Subtropical scenic spots take center stage

The Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve is ranked among "the top 10 most beautiful wetlands in Guangdong province". [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhanjiang, a coastal city in South China's Guangdong province, is a port city full of subtropical scenic spots.

It covers Leizhou, Lianjiang and Wuchuan cities; Xuwen, Suixi counties; and Chikan, Xiashan, Potou and Mazhang districts, with a total area of 12,471 square kilometers.

Zhanjiang was originally called Kwangcho Wan (literally" Guangzhou Bay"), when in 1898 it was ceded by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to France as a leased territory. It was returned to China in 1946 at which point it became Zhanjiang.

The city is one of China's national key environmental protection cities and also a State-level ecological demonstration pilot city.

It always ranks near the top of China's air quality indexes, and the quantity of negative oxygen ions in the air is more than 8,000 per cubic centimeter, which is four times above the 1,500 per cubic centimeter figure stipulated by the World Health Organization.

Zhanjiang's average yearround temperature is a pleasant 23.2 C, making it a city of verdant grasslands and trees.

Bordered by the sea on three sides, Zhanjiang has China's only subtropical peninsula.

The city's coastline extends over 2,000 kilometers. A coastal tourist resort formed by Techeng, Nansan, Donghai, Naozhou and Nanping islands and Zhanjiang Bay, offers tourists a unique seaside experience in the heart of a city.

Other notable attractions along the Zhanjiang coastline include Longhaitian Beach, the longest beach in China; three national-level natural protection areas, Xuwen Coral Reef Nature Reserve, Mangrove Nature Reserve, and Leizhou Rare Marine Life Nature Reserve; the biggest volcanic island - Naozhou Island; the site of the first harbor of the Maritime Silk Road during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) - Dahan Sandun Tourist Resort; and the Liezhou Tiancheng tourist resort, the perfect place to unwind and take in spectacular sunsets.

In addition to its unique natural resources and characteristic resorts, Zhanjiang's cultural aspects are another draw for visitors. For instance, the red soil cultural scenic spot in Leizhou city continues to draw numerous domestic and foreign tourists to the bay city.

The following is a selection of Zhanjiang's other notable spots:

·Huguangyan National Geopark Scenic Area

Huguangyan National Geopark, the only maar lake in China, is one of the world's rare non-renewable geological resources. Located southwest of Zhanjiang city, the geopark covers 4.7 square kilometers.

The lake, with a water surface area of 2.3 square kilometers and a depth of 446 meters, has 420-meters of volcanic mud sediment.

The average year-round temperature inside the scenic area is 3 C lower than outside and the air contains a high level of negative ions, which is believed to have health benefits. Volcanic mud is both a popular beauty product and a helpful treatment for arthritis and skin conditions.

·Wuchuan Jizhao Bay

Located 50 kilometers east of Zhanjiang city, Jizhao Bay is famous for its clear skies, temperate climate and abundant aquatic products.

Tourists can enjoy a distinctive subtropical seaside experience here with its beach, rivers, lakes, ports, forests and fishing villages. They can also enjoy characteristic Lantern Festival holidays which are characterized by many traditional cultural folk activities.

·Sea-watching corridors

Zhanjiang Seaside Park, with its garden gallery, provides two sea-watching corridors for tourists to appreciate Zhanjiang's maritime scenery. These are ideal spots for people to spend their free time and are must-see places for tourists.

·South Asia Subtropical Botanical Garden

The South Asia Subtropical Botanical Garden is located on the bank of Huguangyan National Geopark in Zhanjiang city. The botanical garden is under the auspices of the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which blends scientific research with popular science tourism.

The garden's achievements in scientific research and rich tropical plant varieties make it a popular educational base. Tourists can view the enchanting scenery, feel the fresh air and smell the fruity fragrance all year round in the botanical garden. More than 1,000 varieties of tropical plants have been collected and cultivated in the garden.

Jinshawan beach is a popular tourist attraction in Zhanjiang.Rao Xin / For China Daily