Xunliao Bay Complete Guide 2026: Tickets, Transport, Hotels & Best Seafood
If you are planning a coastal getaway in Guangdong Province, Xunliao Bay should be at the very top of your list. As someone who has spent years exploring every stretch of Huizhou’s coastline, driven every back road to its hidden coves, and eaten at virtually every seafood restaurant from here to Daya Bay, I can tell you with full confidence that Xunliao Bay is the most well-developed, visitor-friendly beach destination in the entire Huizhou administrative region. This is not marketing language — it is the settled conclusion of hundreds of hours of on-the-ground research.
Xunliao Bay is located on the eastern coastline of Huizhou City, in Huidong County, along the coastal belt that forms the northern shore of the South China Sea. The bay sits approximately 60 kilometers from central Huizhou city, which translates to roughly 90 minutes of travel time under normal traffic conditions. Geographically, it occupies a privileged position on the western coast of the Taiwan Strait-adjacent South China Sea, giving it a maritime climate that is milder and more temperate than the inland areas of Guangdong. For visitors coming from Shenzhen, Dongguan, or Hong Kong, Xunliao Bay is one of the most accessible beach destinations within a two-hour drive, which explains why it draws millions of visitors each year — and why it has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure over the past decade.
What sets Xunliao Bay apart from the many other beach destinations within a three-hour radius of Shenzhen is the combination of three things: natural beauty, comprehensive infrastructure, and a genuine local food culture that has not been entirely consumed by mass tourism. The water quality here has been officially rated Grade A by the Guangdong Provincial Environmental Monitoring Bureau, which is a distinction shared by very few bay areas along the Guangdong coast. This matters because it means the water you swim in is clean, the sand is free from significant industrial contamination, and the marine ecosystem remains relatively healthy — you will actually see fish in the shallows if you look carefully.
The bay’s coastline stretches for approximately 28 kilometers, making it one of the longest continuous beach zones in Guangdong Province. This length is divided into four distinct beach districts, each with its own character, price point, and target visitor demographic. Understanding these districts before you arrive will save you significant confusion — and potentially significant money.
The first district is Sandie Sands (三角下), which occupies the southernmost section of the bay and is the original beach that sparked Xunliao Bay’s tourism boom in the early 2000s. Sandie Sands is characterized by a relatively narrow but well-developed beachfront strip lined with mid-range hotels, seafood restaurants, and souvenir shops. The sand here is pale gold and fine-grained, and the slope into the water is gentle, making it suitable for swimming during most of the tidal cycle. This is the most crowded district on weekends, primarily because it was the first area to develop and therefore carries the highest concentration of day-trippers from Shenzhen and Dongguan.
Diamond Bay (金海湾钻石酒店区) is the premium district, named for the cluster of four-star and five-star resorts that line its beachfront. The sand here is wider, cleaner, and better maintained than in the Sandie Sands area, and the water is noticeably clearer. The resorts along Diamond Bay have private beach sections that are considerably less crowded than the public beach areas, and if you are willing to pay for a resort room, you gain access to these facilities. Diamond Bay is the district of choice for visitors who prioritize comfort, clean facilities, and a more managed beach experience. Hotel rates here typically range from ¥400 to ¥800 per night during peak season, with premium ocean-view rooms commanding the higher end of that range.
Sishen Bay (石狮湾) is the most geographically dramatic section of the bay, named for a large rock formation that juts into the sea at its northern end. The beach here is broader than in Diamond Bay, and the surrounding hills create a more enclosed, sheltered bay within the larger bay. Sishen Bay is favored by mid-range travelers who want good beach access without the premium pricing of Diamond Bay. Hotels in this district typically range from ¥200 to ¥400 per night, offering a solid balance between quality and cost. The area has seen significant development over the past five years, and several new boutique hotels have opened that offer creative architectural designs and good family facilities.
