'''Beihai''' (_k_C) is a small city in Guangxi on the Southwest coast of China.

Understand

Beihai is not heavily touristed by foreigners, and English is not widespread. There are excellent beaches and lots of cheap food, including Vietnamese food since many refugees came here. Weather is warm for most of the year, however during winter months it's not warm enough to work on your tan at the beach.

Get in

There is a boat to Haikou and buses to other nearby cities such as Nanning, Zhanjiang, Liuzhou and Guangzhou.

There are a couple overnight buses from Guilin and at least one from Liuzhou going via Nanning.

From Nanning there are a dozen buses going to Beihai on a daily basis, with the best bet being the Landong Long-Distance Bus Station in eastern Nanning along the express way.

There is also a schedule direct flight from Shanghai city on every Thuesday,Thursday,Sunday.It is operated by Juneyaoairlines which is based in Shanghai city.The Flight takes off at 5:30Pm from Shanghai Pudong airport,and arrives at 8:50pm.

Get around

There are many taxis, motor-bike taxis and tricycle taxis. However, they will often try to overcharge you if they know you are not a native of China, or Beihai, and so it is wise to travel with a native and find out the standard fees. Taxis should use a meter. Haggling is customary in China so don't be afraid to ask for a lower rate. Getting a motorbike ride from the bus station to the port is about RMB 10.

Take the buses no.3 to get silver beach in about 10min. The fee is 2.0 RMB.you can get on one by the Beibu wan Square(pronunced "bay booh wahn gwahng chahng") Square (_k___p__?).

See

Silver Beach, named for its silver white sand, is a few km outside Behai and well worth visiting. If you have the chance to stick around Silver Beach until dark, you will be in for a wonderful sight. If the sky is clear and the light from the moon is shinning on the water, you will be treated to the fluorescent seaweed that grows fairly close to the shore line.

Do

Silver Beach

Underwater World

Oceanorama / Exhibition Center of Shellfish and Coral Located halfway between the long-distance train station and the Silver Beach along the route of bus no.3, Beihai's Oceanorama is a must-see for aquarium-enthusiasts. Featuring over a thousand kinds of coral and shellfish, the combined complex also features a large collection of fish, sharks, and turtles, as well as a ten meter tall column-style aquarium. In addition to the sea-life, there is also a large section on China's naval history, with some nods to foreign expeditions as well. Of particular interest is the exhibit on the Ming Dynasty Muslim-eunuch Admiral Zheng He, including a detailed comparison between his massive treasure ships and the comparatively tiny vessels of Christopher Columbus. While the 100rmb entrance fee seems a bit steep it is not difficult to spend 2-3 hours wandering through the complex, especially if one of the center's English speaking Chinese tour guides is available. Besides this the Oceanorama also has an extensive commercial wing for those interested in buying genuine pearls. The adjacent "4D Cinema" is a bit of a tourist trap at 25rmb for a 15 minute film, but for those with a bit of extra cash to spend it is an enjoyable experience. Viewers may choose between several different movies to watch, including the supernatural "Escape from Bane Manor". Sadly, there are no English subtitles.

Take a ferry to Wei Zhou Dao(island). A slow ferry leaves Bei Hai at 8:30AM and leaves Wei Zhou Dao at 3:30PM. There is a slow and fast ferry. The slow ferry (1 1/2 hours) costs about RMB 90 and the fast ferry (1 hour) costs about twice as much. Supposedly there is a bus to Nanning that meets the ferry returning from Wei Zhou Dao. Nice beaches are scattered around the island. The island is not built up yet, but by 2009 a new town will be added on the East coast after the new pier is built. Things are changing here fast. In 2005 there were no tourist buses, now there are eight. Get a tour around the island, eat seafood, stay the night anywhere you can find someone that will put you up, or just walk the beaches on the port side of the island. There are some tourist hotels inland and they will cook for you. There are hawkers that will meet the ferry, so have an idea what you want to do. There are many street restaurants by the present pier and an open air market. There are also many scenic spots around the island and historical spots two including two churches. Tourists pay RMB 50 to see the sites if the guard is around.

Locals enjoy staying up late and one of the best things to do in Beihai is just to wander around streets with food and market stalls. There are a couple of public parks that are open late and many locals head there at weekend nights to have a drink, do some dancing and just to meet their friends.

Buy

The area produces pearls, and they are sold nearly everywhere.

Eat

There is seafood everywhere and it is very cheap, about half the price of Shanghai or Hangzhou.

There are two big sea food markets in Beihai, Donghai Market and Nanzhu Market. The price in Donghai Market is much more reasonable, but the quality is a little bit lower than Nanzhu Market.

There is a place to the northern seaside assembling many wigwams named Wai Sha (pronounced "Y sha ") offer tourists cooked various sea food. Tourists are warned that going to the island restaurants may be difficult for those unable to speak Chinese as they may have to haggle over the price of seafood per "wu bai ke" (500 grams).

also Bei Yun Market_i_k_]_s?_j_CGui Zhong Market can you buy some raw seafood.

the drysaltery of the aquatic product can be bought in Shui Chan Pin Market (__?_s?)

In the fishing village Di Jiao /Dee djiau/ ,there are some small eatery can offer cooked much cheaper sea food.

When ordering anything with meat in a restaurant there's a change of getting rat meat although you ordered beef. Be careful when naming meat. Beef = niu rou ("new jow") Pork = Zhu rou ("tchoo jow") Chicken = ji rou ("tchee jow") Duck = ya rou ("ya jow") Rice = mi fan ("mee fan") Beef noodles = niu rou mian ("new jow mee-ene")

By far, some of the best eating in Beihai takes place at any of the various night markets. Most night markets tend start around dusk, and food can be purchased from a wide variety of vendors who, in addition to cooking up local seafood, vegetables and serving drinks, also provide plastic seats and chairs.

A delicacy in Beihai (as in other coastal/sub tropical Chinese cities) is a pineapple on a stick. Yours for 1 - 2 RMB.

In Chang Qing lu (Chang Qing street) you will find a good pizzeria. The banner of the restaurant is a blue bear. The pizzareria is able to offer some foreign food of good quality. There is two sizes of pizza : 6" and 9". As the 6" is too small for the common foreigner, choose the 9" for 29 RMB. The pizzaria also propose some food specialities of Italy, USA or France, eg a big choice of Italy ice-cream and spaghetti, rices and soups. You will be very welcomed and will possibly get a free ice-cream to wait your pizza, and free tea. A must-go for the foreigner who miss foreign food too much.

Drink

The wine Dong Yuan (??) made by variety of propagation can be use as daily or medical drink once serving some of China national sports teams is considered curative for arthritis etc.

Sleep

Beihai has several good hotels, such as the Beihai Shangri-La and Beihai Furama. Hotel prices are much cheaper than other tourist cities, only about 60 dollars for a single room in the five star Shangri-La.

There are also quite a few lower cost hotels. Across the street from the bus station there are a bunch of hotels from RMB 35 and up. Some are better than others. Look at the room then ask for a discount. Depending on the room, the hotel may or may not be willing to turn on the heat during winter months.

Get out

There is a train, two trips from Beihai to Nanning daily. To go out of Guangxi, there are flights.

The cheapest, and for some situations most convenient, way out of Behai is to take a bus. Among the possibilities are overnight buses to Guangzhou and Zhuhai.

There are buses to Nanning running continually during the day (last quoted RMB 58 10-FEB-08).