Plan at a glance
Beach access and basic setup
Longhaitian is the main beach area within Donghai Island Resort Area. Use the beach entrance for sand and water activities, or Longhaitian Passenger Service Centre for more concentrated parking; entry is free and no booking is needed.
Summer hours are 07:30–19:00, and swimming is prohibited from 1 November to 30 April. Water activities, beach camping, showers and similar services may charge separately.
Treat it as a beach destination
Allow 2–3 hours for the long beach, sunrise, coconut groves and sand activities. For a full day, combine it with Dongshan Mangrove, Longshui Ridge, the cross-sea bridge and Pearl Bay.
Longhaitian is about its beach rather than island-wide transport. If you stay for sunset or camp, settle your accommodation or departure plan before the evening.
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Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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2–3 hours: beach and coconut groves
Enter at Longhaitian Beach, spend time by the water, walk through the coconut grove and choose beach activities to match your energy. The outer stretches are usually quieter than the main entrance.
Use this as one coherent beach visit rather than trying to cross the 28 km coast. Carry water and plan around strong midday sun.
One day: sunrise to harbour
Arrive before 05:30 for sunrise, then visit Dongshan Mangrove and Longshui Ridge; save the cross-sea bridge for sunset and Pearl Bay for the 16:00–17:00 return of fishing boats. It needs a car or confirmed island transport.
Do not place the mangrove walk and ridge climb back-to-back at the hottest time. Leave a proper break for food, rest and the final transfer.
Two days: beach night and island extension
Use day one for beach time, camping or a stay near Longhaitian and bridge sunset; use day two for low-tide mangrove activities and the ferry to Naozhou Island. This gives each time-sensitive activity its own workable window.
Day visitors should not stretch beach time into the period with no return transport. There is no late bus to the beach, so decide on a car, accommodation pickup or a booked ride before sunset.
Build your day
Sunrise and beach time
Use Longhaitian for sunrise first, then return to the beach and coconut grove for a slower morning. Separate paddling, walking and photos rather than remaining on unshaded sand through the strongest sun.
The "China's Longest Beach" marker is a short entrance-area stop, not a reason to rush the coast. Clean up, rehydrate and reset before moving to another island sight.
Mangroves or harbour at the end
Move to Dongshan Mangrove and Longshui Ridge in the middle of the day, or preserve the late afternoon for Pearl Bay and returning boats. Visitors who only want a beach sunset can remain at Longhaitian or the bridge coast instead of rushing multiple locations.
Work backward from your departure method. Drivers can leave from their parking area, while bus and taxi users need more margin to return to a main pickup point.
Get there
Driving, parking and taxi destination
Drive to Longhaitian Beach or Donghai Island Resort Area; central Zhanjiang is about one hour away. Besides the Passenger Service Centre's CNY 10-per-hour lot, use legal CNY 10-per-day lots or roadside spaces where available.
When taking a taxi, set the destination as Longhaitian Beach rather than simply Donghai Island. A taxi from central Zhanjiang is about CNY 100, with more time needed on busy days.
Bus and e-bike movement
Routes 503 and 508 from Xiashan Gongnong Road, 511 from Zhanjiang West Railway Station, and K3, K1 and 608 serve Longhaitian; the fare is CNY 10 and the ride is about one hour. The return last bus is around 18:20, so sunset visitors should not rely on it.
E-bikes can work for island movement when their charge and return point are known. Do not make an uncharged rental your only late-evening return plan.
Know before you go
Parking, washing and departure timing
At Longhaitian Passenger Service Centre, scan to pay only when your own car reaches the exit barrier. Public toilets are free, while foot washing costs CNY 1 and showers CNY 5, so allow time to clean up before leaving the beach.
Confirm the return plan before sunset or dinner. The last bus is early and there is no evening bus to the shore; self-driving, accommodation pickup or a confirmed ride works better after dark.
Sun, seafood and water safety
Use sun protection on the exposed beach and repellent near mangroves. Follow the seasonal swimming ban and designated safety zones, and stop water activity when wind or waves increase.
Beachfront seafood can cost more than the residential area around Guoxing Square. Buying at a market and confirming preparation charges, price and weighing gives better control over the meal budget.
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