Top 10 Beaches in China: The Complete 2026 Guide

The taxi driver from Sanya Phoenix Airport looked at me in the rearview mirror and laughed. Not a mean laugh—the kind you get when you’ve asked something genuinely stupid. I’d just told him I wanted to go to “the quiet beach.” He said something in Mandarin I didn’t catch, then switched to English: “Every tourist says that. Then they complain there’s nothing to do.”

I’d been in China for three years at that point, and I still hadn’t learned: beaches here aren’t like the ones back home. They’re louder, more crowded, more chaotic—and sometimes, if you know where to look, more beautiful than anything you’ve seen.

This guide covers ten beaches I’ve actually been to, waded into, sat on for hours, and sometimes regretted visiting. Each one taught me something about China’s coastline, which stretches over 18,000 kilometers and ranges from subtropical paradise to industrial port. I’ve included the practical stuff—prices, transport, entry fees—but also the things I wish someone had told me before I showed up with nothing but a towel and an optimistic attitude.

The Short Version

Skip the famous beaches in Sanya unless you like shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and overpriced coconuts. Go to Weizhou Island instead. Skip Beidaihe entirely—it’s not worth the trip from Beijing unless you’re desperate. The best beach in China is probably Yalong Bay in Sanya, but the most interesting one is Silver Beach in Beihai. Arrive early, leave by 2 PM, and always carry cash for the chair rentals.

How I Picked These

Over seven years of living in Beijing and traveling through China forty-plus times, I’ve visited maybe thirty beaches. Some were accidents—I got off at the wrong bus stop, followed a sign that led nowhere, trusted a local who said “just five minutes walking.” Others were planned trips that went sideways. I’ve talked to fishermen, hostel owners, taxi drivers, and the elderly women who sell grilled corn on the sand. This list isn’t comprehensive. It’s personal. I left out beaches I found dirty, dangerous, or just boring. I included ones where something unexpected happened.

Comparison Table

Rank	Place	Best For	Approx Cost (USD)	Time Needed	When to Go
1	Yalong Bay, Sanya	All-around beauty	Free entry, $30-50/day	2-3 days	Nov-Apr
2	Weizhou Island	Escape from crowds	$15 ferry, $20-30/day	2-4 days	Apr-Oct
3	Silver Beach, Beihai	Sunset walks	Free	1-2 days	May-Oct
4	Laoshan Beach, Qingdao	Beer + coastline	Free	1 day	Jun-Sep
5	Gulangyu Island, Xiamen	Quirky charm	Free (ferry $5)	1-2 days	Oct-Apr
6	Jinshitan, Dalian	Rocky scenery	$10	1 day	Jun-Aug
7	Dadonghai, Sanya	Budget base	Free	1-2 days	Nov-Apr
8	Haitang Bay, Sanya	Luxury resorts	Free, $100+/day	2-3 days	Nov-Apr
9	Shilaoren, Qingdao	Local vibe	Free	Half day	Jun-Sep
10	Phoenix Island, Sanya	Instagram photos	Free	Half day	Nov-Apr

1. Yalong Bay — The One That Actually Looks Like a Postcard

I remember standing in the sand at Yalong Bay, water up to my knees, thinking: This can’t be China. The water was clear—actually clear, not “clear for Asia” clear. The sand was white and fine, the kind that squeaks under your feet. Behind me, palm trees. In front, the South China Sea, calm and warm like bathwater. A woman floated past me on a rented inflatable flamingo, drinking a coconut.

This is the best beach in China for a simple reason: it delivers what it promises. The water is swimmable nine months a year. The sand is maintained. The resorts along the 7.5-kilometer crescent are mostly high-end, which keeps the crowd density lower than the public beaches in Sanya city. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

📍 Location: Yalong Bay National Resort, Sanya, Hainan Province. About 30 minutes east of Sanya city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free. The beach is public. Chair rentals run $5-10 (35-70 CNY). Umbrellas extra.

🕐 Hours: 24/7, but lifeguards are present roughly 8 AM to 6 PM. Don’t swim at night—currents shift.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 15, 24, or 25 from Sanya city center. Get off at Yalong Bay Central Square. Or take a taxi from Sanya for about $12 (85 CNY). From the airport, it’s $15 (105 CNY) and 40 minutes.

⏰ When to visit: November through April. Avoid Chinese holidays—National Day (Oct 1-7) and Spring Festival (late Jan/early Feb) are nightmares. Go on a weekday, arrive by 9 AM.

