Nan'ao is Guangdong Province's only island county, connected to the mainland by the dramatic 11-kilometre Nan'ao Bridge. It offers some of south China's finest beaches, photogenic lighthouses and a thriving fishing-raft culture. Hengtong Holiday (+86 137 9925 4912) shares its best tips.
Getting There
From Xiamen, drive about 3.5 hours via the Shenhai Expressway. From Shantou or Chaoshan Station, it's roughly one hour. The bridge is toll-free for cars. The 68 km ring road is ideal for self-driving or a chartered car.
Top Sights
Qing'ao Bay
A crescent of powdery white sand and clear blue water, often called the "Oriental Hawaii". The "Gate of Nature" Tropic of Cancer monument stands at its centre. Great for swimming and beach sports.
Sancongya Lighthouse
Nan'ao's most photographed spot. The red-and-white lighthouse perches on a sea cliff — especially magical at sunset when the lamp switches on.
Floating Fish Rafts
Visit a working fishing village of wooden rafts where farmers raise abalone, grouper and seaweed. You can feed fish, try sea angling and enjoy your catch cooked on the spot.
General's Mansion
Ming-Qing era military headquarters in Shen'ao town. A giant banyan marks the place where Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) famously recruited soldiers in 1647.
Food & Stay
Don't miss the seafood: steamed grouper, raw-cut squid, sea-urchin steamed egg and the famous Nan'ao dried squid (a national GI product). Stay at Qing'ao Bay for sea views, Houzhai town for local life, or Shen'ao for tranquillity. Hengtong Holiday partners with several sea-view boutique hotels at preferential rates.
Best Time to Visit
April through November offers beach weather; May–June and September–October are most comfortable with the best seafood. July–August is busiest and hottest.
Our 5-day Chaoshan Pure-Play Tour (from RMB 2,680) includes an overnight on Nan'ao. Contact +86 137 9925 4912.