Pearl Bay (珍珠港) is the budget district, located at the northern end of the bay near the fishing port. This area is popular with younger travelers, backpackers, and families who are watching their expenses closely. The beach here is functional rather than picturesque — it is narrower and the surrounding area is more industrial — but the water quality remains excellent and the prices are genuinely affordable, with hotel rates typically between ¥100 and ¥200 per night. Pearl Bay also has the advantage of being closer to the fishing harbor, which means access to genuinely fresh seafood at prices significantly lower than what you will pay in the tourist-oriented restaurant rows closer to Diamond Bay.
How to Get There
Reaching Xunliao Bay from Huizhou city is straightforward, and you have two primary options: public bus or self-driving. Each has distinct advantages depending on your budget, schedule, and comfort level.
For those using public transport, the most cost-effective option is the direct bus from Huizhou Bus Station (惠州汽车客运站) to Xunliao Bay. Buses depart approximately every 30 minutes during daylight hours, and the journey takes between 90 minutes and two hours depending on traffic conditions. The fare is ¥35 per person, which is genuinely reasonable for a journey of this distance. Buses will typically drop passengers at the main intersection near the Sandie Sands district, from where it is a short walk or taxi ride to your hotel. If you are heading to Diamond Bay or Sishen Bay, budget an additional ¥15 to ¥30 for a taxi from the bus drop-off point. This is the option I recommend for solo travelers or small groups who are watching their budget, because the bus is comfortable enough, the route is direct, and the savings are real.
Self-driving is the preferred option for families, groups, or anyone who wants maximum flexibility. The route from Huizhou city center to Xunliao Bay is approximately 60 kilometers, and the primary route is via the Huizhou-Zhuhai Expressway (惠大高速连接线) which connects to the coastal highway (X210县道) that runs along the bay. Under ideal traffic conditions, the drive takes 60 to 75 minutes. However — and this is critical — weekend traffic can extend this to two and a half hours or more, particularly on Saturday mornings between 8:00 and 11:00 when Shenzhen and Dongguan day-trippers arrive in large numbers. My strong advice is to leave before 7:30 AM if you are driving from Huizhou or Shenzhen on a weekend, or plan to arrive after 3:00 PM when the morning rush has subsided.
For visitors coming from Shenzhen, the drive is approximately 120 kilometers and typically takes 90 minutes to two hours via the Shenzhen-Huizhou Expressway (深汕高速) connecting to the coastal route. From Hong Kong, you can take a direct bus from Hong Kong’s Star Ferry terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui or from various points in the New Territories; journey time is approximately three hours and fares range from HK$120 to HK$180 depending on the operator.
Tickets and Opening Hours
Xunliao Bay Scenic Area operates a ticketed entry system. During peak season — defined as May 1 through October 31 — the entry fee is ¥60 per adult. Children under 1.2 meters in height enter free of charge, and children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters are charged a reduced rate of ¥30. During the off-peak season from November through April, the ticket price drops to ¥40 per adult and ¥20 for children in the reduced-fare category.
The scenic area’s operating hours run from 7:00 AM through 7:00 PM daily. It is worth noting that during summer months, 7:00 PM corresponds with golden hour and excellent photography conditions, but it also means the beach will be crowded with the day’s last visitors. If you prefer a quieter experience, arrive early — by 8:00 AM the beach is at perhaps 15 percent capacity and the light is beautiful.
Online booking is available through the official Xunliao Bay Scenic Area WeChat public account and through major Chinese travel platforms including Meituan, Ctrip, and Lvmama. Booking online typically offers a discount of ¥5 to ¥10 per ticket, and more importantly, allows you to skip the ticket queue at the entrance. For weekend visits, I strongly recommend booking online at least one day in advance, as the ticket windows can develop queues of 30 to 60 minutes during peak arrival hours.
Some hotel packages in Diamond Bay include scenic area entry tickets as part of the room rate, so if you are staying at a resort in that district, check with your hotel before purchasing separate tickets.
Best Areas to Stay
Choosing where to stay at Xunliao Bay is one of the most consequential decisions you will make for your trip, and I want to be direct about the trade-offs so you can make an informed choice that matches your priorities.
