Holiday spirit carries on with island seafood festival

Harvest holidays continue in the wake of National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival as the Wailingding Island (Wanshan) Seafood Festival runs from Oct 10 through Nov 30.

With a total maritime area of 3,200 sq km, the Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone is situated in the Pearl River estuary between Hong Kong and Macao west. Wanshan Fishery, one of the most renowned in China, stocks more than 200 species, 68 different types of shellfish, 61 varieties of shrimp and crab, as well as 18 kinds of seaweed.

This month, adjacent sea areas of the Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone have been harvesting groupers; General Cap, an abalone-tasted shellfish living along the shore rocks of Wanshan Island and shaped like the official hat of a general in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); and Dog Claw, a hard-shelled goose barnacle, or Percebes, living in the rock cracks of Wanshan Island.

Tourists on Wailingding Island [Photos courtesy by Cheng Lin / Zhuhai Daily]

In addition to seafood buffets at the main venue of the festival -- Hai Xin You Huo Resort Hotel -- within 100 m of the dock, seafood feasts themed "Taste of Wanshan" can also be enjoyed at Dreamland Resort. 

In October, the seawater temperature is still suitable for water sports such as swimming. Visibility improves significantly due to a diversion of the ocean current, which makes autumn a perfect time for admiring the landscape. A series of new tourism products will also be launched to complete the all-in-one tourism system of Zhuhai, according to the organizer.