Xiapu Mudflat is located at Xiapu County, the northeast coast of Fujian Province. There are many beautiful mudflats in the world, so what makes Xiapu so special? On the one hand, Xiapu has the great shoot position. To shoot mudflat, the best angle is overlook view. Xiapu just has many small hills where you can shoot the mudflat from a high point. On the other hand, without white sand, azure sky and blue sea, Xiapu is nothing like the traditional sea resorts. This is a sea of labor, a sea that breeds generation by generation. Through the ages, local people change the sea with their own hand, while their life is also changed with the sea. They farm the mudflat along the long coastline, work as the sun rise, and rest as the sun set. This is Xiapu, a picturesque mudflat sketched by color and line, the most photographed sea in China, the most beautiful mudflat praised by photographers.
Best Sites for Photography
Beiqi Sunrise
Beiqi is a famous seaweed farm and only 5km from Xiapu County. This is the closest and the most beautiful shooting site in Xiapu. The most beautiful things here are the tiger-skin-like mudflat stripe and shades of poles, fisherman and boat. The best location for shooting is on the top of the little hill seated beside the mudflat. At here, you can shoot the most beautiful sunrise in Xiapu. Use wide angle lens to show the panoramic view and use telephoto lens to capture the sailing boat on the mudflat.
Xiaohao and Dongbi Sunset
Xiaohao is 18km from Xiapu County, and this is a beloved site for many Xiapu fans. At here, you can shoot the sandy mudflat and labor scene of catching fish. You need to walk a short mountain road to get to the high point for photography. The best time for shooting is about the sunset time. Dongbi is only 2km from Xiaohao. The view here is very spectacular, especially in the seaweed harvest season: small boat sailing across the seaweed farm under the golden sun, and this is the great place to shoot sunset on the sea.
Yantian
Yantian is 13km west to the Xiapu County. Yantian means salt pan in Chinese and there is the “Sea Gypsy”. Sea Gypsy refers to the people who live on the shabby boat and make a living by fishing and collecting shells. Yantian has a large area of mudflat and the shore view is very attracting. This is a great place t shoot local people’s living and working conditions and folk customs. The best locations for shooting are Beidou Village, Diaoqi and Nantang Village. Yantian’s sunrise and sunset are also very suitable for shooting.
Weijiang
Weijiang Village is 1 hour drive from Xiapu County. A large area of mudflat extends to the distance; this spectacular scene is great for sunrise and sunset shooting. Weijiang is also called Mantou Hill for there is a little islet which looks like Mantou (means bun) in the sea of Weijiang. Except the gorgeous sunrise and sunset, this place is also good for shooting the labor scene of drying seaweed. The shooting location of Weijiang is flexible, and many locations are suitable for shooting.
Best Season for Photography
Xiapu is suitable for taking beautiful photos around the year, however, April to December are most recommended. March to April are good to shoot the cultural scenes of villagers hanging oysters on the pols; in May and June, you are going to shoot the pictures of people catching fish fry and hanging sea kelp, and egrets flying in the beautiful sky as well; in July to September, it is the best time to take fabulous photos of the changing and terrific colors and lights of the sky, clouds and sea for most beautiful Xiapu mudflat; while from October to the start of the next year, you can take amazing photos about local fishermen’s working of the seaweed and the praisable maple leaves at Yangjiaxi Village. Apart from that, the time of flood tide and falling tide is more important than the season for photography in Xiapu. And usually, morning hours and sunset hours are more recommended to catch the lights and shadows. Daytime is good for folk photography.
Tips from Our Experts
1. Recommended equipment
Wide angle lens more than 24mm and telephoto lens of 300 ~ 400mm (at least 200mm) will be helpful to capture the grand and magnificent of the sea. When you shoot at the seashore, the wind is strong, thus, tripod can help to stable the camera. Polarizer is also recommended to avoid the reflecting effect of the water surface. When you shoot beside the sea, to prevent the water and sand from the lens, you need to bring some lens paper.
2. How to shoot sunrise and sunset in Xiapu
When you shoot sunrise or sunset, don’t let your camera face the sun light. Take use of the inverted reflection in the mudflat or morning/dusk sunglow to add more color to your photo. When the sunset, don’t leave immediately. During the half hour after the sunset, you can shoot the mudflat with blue color background. At this time, tripod is necessary.
3. Photographic composition
Horizontal composition can express the majesty of the mudflat, while the vertical composition shows the depth of the coastline. If the shooting objects contain many people and fishing boat, diagonal composition and curvilinear composition are suitable to highlight the subjects.
4. Transportation advice
Xiapu has High Speed Railway Station, so it’s convenient to get there. From Fuzhou to Xiapu, it only takes about 1 hour, while from Xiamen to Xiapu, it takes about 2.5 hours. There is no airport in Xiapu, so you can take flight to Fuzhou or Xiamen, and then take high speed train from Fuzhou or Xiamen to Xiapu.
5. Accommodation advice
There are some hotels on the Shanhe Road and Longshou Road of Xiapu County. Xiapu is not a tourist zone, thus, it’s hard to find a hotel along the sea.
For more photography advice about Fujian Tulou and Xiapu, you can feel free to contact us and we are here ready to help!