💡 Insider tips:

• The water gets rougher in the afternoon. Swim in the morning.
• Don’t rent chairs from the first guy you see. Walk 100 meters east, prices drop.
• The seafood restaurants on the main strip are overpriced. Eat at the small noodle shop behind the Holiday Inn.
• Bring reef shoes. There are sea urchins near the rocks at the east end.
• The best snorkeling is at the far west end, near the Pullman Hotel.

I met a retired Australian named Dave who’d been coming here every winter for eight years. He told me the secret was to ignore the resorts entirely and just walk. “The beach changes every fifty meters,” he said. “You just have to find your piece of it.”

2. Weizhou Island — Where I Finally Understood What People Mean by “Hidden Gem”

The ferry from Beihai took about an hour. I’d read online that Weizhou Island was “undiscovered,” which in China usually means “discovered last year.” But when I stepped off the boat, the air smelled different—not diesel and fried food, but salt and wet earth. The harbor was chaotic with scooters and women selling hats, but once I walked past the first row of buildings, the noise dropped away.

Weizhou Island is a volcanic island about 30 kilometers south of Beihai. The beaches here aren’t as polished as Sanya’s, but they have something better: space. You can walk for ten minutes on the eastern beach without seeing another person. The water is clear, the sand is dark volcanic gray, and the sunsets from the western side are the best I’ve seen in China.

📍 Location: Weizhou Island, Beihai, Guangxi. Take a ferry from Beihai International Passenger Port.

🎫 Entry fee: Island entry is about $15 (105 CNY). The ferry is $20-30 (140-210 CNY) round trip. Beaches are free.

🕐 Hours: Ferries run 8 AM to 5 PM. Last ferry back is usually 5:30 PM. If you stay overnight, you’re stuck until morning.

🚆 Getting there: From Beihai city center, take bus 3 or 21 to the International Passenger Port. Buy ferry tickets in advance—they sell out. The high-speed ferry takes 70 minutes. The regular ferry takes 2 hours.

⏰ When to visit: April to October. Avoid July and August if you hate humidity. Weekdays only. The island gets packed on weekends.

💡 Insider tips:

• Rent a scooter on the island for about $10 (70 CNY) per day. It’s the only way to see everything.
• The Catholic church on the island is worth a visit—built by French missionaries in the 1800s.
• Eat at the seafood market near the harbor. Buy fresh fish from the boats, take it to a restaurant, they’ll cook it for $3 (20 CNY).
• The sunrise at the eastern beach is better than the sunset. I know that sounds wrong. Trust me.
• Bring mosquito repellent. The island has mosquitoes that laugh at DEET.

I ate grilled squid at a beachside stall run by a woman who’d lived on the island for forty years. She didn’t speak English. I didn’t speak enough Mandarin. We communicated by pointing and smiling. The squid was the best I’ve had anywhere.

3. Silver Beach, Beihai — The Sunset That Made Me Miss My Bus

I sat on the sand at Silver Beach for two hours watching the sun go down. I’d planned to leave at 5 PM. At 6:30, I was still there, watching the light change from gold to orange to pink to purple, thinking: I’ll just catch the next bus. There wasn’t a next bus. I ended up taking a taxi back to my hostel, paying triple what the bus would have cost. Worth it.

Silver Beach gets its name from the fine, white sand that glitters in the sunlight. It’s not the best swimming beach—the water is shallow for a long way out, and the bottom is uneven—but for walking, sunset-watching, and eating street food, it’s hard to beat. The promenade behind the beach is lined with restaurants and snack stalls. The grilled oysters cost about $1 (7 CNY) for six.

📍 Location: Silver Beach, Beihai, Guangxi. About 10 kilometers south of Beihai city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free. Chair rental $3-5 (20-35 CNY).

🕐 Hours: Open 24/7. The restaurants close around 10 PM.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 3, 17, or 21 from Beihai city center. Get off at Silver Beach stop. Walk 200 meters south. From the train station, it’s a $5 (35 CNY) taxi ride.

⏰ When to visit: May through October. Come at 4 PM for the best light. Avoid weekends if possible.

💡 Insider tips:

• The best sunset spot is at the west end of the beach, near the rocks.
• Don’t swim here during typhoon season (July-September). The currents are dangerous.
• The seafood restaurant with the red sign and no English menu is the best one. Point at what you want.
• Bring a towel to sit on. The sand gets everywhere.
• There’s a small park behind the beach with a pagoda. Climb it for a view of the whole bay.