If your priority is comfort, resort quality, and a managed beach experience, Diamond Bay is the clear choice. The hotels here — including the Huizhou Xunliao Bay Resort (惠州金海湾嘉华度假酒店), the Sheraton Huizhou Beach Resort (惠东金海湾喜来登度假酒店), and several boutique options — offer rooms that meet international standards, private beach access, multiple swimming pools, and well-trained service staff. Expect to pay between ¥400 and ¥800 per night during peak season, with breakfast typically included at the mid-range and above. The beaches at Diamond Bay are maintained daily, the shower and changing facilities are clean and functional, and the overall environment is considerably more orderly than the public beach areas. For couples on a romantic getaway or families who can afford the premium, Diamond Bay is worth every yuan.
If you want good quality at moderate prices, Sishen Bay offers the best value proposition. The past several years have seen a wave of new hotel construction in this district, and properties like the Huizhou Sishen Bay Seaview Hotel (惠州石狮湾海景酒店) and the Qiniu Seaview Boutique Hotel offer rooms that rival Diamond Bay quality at 40 to 60 percent of the price. Night rates typically range from ¥200 to ¥400, and many of these newer hotels have rooftop pools or direct beach access. Sishen Bay also has the advantage of being slightly less crowded than Sandie Sands, giving it a more relaxed atmosphere.
Pearl Bay is for travelers for whom budget is the primary constraint. The hotels here are functional and clean but dated, the beach facilities are basic, and the surrounding area lacks the visual appeal of Diamond Bay. That said, for ¥100 to ¥200 per night, you get a roof over your head, a bed, air conditioning, and a beach within walking distance. The real advantage of Pearl Bay, as mentioned earlier, is its proximity to the fishing port, which means access to the freshest seafood at the most authentic prices. If you are the kind of traveler who plans to spend most of your time at the beach and in the water, and who plans to eat seafood every day, Pearl Bay’s lower accommodation cost means you can spend more on food without blowing your budget.
Where to Eat
The seafood at Xunliao Bay is, frankly, one of the primary reasons to make the trip. The South China Sea off this coast is rich with marine life, and the fishing fleets based at the nearby ports bring in fresh catch daily. The key to eating well here — and not overpaying — is understanding the landscape.
The most tourist-oriented dining area is Xunliao Seafood Street (巽寮海鲜美食街), a purpose-built restaurant row that runs parallel to the beachfront in the Sandie Sands district. This street has over 30 restaurants, and on the surface it appears to be a seafood paradise. And it is — but it is also the most expensive area to eat. Restaurant prices on Seafood Street are calibrated for day-trippers who will likely never return, and you will pay 30 to 50 percent more for the same dishes here than you would at equivalent-quality restaurants a five-minute walk away. The seafood is fresh and the cooking is competent, but if you are on any kind of budget, this is not where you should be eating.
Instead, head to the restaurants clustered around the fishing harbor at the northern end of Pearl Bay, or to the small restaurant cluster at the edge of Sishen Bay near the fish market. At these locations, you are eating where the fishermen eat, and the prices reflect that. A steamed grouper — the signature dish of the region — will cost you approximately ¥80 at a harbor restaurant versus ¥120 to ¥150 at a Seafood Street restaurant. Salt-baked mantis shrimp, another regional specialty, runs about ¥50 to ¥60 per plate at harbor restaurants versus ¥80 to ¥100 on Seafood Street.
The standard bargaining protocol applies at harbor restaurants: look at what other tables are eating before you sit down, check if there are prices on the menu (often there are not), and be prepared to ask for the price before ordering anything if the menu is unclear. A useful phrase is “这个多少钱” (how much is this), and you should ask this for any dish you intend to order before the order is placed. Restaurant owners who deal primarily with locals will quote fair prices if they sense you are a serious eater. Those who primarily serve tourists may try their luck. A light but confident demeanor in Chinese will serve you well.
My personal signature dishes for Xunliao Bay are: steamed grouper (清蒸石斑), salt-baked shrimp (盐焗虾), stir-fried mantis shrimp with garlic (避风塘炒濑尿虾), steamed clam with garlic and black bean (豉汁蒸蛤蜊), and sea urchin fried rice (海胆炒饭). These five dishes represent the full range of what the local waters produce and what the local kitchens do best.
