Time for another photo tour, this time to Xiapu (霞浦), capital of kelp and laver production in northeastern Fujian Province, China. Coined one of the “Top 10 Domestic Photography Bases”, Xiapu is known for its beautiful mudflats, long coastline, and sandy beaches. The breathtaking landscapes here resemble hand-drawn ink paintings with a surreal, watercolor-like quality. I have always wanted to visit Xiapu for its countless photo opportunities, from colorful sunrises and sunsets, fluttering nets, groups of crab traps, to fishing boats and bamboo poles, local “sea gypsies”, and many more. Xiapu is said to be an all-year photography location with mid to end of October being one of the best times to come. Fall is harvest season and the fishermen are in action to collect the sea laver from an area of 10,000 acres. Nothing good ever comes easy. I am prepared for little sleep, rising at 4am each day to get into position to photograph the sunrise over the mudflats. Fortunately, Xiapu Putien Hotel where I stayed was decent enough and brought a brief respite from the long and tiring days.
My room at Xiapu Putien Hotel
One of the most iconic Xiapu photography spots is Shajiang Village (沙江), 40 mins south from town, known for its S-shaped harbor waterway, more often referred to as “S” Bend. Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season. We shot from the roof of an unfinished building (that has a working elevator), originally meant to be a hotel, now a photo base charging an entrance fee.
S-Bend of Shajiang Village. Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
S-Bend of Shajiang Village. Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
S-Bend of Shajiang Village. Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
S-Bend of Shajiang Village. Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
Fishing boats snake around the layers of bamboo poles inserted on the mudflats and arranged in the shape of a large “S”. These bamboo poles are used to dry kelp during the harvest season.
S-Bend of Shajiang Village
Out the door at 5am to photograph the sunrise at Huazhu Village (花竹村), east of Xiapu town. From the edge of the cliff are beautiful views of Fuyao Archipelago and oyster (red and blue) and sea laver (grey with bamboo sticks) farms as far as the eye can see. It was an overcast morning with a very soft sunrise but I liked that the clouds made the scene much more atmospheric.
Huazhu Sunrise
Huazhu Village (花竹村)
Huazhu Village (花竹村)
The red and blue floats mark the oyster farms while the bamboo stilts are seaweed farms.
Huazhu Village (花竹村)
Huazhu Village (花竹村)
Another popular sunrise photography spot in Xiapu is Beiqi Village (北岐村), about 20 mins east of Xiapu town. During low tide, this place is famous for its tiger-skin-like texture on the sand. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t coincide with the tide situation. Regardless, I caught a very beautiful sunrise, with a Saturn-like ring around the sun.
During low tide, this place is famous for its tiger-skin-like texture on the sand. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t coincide with the tide situation.
Beiqi Village (北岐村). During low tide, this place is famous for its tiger-skin-like texture on the sand. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t coincide with the tide situation.
Beiqi Village (北岐村)
Beiqi Village (北岐村). During low tide, this place is famous for its tiger-skin-like texture on the sand. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t coincide with the tide situation.
Beiqi Village (北岐村)
Next post will be on the dreamlike XiaoHao beach as well as some Xiapu favorite sunset photography spots. Stay tuned!
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2 Responses
Wow, these pictures are gorgeous. Who would think a bamboo farm, or poles could be so beautiful. Maggie
The whole place is like an ink-painting