Qinzhou Travel Guide: Sanniang Bay, Nixing Pottery and Two Qing Generals
Qinzhou is a port city on Guangxi's Beibu Gulf coast, between Nanning and the beach resort of Beihai. Its best-known outing is Sanniang Bay, about 40 km from the city, where boats go out to look for Chinese white dolphins. In town, the former homes of the late-Qing generals Liu Yongfu and Feng Zicai and the city's Nixing pottery workshops make a good second day. Seafood, especially oysters from the Maowei Sea, is the other reason to stop.
What Qinzhou is good for
Qinzhou is not a beach resort in the way Beihai is. Come for a dolphin-watching morning, a look at a pottery tradition that China counts among its four famous wares, and two well-preserved residences that tell the story of the Sino-French conflicts of the 1880s. One or two nights is plenty, and it fits naturally between Nanning and Beihai or Fangchenggang.
Places worth visiting
Sanniang Bay and the white dolphins
Sanniang Bay is a fishing village and 4A scenic area known as a habitat of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, called the Chinese white dolphin locally. Licensed boats take visitors out to look for them; sightings are common but never guaranteed, and calm, clear mornings give the best chance. Use the official boat operators at the scenic area rather than touts, and confirm the price, route and duration before you board. On shore there is a beach, rocks linked to the legend of the three maidens who gave the bay its name, and fish restaurants.
From Qinzhou East station, city bus Gangcheng 5 runs all the way to Sanniang Bay, a long ride with many stops. Driving takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour.
Liu Yongfu and Feng Zicai residences
Qinzhou was home to two generals who fought the French in Vietnam and on the border in the 1880s. Liu Yongfu led the Black Flag Army; his residence, the Sanxuan Tang, is a large walled compound in the city. Feng Zicai, the veteran commander remembered for the victory at Zhennan Pass in 1885, has his own former residence. Both are in town and make a natural half-day together. Local tourism information notes they close on Mondays; confirm opening days before you go.
Nixing pottery
Nixing ware is a purple-red clay pottery fired without glaze and then polished, used above all for teapots. Qinzhou promotes it as one of China's four famous potteries. Workshops and a pottery museum in the city let you watch potters at work, and some offer hands-on sessions. Buy from studios where you can see the work being made.
Longmen Bridge and the Maowei Sea
The Maowei Sea is the sheltered inlet where Qinzhou's oysters are farmed, and the Longmen Bridge crosses toward the port and islands at its mouth. It is a scenic drive rather than a sight to plan a day around; combine it with an oyster lunch.
When to come to Qinzhou
October to April is the most comfortable period, with mild temperatures and drier weather. Summer is hot and humid, and typhoons between July and September can stop dolphin boats for days. Calm seas matter more than temperature for the boat trip, so keep your Sanniang Bay day flexible.
Getting in and where to stay
- Rail: Qinzhou East is the high-speed station, on lines from Nanning to Beihai and Fangchenggang, and a short ride from the regional capital.
- To Sanniang Bay: bus Gangcheng 5 from Qinzhou East, or a taxi or hired car. Check the last bus back.
- Where to stay: central Qinzhou for the residences and pottery; a guesthouse at Sanniang Bay if you want the first boats of the morning.
Eating in Qinzhou
Oysters from the Maowei Sea, grilled with garlic or served in many other ways, are the signature, and the seafood at Sanniang Bay is landed by the village's own boats. Seafood is usually priced by weight, so check the price per jin before it is cooked. In town, rice noodle shops are the standard breakfast.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: arrive from Nanning, Liu Yongfu and Feng Zicai residences in the afternoon, oysters for dinner.
Day 2: early to Sanniang Bay for the dolphin boats, seafood lunch in the village, back to town for a Nixing pottery workshop.
Day 3 (optional): continue to Beihai or Fangchenggang.
What to cut if short on time
If the sea is rough, swap the days and do the town first. With one day only, choose between dolphins in the morning and the residences in the afternoon. The Longmen Bridge drive is the first thing to drop.
Things to confirm before you go
- Dolphin boat operations and sea conditions at Sanniang Bay.
- Opening days at the two residences.
- Bus Gangcheng 5 timings, or a car for the return trip.
- Typhoon warnings in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Will I see dolphins at Sanniang Bay?
Often, but sightings depend on weather and luck. Calm mornings give the best odds.
How far is Sanniang Bay from Qinzhou?
About 40 km. Bus Gangcheng 5 runs from Qinzhou East; a car takes about an hour or less.
Qinzhou or Beihai?
Beihai for beaches and a resort atmosphere; Qinzhou for dolphins, pottery and history. They are close enough to combine.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 25, 2026, and rechecked on October 20, 2026.
- Qinzhou https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qinzhou
- Qinzhou Culture, Radio, Sports and Tourism Bureau, pottery and sea study route http://wgtlj.qinzhou.gov.cn/qzwh/qzly/t17520672.shtml
- Qinzhou Culture, Radio, Sports and Tourism Bureau, self-drive guide http://wgtlj.qinzhou.gov.cn/qzwh/qzly/t18518543.shtml
- Qinzhou to Sanniang Bay transport (Guangxi tourism site) https://www.gxlvyouwang.com/lvyouxinxi/1270.html
- Liu Yongfu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Yongfu
- Feng Zicai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_Zicai
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts, so check the official notice for your date.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.
- qinzhou-city.jpg from File:Qinzhou.jpg, by Charny, CC BY-SA 3.0
- qinzhou-longmen.jpg from File:The Longmen Bridge in Qinzhou.jpg, by Glabb, CC BY-SA 3.0
- qinzhou-city-2.jpg from File:Qinzhou 3.jpg, by Charny, CC BY-SA 3.0