I watched a group of local teenagers build an elaborate sand castle, then film it with a drone. When it was done, they kicked it apart and ran into the water laughing.

4. Laoshan Beach, Qingdao — Beer, Rocks, and a Surprising Amount of History

I went to Qingdao for the beer. I stayed for the coastline. Laoshan Beach sits at the foot of Laoshan Mountain, about 40 kilometers east of Qingdao city center. It’s not a swimming beach—the water is cold even in August, and the current is strong—but it’s the most dramatic coastline in northern China. Giant granite boulders line the shore. Pine trees grow out of cracks in the rocks. In the distance, the mountain rises green and misty.

The beach itself is a narrow strip of sand between the rocks and the sea. You can walk for miles along the coastal path, which winds past temples, fishing villages, and viewpoints that look out over the Yellow Sea. The water is clear and cold. The air smells like pine and salt.

📍 Location: Laoshan Scenic Area, Qingdao, Shandong. Take bus 104 or 304 from Qingdao city center to Laoshan.

🎫 Entry fee: Laoshan Scenic Area is about $15 (105 CNY). The beach is included.

🕐 Hours: 7 AM to 5:30 PM. Last entry at 4 PM.

🚆 Getting there: From Qingdao city center, take bus 104 or 304 from the bus station near Qingdao Station. Get off at Laoshan. The ride takes about an hour. Or take a taxi for $20 (140 CNY).

⏰ When to visit: June through September. Go on a weekday. The mountain gets crowded on weekends.

💡 Insider tips:

• Bring a jacket. Even in summer, the wind off the sea is cold.
• The Tsingtao Beer Museum in Qingdao city is worth a visit. Go before the beach.
• Don’t try to climb Laoshan Mountain in one day. It’s bigger than it looks.
• The seafood restaurants at the base of the mountain are cheaper than in the city.
• The coastal path is better than the beach itself. Walk east for the best views.

I met a German guy at a beer stand who’d been coming to Qingdao for ten years. “The beer is better here than in Germany,” he said. I didn’t argue.

5. Gulangyu Island, Xiamen — The Beach That’s Also a Museum

Gulangyu Island is strange. It’s a car-free island off the coast of Xiamen, filled with colonial-era mansions, narrow alleys, and tiny beaches. The main beach, on the southern side, is small and crowded, but the water is warm and the setting is unique. You’re swimming in the shadow of old European buildings, with Xiamen’s skyline in the distance.

The island itself is the attraction. The beach is a bonus. I spent a day wandering the alleys, eating egg waffles, and listening to someone practice piano in a building that used to be a British consulate. The beach was where I went to cool off and watch the ferries come and go.

📍 Location: Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, Fujian. Take a ferry from Xiamen’s ferry terminal.

🎫 Entry fee: Ferry is about $5 (35 CNY) round trip. The beach is free. Some of the old buildings charge entry fees of $2-5 (14-35 CNY).

🕐 Hours: Ferries run 6 AM to midnight. The island is open 24/7, but most shops close by 9 PM.

🚆 Getting there: From Xiamen city center, take a taxi or bus to the ferry terminal. Buy ferry tickets at the terminal or on WeChat. The ride takes 10 minutes.

⏰ When to visit: October through April. Avoid summer—it’s hot, humid, and crowded. Go on a weekday.

💡 Insider tips:

• Book ferry tickets in advance online. They sell out.
• The beach on the north side of the island is quieter than the main one.
• Don’t eat at the restaurants on the main tourist street. Walk into the alleys.
• The piano museum is worth a visit. It’s in an old church.
• The best time to visit is early morning, before the crowds arrive.

I watched a wedding photoshoot on the beach. The bride’s dress got wet. The photographer looked stressed. The bride was laughing.

6. Jinshitan, Dalian — The Beach That’s Not Really a Beach

Jinshitan, or Golden Pebble Beach, is what happens when a beach is made of rocks instead of sand. It’s not comfortable to lie on. You need shoes to walk. But the coastline is spectacular—tall cliffs, sea arches, rock formations that look like they belong in a fantasy novel. The water is cold and clear. The views are worth the discomfort.

The beach is part of a larger national park that includes hiking trails, a golf course, and a discovery center. I spent most of my time walking the coastal path, stopping at viewpoints, and watching the waves crash against the rocks. I didn’t swim. The water was too cold, even in August.

📍 Location: Jinshitan National Park, Dalian, Liaoning. About 50 kilometers northeast of Dalian city center.

🎫 Entry fee: $10 (70 CNY) for the park. The beach is included.

