao Bay Beach – Zouma Village – Forest Park – Exit the island
Nan’ao Island Food
Nan’ao Island is a small island under Shantou City, so the cuisine is the same as Shantou’s, which means that Nan’ao Island is very delicious…
Beef hotpot, Chaoshan pickled meats, seafood, rice noodle rolls, rice cakes… everything you can eat in Chaoshan can be found here, and the prices are just as beautiful, very wallet-friendly!
As for specific restaurants, I won’t make individual recommendations here. You can search for local food rankings after arriving, choose based on ratings, or check out the busiest places – you can’t go wrong!
Nan’ao Island Accommodation
For accommodation, if you want to see the sunrise, it’s recommended to stay in Qing’ao Bay; for sunset views, stay in Houzhai Town.
The island is mostly home to homestays, with many beautifully decorated designer options. I strongly recommend choosing a sea-view room – the effect can be seen above↑! As for other facilities and locations, you can choose based on your own needs and budget.
Nan’ao Island Tips
- Please check the weather forecast before coming. Make sure to visit during good weather! The weather affects the quality of sea views.
- To take photos with the four characters “Tropic of Cancer,” you need to enter Huanghua Mountain Park, which has a 20 yuan entrance fee and requires queuing for photos. You can decide for yourself whether to go or not.
- Just choose the lighthouse you like for check-in photos; there’s no need to visit all of them.
- The “blue tears” phenomenon in Nan’ao is a matter of chance. It was indeed present in previous years, but now it’s difficult to encounter. Some of the dazzling and beautiful “blue tears” online were created by sprinkling fluorescent powder for photography purposes.
- The bridge toll to drive to Nan’ao Island is 96 yuan, collected only once for a round trip. There’s no bridge toll during statutory holidays. Taking the bus does not require a bridge toll.
This summer, take this super-detailed [Nan’ao Island Travel Guide] and embark on an island-looping tour!
