Zhanjiang Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Zhanjiang

Zhanjiang is a coastal prefecture-level city situated on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province, southern China. Positioned across the Qiongzhou Strait from Haikou on Hainan Island, it serves as the southernmost port on mainland China's coast and acts as a regional commercial hub. The core urban region comprises four districts: Chikan, Xiashan, Potou, and Mazhang. Zhanjiang is recognized for its coastal environment, distinctive local heritage, and strategic maritime location.

The city's history includes early origins as a departure point along the Maritime Silk Road during the Han dynasty. In 1898, France established a 99-year leased territory in the region known as Guangzhouwan, developing the port as Fort Bayard. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, control was returned to China in 1946, at which point the area was named Zhanjiang. In 1984, the city was designated as an open economic city, accelerating its development into a modern industrial and deep-water port center. It also serves as the headquarters for the South Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Visitors to Zhanjiang can explore a combination of natural landscapes and historical districts. Chikan Old Street features colonial French and traditional Lingnan architecture, while Xiashan District includes a French-Style Street showcasing restored period structures. Outdoor and ecological attractions include Huguangyan National Geopark, centered around a volcanic lake; the Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve; coastal beaches at Jinsha Bay and Donghai Island; and public green spaces such as Cunjin Bridge Park, Sino-Australian Friendship Garden, and the Waterfront Park. Cultural traditions in the area include the long-standing Leizhou Opera.

Zhanjiang features a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and long, warm, humid summers. Ocean breezes moderate seasonal temperatures, and rainfall is heaviest between April and September. The city is connected nationally and internationally via Zhanjiang Wuchuan International Airport. It is also served by major highways and an extensive railway network—including conventional rail at Zhanjiang Railway Station and high-speed services at Zhanjiang West Railway Station—alongside cross-strait train ferry connections to Hainan Island.