Xiamen to Xiapu Tour: Nanputuo Temple + Zhongshan Road + Island Ring Road + Sunset at Xiaohao Village
Early this morning, you can visit Nanputuo Temple, known as the "Buddhist holy site of Minnan," and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere before the crowds arrive. Nanputuo Temple was first built in the late Tang and Five Dynasties, with a history of over a thousand years. It is one of Fujian's most famous temples, the birthplace of the Minnan Buddhist Academy, and one of China's four major Guanyin pilgrimage sites. Influenced by Minnan overseas Chinese culture, it is highly favored in Southeast Asia. There is even a folk legend of blessing: "Walk to Nanputuo for one year, avoid suffering for three years." Incense burns all year round. You can stroll and admire the serene temple scenery, check in at the Great Compassion Hall (a model of Minnan Buddhist architectural art, with red bricks, glazed tiles, and octagonal triple eaves being the most exquisite), the Sutra Library (housing a Ming Wanli blood-written Lotus Sutra), and other magnificent and exquisite Buddhist buildings. If interested, you can also experience Nanputuo Temple's famous vegetarian cuisine or taste traditional handmade vegetarian cakes.
Then, you can stroll along Zhongshan Road, Xiamen's most representative century-old street, and experience the rich old Xiamen charm. Zhongshan Road is China's only commercial pedestrian street that directly leads to the sea. The street retains a large number of complete Nanyang arcade buildings and historical relics, known as the "living fossil of modern Xiamen history." Here, you can immersively admire the ancient Nanyang architecture, taste authentic specialty snacks, and watch wonderful intangible cultural heritage performances such as Nanyin and puppet shows.
Alternatively, you can walk into the alleys near Zhongshan Road to explore local life in Xiamen and taste Minnan-style foods such as satay noodles and oyster omelets. Seafood is a highlight of Xiamen cuisine. You can visit the nearby Eighth Seafood Market, see uncommon seafood varieties, and taste local seafood. (PS: If you decide to dine at the Eighth Market, be sure to negotiate prices before purchasing seafood to avoid any misunderstandings.)
Afterward, you can leisurely drive along the Island Ring Road, known as one of "China's most beautiful coastlines," and enjoy the picturesque sea highway scenery. Along the way, you can take in the subtropical coastal scenery of "blue sea and golden sand reflecting the red road, palm flower seas accompanying sculptures." If you want to fully enjoy the charming island scenery, you can stop and slowly appreciate places such as Yefengzhai (one of Xiamen's iconic seaside attractions, with a distant view of Kinmen Island), Baicheng Beach (in the evening, you can photograph the Twin Towers and the orange sea in the same frame), Huangcuo Beach (Xiamen's best sunrise viewing spot), and Zengcuoan (China's most artistic fishing village).
In the afternoon, you will head to Xiamen Railway Station and take a high-speed train (about 2.5-4 hours) to Xiapu, known as "China's most beautiful mudflat." Our driver will meet you at the Xiapu Railway Station exit and escort you to our carefully selected hotel for check-in. Today, our professional guide will arrange the most suitable photography locations for you based on actual weather and tide conditions.
This afternoon, you will go to Xiaohao Village, about 20 kilometers from Xiapu County, for photography. Xiaohao Village is one of the best representatives of Xiapu's mudflat scenery and an excellent spot for sunset shots. Its sandy mudflats, under tidal washing and light refraction, create a colorful "neon" effect, called "flowing oil painting" by the photography world. It has different light and shadow changes throughout the year, and the sunset scene of mudflats reflecting rosy clouds is listed by National Geographic as a classic shooting location. This is also the main scenery we will photograph today. In addition, you may capture mudflat textures under front and backlighting, fishermen at work, and marine aquaculture scenes.
Xiaohao Village Sunset Photography Tips
1. Shooting location: Climb to the top of the hill along the dirt road to capture breathtaking panoramic sunset views, overlooking the mudflats, fishing boats, and distant mountains; if lucky, you can also capture flocks of egrets in flight.
2. Best months: March to May and September to October are the golden periods for photography in Xiaohao Village, Xiapu. Spring has soft light and shadow, while autumn is clear with few clouds.
3. Shooting tips: Wide-angle (16-35mm) is suitable for panoramas; medium telephoto (80-200mm) is suitable for fishermen at work or local textures; long telephoto (200-400mm) can compress the layers of fishing boats, mudflats, and distant mountains, highlighting geometric lines. In addition, when the tide recedes to half-dry, the lines of seaweed farming poles and winding water channels on the mudflats are most beautiful.
After sunset, you can leisurely stroll along the Light and Shadow Boardwalk, enjoying the intoxicating flowing blue-toned light and shadow on the mudflats, and the magical spectacle of fishing lights interwoven with evening glow. Then, head to Yugongting Beach to enjoy the silhouette of fishing boats under the molten gold sunset, the scattered reef and mudflat light and shadow, and the pristine sea view of mirror-like sand traces and clear seawater after the tide recedes.
🍽️ Breakfast included
🏨 Xiapu County