Author’s Tips
After years of visiting Xunliao Bay in all seasons and all conditions, here are the pieces of practical advice I consider non-negotiable.
First, the best time to visit is weekday mornings. From Tuesday through Thursday, the beach operates at 30 to 40 percent of its weekend capacity, the water is clean, the restaurants have no wait, and you will actually be able to hear the waves. If you can only visit on weekends, arrive before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to avoid the worst of the crowd. The period between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on a Saturday is genuinely拥挤 — not just crowded, but挤.
Second, bring cash. Many small restaurants, beach vendors, and parking attendants do not accept mobile payment in practice even if they claim to, and the mobile signal at the beach can be unreliable. Carry at least ¥300 in cash per person for a day trip.
Third, water sports are widely available and genuinely fun. Jet ski rental runs approximately ¥100 for 15 minutes, banana boat rides are around ¥50 per person, and parasailing is approximately ¥150 per session. All operators along the beachfront are licensed and required to carry insurance, but do confirm this before boarding. Negotiate the price before you get on the equipment — initial quotes are typically inflated by 20 to 30 percent.
Fourth, parking on weekends is a genuine challenge. The main public parking lots fill by mid-morning on Saturdays and Sundays, and illegal roadside parking is common and risks fines. If you are self-driving on a weekend, consider parking at your hotel and using taxis or the local bus for local travel, or arrive extremely early.
Author’s Warnings
Xunliao Bay is a beautiful destination, but it is not a perfectly managed one, and I think you deserve to know the genuine risks before you arrive so you can make informed choices.
The most important warning is that there are no lifeguards on most of the beach. The exception is a small section of the Sandie Sands public beach near the main entrance, which is typically staffed by two to four lifeguards during peak hours. The rest of the 28-kilometer coastline has no professional lifeguard presence. This means you swim at your own risk, and you should not assume that anyone is watching. This is particularly important for families with young children. Do not let children swim without direct, within-arm’s-reach supervision from an adult who can swim. The ocean here can produce sudden currents even in calm-looking conditions, and the absence of lifeguards means the difference between a close call and a tragedy can be measured in seconds.
Jellyfish appear in the water during summer months, typically from June through September. Most encounters result in nothing more than minor skin irritation, but severe stings do occur and medical treatment at the small local clinic can be slow. If you see jellyfish floating in the water — they are translucent and difficult to spot — get out of the water immediately and alert others. Carrying a basic first-aid kit with vinegar (which neutralizes jellyfish toxin) is a prudent measure for summer visitors.
The parking situation on weekends is genuinely chaotic and occasionally dangerous. Cars double-park along the coastal road, blocking traffic flow, and minor fender-benders are common. Do not leave valuables in your car, as break-ins from smashed windows do occur when cars are parked in unsupervised areas.
Visitor Voice
“We came from Shenzhen on a Saturday morning — left at 6:30 AM to beat the traffic, which the locals had warned us about. Arrived at 8:00 AM and had the Diamond Bay beach practically to ourselves for two hours. The water was incredible, clearer than I expected. We ate at the harbor restaurant near Pearl Bay for lunch — two people, grilled grouper, mantis shrimp, clams, rice and beer for ¥280 total. Coming back we left at 3:30 PM and got home by 6:00. Total cost for the day for two people including transport, tickets, food and water sports: around ¥800. Would absolutely do it again, but never on a weekend again.” — David L., Shenzhen, visited May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Xunliao Bay suitable for swimming, and is the water safe?
Yes, the water quality at Xunliao Bay is Grade A according to Guangdong Provincial Environmental监测数据, and swimming is generally safe during normal conditions. However, there are no lifeguards on most of the beach. Exercise caution, avoid swimming alone, and pay attention to flag warnings posted at the main beach entrance.
Q2: How far is Xunliao Bay from Shenzhen, and what is the best way to get there?
