Weizhou Island (wéi zhōu dǎo 涠洲岛) is the biggest as well as the youngest volcanic island. It is located in the southeast of Beihai City (běi hǎi shì 北海市), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (guǎng xī zhuàng zú zì zhì qū 广西壮族自治区). Covering an area of 24.74 square kilometers, it is 6.5 kilometers from south to north and 6 kilometers from east to west. It is ranked by the China National Geography Magazine as One of the Top Ten Most Beautiful Islands in China, and regarded as “the Penglai Fairy Land of the South China Sea”.
English is not widespread on Weizhou. As English is a school subject younger local people and children will be pleased to have a little English chat with foreign visitors. The dialect on Weizhou differs greatly from northern China's Mandarin. However, there are quite a lot of people who speak Mandarin, too.
Ferries to Weizhou depart daily from Beihai scheduled at 8:30AM, 11:15AM, 4:00PM and 5:30PM. First class ¥180/trip (advisable if you don't want to sit too close to your vomiting co-travellers). Second class ¥120/trip. In tourist season there may be more ferries, and during heavy sea, none.
The island has an impressive fleet of motor tricycles (¥5-20 per trip). The tricycle drivers rarely speak English. For exploring the island on one's own, motor scooters (¥120/day), e-bikes (¥80/day) and bicyles (from ¥20/day for city bikes up to ¥60/day for mountain bikes) can be rented as well. The deposit for renting is between ¥200 and ¥300. The renting prices may rise during Chinese national holidays.
Be aware that you need to own a Chinese driver's license to drive motor scooters on your own.
If you want to know more info about this island, you can contact with China tour agents.
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