🕐 Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM.

🚆 Getting there: Take the Dalian Metro Line 3 from Dalian city center to Jinshitan Station. The ride takes about an hour. From the station, take a free shuttle bus to the park entrance.

⏰ When to visit: June through August. September is also good, but the water is colder.

💡 Insider tips:

• Wear shoes with good grip. The rocks are slippery.
• Bring water and snacks. The food inside the park is expensive and bad.
• The best rock formations are at the eastern end of the beach.
• The golf course is open to non-members. It’s not cheap, but the views are incredible.
• Go early in the morning to avoid the tour groups.

I slipped on a wet rock and fell into a tide pool. A Chinese family helped me up. The grandmother handed me a tissue. I was embarrassed. They were kind.

7. Dadonghai, Sanya — The Budget Beach That’s Actually Fine

Everyone told me to skip Dadonghai. “Too crowded,” they said. “Too touristy.” They were right, but they were also wrong. Dadonghai is the public beach in Sanya city, and yes, it’s crowded. Yes, the vendors are aggressive. Yes, the water isn’t as clear as Yalong Bay. But if you’re on a budget, it’s fine.

I stayed at a hostel two blocks from Dadonghai for a week. I walked to the beach every morning, swam for an hour, then ate breakfast at a noodle shop on the corner. The beach was never empty, but it was never unmanageable. The water was warm. The sun was strong. I paid $1 for a coconut. I didn’t need anything else.

📍 Location: Dadonghai, Sanya, Hainan. About 5 kilometers east of Sanya city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free. Chair rental $2-4 (14-28 CNY).

🕐 Hours: 24/7. Lifeguards until 6 PM.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 2, 4, 8, or 15 from Sanya city center. Get off at Dadonghai stop. Walk 200 meters south.

⏰ When to visit: November through April. Avoid Chinese holidays.

💡 Insider tips:

• The vendors selling sunglasses and sarongs will overcharge. Bargain hard.
• The best swimming is at the east end of the beach.
• Don’t leave your stuff unattended. Theft happens.
• The restaurants on the street behind the beach are half the price of the ones on the beachfront.
• The night market near the beach has good street food. Try the grilled squid.

A vendor tried to sell me a “Rolex” for $20. I said no. He followed me for 50 meters, dropping the price to $5. I still said no. He laughed and walked away.

8. Haitang Bay, Sanya — Where the Rich People Go

I went to Haitang Bay because I’d heard it was “the next big thing.” It is, if by “big thing” you mean “enormous luxury resorts with private beaches.” The public beach at Haitang Bay is technically free, but it’s surrounded by hotels that cost $300 a night. The water is beautiful. The sand is well-maintained. The vibe is… quiet.

I walked along the beach for an hour and saw maybe twenty people. Most of them were resort guests. A few were locals fishing. The water was the clearest I’d seen in Sanya, and the swimming was excellent. But it felt sterile. There were no vendors, no music, no chaos. Just expensive hotels and empty sand.

📍 Location: Haitang Bay, Sanya, Hainan. About 30 kilometers east of Sanya city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free for the public beach. Resort beaches are for guests only.

🕐 Hours: 24/7.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 33 or 35 from Sanya city center. Get off at Haitang Bay. Or take a taxi for $15 (105 CNY).

⏰ When to visit: November through April. Weekdays only.

💡 Insider tips:

• The public beach entrance is near the Haitang Bay Shopping Center.
• Don’t try to use the resort facilities. They check room keys.
• The shopping center has a good food court with reasonable prices.
• The best swimming is in front of the Shangri-La Hotel, but stay on the public side.
• Go at sunset. The light is incredible.

I watched a group of resort employees rake the sand at 7 AM. I felt bad for them. The sand looked perfect.

9. Shilaoren, Qingdao — The Beach Where Locals Actually Go

Shilaoren, or Old Man’s Stone, is named after a rock formation that looks like an old man’s face. It’s the most popular local beach in Qingdao, and it’s where I went when I wanted to see how Chinese people actually do beaches. The answer: with a lot of enthusiasm.

Families set up tents and stay all day. Kids run around with inflatable toys. Elderly people swim in the cold water without flinching. Vendors sell grilled corn, sausages, and beer from coolers. The atmosphere is loud, chaotic, and joyful. The water is cold. The sand is average. But the energy is unmatched.

📍 Location: Shilaoren Beach, Qingdao, Shandong. About 15 kilometers east of Qingdao city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free. Tent rental $5-10 (35-70 CNY).