Xunliao Bay is approximately 120 kilometers from central Shenzhen, about a 90-minute to two-hour drive via the Shenzhen-Huizhou Expressway. Alternatively, direct buses operate from Shenzhen’s Luobao Road Bus Station and various points in the city, taking approximately two to two and a half hours and costing around ¥45 to ¥55.
Q3: When is the best time to visit Xunliao Bay to avoid crowds?
Weekdays from Tuesday through Thursday offer the most peaceful experience, particularly in the morning hours before 10:00 AM. If you must visit on weekends, arrive before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM. Peak season (May through October) is more crowded but offers the best swimming weather.
Q4: What is the difference between Diamond Bay, Sishen Bay, and Pearl Bay?
Diamond Bay is the premium resort district with four- and five-star hotels (¥400-800/night) and the best-maintained beach. Sishen Bay offers mid-range accommodations (¥200-400/night) with good value and a more relaxed atmosphere. Pearl Bay is the budget district (¥100-200/night) closest to the fishing harbor, ideal for travelers prioritizing seafood and low costs over resort amenities.
Q5: How much should I budget for a day trip to Xunliao Bay?
For a day trip for one person: bus fare ¥35, entry ticket ¥60, lunch ¥80-150, water sports ¥100-200, and miscellaneous ¥50-100. A realistic total is ¥350 to ¥550 per person. Bring ¥300-500 in cash.
Q6: Are there jellyfish at Xunliao Bay, and how dangerous are they?
Jellyfish appear from approximately June through September. Most stings cause minor irritation, but severe reactions are possible. Carry vinegar in a first-aid kit, avoid swimming in murky water where jellyfish are harder to spot, and exit the water immediately if you see or feel stinging sensations.
Q7: Can I buy tickets to Xunliao Bay online, and should I?
Yes, tickets can be purchased through the official WeChat public account and major platforms like Meituan and Ctrip, typically at a ¥5-10 discount. Online booking is strongly recommended for weekend visits to avoid ticket-queue delays of 30 to 60 minutes.
Q8: What are the must-try dishes at Xunliao Bay?
Steamed grouper (清蒸石斑), salt-baked shrimp (盐焗虾), stir-fried mantis shrimp with garlic (避风塘炒濑尿虾), steamed clam with black bean sauce (豉汁蒸蛤蜊), and sea urchin fried rice (海胆炒饭) represent the best of the local seafood tradition.
Summary
Xunliao Bay is the premier coastal destination in Huizhou, and one of the most accessible and well-developed beach areas within a three-hour radius of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Its 28-kilometer coastline offers four distinct beach districts to suit every budget — from the premium Diamond Bay resort zone at ¥400 to ¥800 per night, to the affordable Pearl Bay district at ¥100 to ¥200. Getting there takes 90 minutes from Huizhou by bus (¥35) or 75 minutes by car via the coastal highway. Entry tickets cost ¥60 in peak season and ¥40 in off-peak, with online booking available and strongly recommended for weekends. The seafood is genuinely excellent and best experienced at harbor-area restaurants near Pearl Bay rather than the tourist-oriented Seafood Street, where you will pay 30 to 50 percent more for equivalent quality. The key practical advice: visit on weekdays, arrive before 9:00 AM, bring cash, and exercise extreme caution with children in the water given the absence of lifeguards on most of the beach. Summer visitors should be aware of jellyfish and carry basic first-aid supplies.
Conflict of Interest: No commercial sponsorships, affiliate arrangements, or paid placements have been received in connection with this article. All restaurant recommendations, hotel selections, and price information reflect the author’s independent on-the-ground research and genuine experiences. No complimentary accommodations, meals, or services were provided by any property or business mentioned.
Data Sources:
[Source 1] Huizhou Culture Radio Tourism Sports Bureau — official tourism statistics and beach water quality ratings (2025)
[Source 2] Xunliao Bay Scenic Area — ticket pricing, hours of operation, and facilities data (2026 season)
[Source 3] Author field research — site visits, price verification, and restaurant assessment (May 2026)
[Source 4] Huidong County Transportation Bureau — public bus routes, fares, and estimated travel times (2025)