Seaside Park’s Hidden Photo Spots

Do you think all the seas in China look the same? Wrong! At the southernmost tip of Guangdong, in Zhanjiang, there’s an “unconventional” coastal park — here you can swim in a “sea pool,” take a “water bus” across the bay, and even dig up oysters and crabs at low tide! Even more amazing, you can stand in the park and watch warships! While other tourists crowd into Sanya, you can have the entire coastline of Zhanjiang Seaside Park to yourself, enjoying sea breezes cooler than air conditioning and eating freshly caught seafood... This isn’t just sea viewing; it’s unlocking a “hidden seaside vacation level”! 1. Zhanjiang Seaside Park’s “Unbelievable Features”: Swimming in the Sea + Warships in the Frame + Seafood Freedom 🏊‍♂️ Sea Pool: Hardcore swimming by treating the sea as your pool • The park hides a “semi-open pool” connected to the bay, with water directly drawn from the South China Sea, refreshed three times daily, clearer than ordinary pools • The pool has deep and shallow zones, with the deep area reaching 2.5 meters, offering the magical feeling of “floating on your back in the sea watching clouds” • A “tide indicator” is set by the poolside; at high tide, seawater overflows the pool edge, creating a “sea and sky as one” swimming scene (perfect for photos) 🚤 Water Bus: 10 yuan boat ride crossing the “sea overpass” • Six daily water bus trips run between Seaside Park and Techeng Island, a 15-minute ride passing under the Zhanjiang Bay Cross-Sea Bridge • The upper deck is the best viewing spot, perfect for shots of “boats passing under the bridge, people swimming in the picture” • Hidden tip: Bring breadcrumbs in advance; when the boat starts, seagulls chase it, and you can feed them by hand 🦀 Tide Pooling: Digging oysters is easier than treasure hunting • The reef area on the park’s west side is a natural tide pooling spot; at low tide, oysters, blue crabs, and spicy sea snails hide in the exposed reef crevices • Locals recommend the “tide pooling three-piece set”: small shovel (to pry oysters), long tongs (to grab crabs), plastic bucket (to hold your catch) • Hidden bonus: Take your oysters to the barbecue stall at the park entrance; for a 5 yuan processing fee, you can enjoy freshly grilled seafood 2. Deep Experience: The “Seaside Twelve Hours” from Sunrise to Sunset 🌅 6:00-8:00 AM: Hardcore romance with warships in the frame • The sea-view promenade on the park’s east side is the best shooting spot; morning sunlight gilds the warships with a golden outline • Use a telephoto lens to capture warships alongside morning joggers; posting this on social media will have people asking, “Which movie set is this?” • Hidden spot: The reef area at the promenade’s end offers a triple composition of “warship + lighthouse + sunrise” 🌊 9:00-11:00 AM: Unlock the park’s “hidden identity” • Think it’s just a park? It’s actually an “open-air museum” — over 20 sculptures line both sides of the promenade, each with a story • Must-find sculptures: “Daughter of the Sea” holding a pearl, “Fisherman’s Song” with a conch horn; mimicking the sculptures’ poses makes photos more fun • Hidden feature: Scan the QR codes at the sculpture bases to hear “audio guides” (including Cantonese versions) 🌇 5:00-7:00 PM: Seafood market’s “taste carnival” • The “Xiashan Seafood Market” on the park’s south side is a local foodie secret; fishing boats dock after 5 PM • Must-try trio: garlic steamed oysters (2 yuan each), boiled shrimp (35 yuan per jin), salt and pepper mantis shrimp (45 yuan per jin) • Hidden tip: After buying seafood, go to the “street food stalls” opposite the market for cooking; processing fees are 5-15 yuan per dish, half the price of restaurants 3. Locals’ Hidden Gems: Three spots even better than the main attractions 📍 Photo Spot 1: “Sky Mirror” by the pool • Around noon on sunny days, the pool surface forms a perfect mirror reflecting blue sky, white clouds, and warships • Shooting tip: Wear light-colored clothes, squat by the pool edge and shoot from a low angle to create the illusion of “walking in the air” 📍 Photo Spot 2: “Tree Hole Tunnel” in the middle of the promenade • A banyan grove in the promenade’s center forms natural tree holes with intertwined branches; sunlight filters through leaves creating dappled light • Best time to shoot: after 3 PM when light is soft, perfect for fresh forest-style photos 📍 Photo Spot 3: “Fishermen’s Mural” in the market’s back alley • Behind the seafood market is a 30-meter-long mural depicting fishermen’s lives, including net mending and fish drying scenes • Interactive fun: Pose in front of the mural mimicking the characters, like pulling nets 4. Family-Friendly: Stress-free plans for kids and elders 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parent-Child Route 7:00 Warship viewing → 9:00 Swimming in the pool → 11:00 Sculpture treasure hunt → 13:00 Lunch at seafood market → 15:00 Cycling on the promenade (rent family bikes) → 17:00 Tide pooling experience → 19:00 Sunset photos before heading back 👵 Elder-Friendly Tips • Transport: Taxi directly to “Seaside Park South Gate” (near seafood market) or take bus to “Seaside Park Station” • Rest spots: shaded areas by the pool, stone benches on the promenade, air-conditioned restaurants in the market • Special experiences: listen to elders tell “Zhanjiang’s anti-French stories” (free), buy shell crafts (starting at 10 yuan), try “fishermen’s net mending” (an elderly lady teaches at the market entrance) 5. Pitfall Warnings: Avoid these traps 1. Timing traps: • Avoid 12:00-14:00 (sun is harsh, easy to get sunburned) • Don’t tide pool in the reef area at high tide (risk of getting trapped) • Pool is crowded on weekend afternoons; weekdays are better 2. Spending tips: • When buying seafood, check “three things”: gills (bright red is best), flesh (firm, not loose), activity (freshest are lively) • Ask prices before seafood processing to avoid hidden fees • Souvenir shops in the park are pricey; better to buy from small stalls near the market 3. Clothing advice: • Tops: wear quick-dry clothes (dries fast after swimming) • Bottoms: wear non-slip sandals (reef area is slippery) • Accessories: bring sunscreen (UV at the coast is twice that of the city), sunglasses (sunlight reflection is glaring), folding stool (for elders to rest) 6. Cultural Easter Eggs: “Living history” hidden in the park • “French charm” remains: the clock tower and flower beds date from the French colonial period; the clock chimes at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 6 PM daily • “Mangrove defense battle”: the mangroves by the promenade were a secret base for fishermen hiding from Japanese troops during the war; a monument now stands there • “Secret warship culture”: the park management occasionally holds “warship open days”; with advance booking, you can board the ships (follow the official account for notices) 7. Nearby Attractions: Perfect one-day itinerary 1. Morning: Seaside Park (3 hours) → Techeng Island (15-minute water bus ride) 2. Noon: Eat “Mangrove Seafood Hotpot” on Techeng Island (about 50 yuan per person) 3. Afternoon: Return to city → Chikan Old Street (explore Republic-era architecture) → Jinsha Bay Sea-view Promenade (watch sunset) 4. Evening: Xiashan Seafood Market night snack (fried noodles + sweet soup, about 20 yuan per person)