🕐 Hours: 24/7.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 102, 104, or 125 from Qingdao city center. Get off at Shilaoren. Walk 300 meters south.

⏰ When to visit: June through September. Go on a weekend if you want the full experience.

💡 Insider tips:

• The water is cold. Don’t expect tropical temperatures.
• The best food is from the vendors near the entrance, not the restaurants.
• Bring a tent or umbrella. There’s no shade.
• The rock formation is at the east end of the beach. It’s smaller than you’d think.
• The beer vendors sell Tsingtao in plastic bags. It’s a Qingdao tradition.

I watched an elderly man swim out to a buoy and back, nonstop, for 45 minutes. When he came out, he didn’t look tired. He looked bored.

10. Phoenix Island, Sanya — The Beach That’s Mostly for Photos

Phoenix Island is a man-made island off the coast of Sanya, connected by a bridge. The beach is small and artificial. The water is clear but shallow. The main attraction is the view: five curved towers that look like something out of a sci-fi movie, rising out of the sea. It’s the most photographed spot in Sanya, and for good reason.

I went to Phoenix Island on my last day in Sanya. I took photos. I walked the beach. I watched the sun set behind the towers. It was beautiful. It was also empty of any real beach experience. No swimming (the water was too shallow). No vendors. No locals. Just tourists taking selfies.

📍 Location: Phoenix Island, Sanya, Hainan. About 3 kilometers west of Sanya city center.

🎫 Entry fee: Free. Parking is $2 (14 CNY).

🕐 Hours: 24/7.

🚆 Getting there: Take bus 16 or 25 to the Phoenix Island stop. Walk across the bridge. Or take a taxi for $3 (21 CNY).

⏰ When to visit: November through April. Sunset is the best time.

💡 Insider tips:

• The bridge is pedestrian-only. You can’t drive onto the island.
• The best photo spot is from the beach, looking west.
• Don’t plan to swim. The water is too shallow.
• The island is mostly luxury apartments. You can’t go inside the towers.
• Go at sunset. The light makes the towers glow.

I took a photo of a couple taking a photo of each other. We all laughed. It was that kind of place.

FAQ

Q: Do I need a visa to visit these beaches in 2026? A: Many nationalities now get visa-free access to Hainan for up to 30 days. For the mainland beaches (Qingdao, Beihai, Xiamen, Dalian), most visitors still need a visa. Check the latest policies before booking.

Q: Can I use my credit card at these beaches? A: No. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you come. Some vendors at tourist beaches accept international cards, but most don’t. Always carry some cash for small purchases.

Q: Is it safe to swim at these beaches? A: Most of the time, yes. But pay attention to flags and signs. Chinese beaches have strong currents, especially during typhoon season (July-September). Never swim at night.

Q: Do I need a VPN to use my phone at the beach? A: Yes, if you want to access Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook. Install a VPN before you arrive. Some beaches have good signal, some don’t. Download offline maps before you go.

Q: Can I buy a SIM card at the airport? A: Yes. China Unicom and China Mobile have booths at all major airports. A tourist SIM with data costs about $20-30 (140-210 CNY) for 7-14 days. Bring your passport.

Q: Will I find English speakers at these beaches? A: At the tourist beaches in Sanya and Xiamen, yes. At local beaches like Shilaoren or Jinshitan, no. Download a translation app. Google Translate works with a VPN. Baidu Translate works without one.

Q: What should I pack for a beach trip in China? A: Reef shoes (many beaches have rocks or sea urchins), a towel (beach towels are expensive), sunscreen (bring from home, Chinese brands are different), a hat, and a portable charger. Don’t bring valuables.

The Honest Wrap-up

This list isn’t for everyone. If you want pristine, empty beaches with perfect water and no people, go to Thailand or the Philippines. China’s beaches are different. They’re crowded, chaotic, and sometimes disappointing. But they’re also full of life.

I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit sitting on Chinese beaches, watching families, eating grilled corn, and trying to communicate with vendors who don’t speak English. I’ve been stung by jellyfish, burned by the sun, and soaked by unexpected rain. I’ve also seen sunsets that made me forget to breathe.

If you’re coming to China, don’t skip the beaches. Just adjust your expectations. The best beach in China isn’t the one with the clearest water or the whitest sand. It’s the one where something unexpected happens.

Go to Yalong Bay for the beauty. Go to Weizhou Island for the escape. Go to Shilaoren for the chaos. And whatever you do, don’t ask a taxi driver for “the quiet beach.”