Suffered in Xingcheng and now back, speaking some harsh truths

🌊 Liaoning Xingcheng August Summer Escape Guide: The Happy Trio of Ancient City + Island + Seafood

Geographical Location

Xingcheng, this hidden gem in the Liaoxi Corridor, has the Ming Dynasty ancient city wall on the left, the white waves of the Bohai Sea on the right, and the cloud sea of Shoushan Mountain overhead~ As one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty ancient cities in China, even Emperor Qianlong took a triple shot here at "Dragon’s Return"! Come here in August, with sea breezes of 22-28℃ paired with seafood, it’s definitely the ultimate summer escape.

🎯 Must-Visit Checklist

1️⃣ Xingcheng Ancient City (Free!)

Rush to the Bell and Drum Tower at 6 AM, overlook the cross-shaped street with bluestone pavement, camp at the Yuan Chonghuan wax figure theater at 3 PM, and at night the city walls under the lights instantly turn into a scene from an ancient-style blockbuster!

2️⃣ Juehua Island (Round-trip ferry ticket 125 RMB)

The "Little Putuo of the North" lives up to its name! In the morning, enjoy the century-old trees in the Bodhi Garden, and in the afternoon dig for yellow clams at Nanhai Bathing Beach (bring your own salt!)

3️⃣ Longhuitou Scenic Area (Free!)

The cliff glass viewing platform faces the waves directly, shoot the silhouette of "Dragon Head Reef" in the afternoon with the light, and bring a tripod to wait for the sunset in the evening.

4️⃣ Shoushan National Forest Park (Entrance fee 30 RMB)

Climb to the beacon tower at 5 AM for a frame of cloud sea + ancient city + ocean! Remember to soak in the Shoushan hot springs at the foot of the mountain at night, with the starry sky overhead.

5️⃣ Chrysanthemum Girl Dumpling Restaurant

Bite into the mackerel dumplings and burst with juice, the shrimp dumplings are so fresh and sweet they make your head tingle! Pair it with a bowl of sauerkraut seafood hotpot, the broth is as rich as drinking Bohai Bay.

🚗 Three-Day Fun Itinerary

Day 1: Ancient City Time Travel + Seafood Feast

☀️ Morning: Bell and Drum Tower → Confucian Temple → Zu Family Stone Archway (free areas for crazy photos)

🍜 Lunch: Xiancheng Seafood Spicy Stir-fry Restaurant (must order salt and pepper mantis shrimp, the shell is crispy enough to chew!)

🌙 Evening: Night tour of the ancient city walls → Dongshan Square Night Market (grilled octopus so chewy it dances)

Day 2: Be an Islander on Juehua Island

☀️ Morning: Take the ferry to the island → Bodhi Garden → Ancient Coast Gallery

🍜 Lunch: Peach Blossom Land Hotel (steamed mitten crab with ginger vinegar, sweeter than first love!)

🌙 Evening: Walk the boardwalk to stargaze → Stay at an island fisherman's home (fall asleep listening to the waves)

Day 3: Mountain and Sea Healing Session

☀️ Morning: Shoushan cloud sea → Beacon tower check-in

🍜 Lunch: Shuidiaogetou Hot Spring Resort (soak in the rose pool + seafood buffet)

🌙 Evening: Longhuitou cliff sunset → Return trip

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations

1️⃣ Seaview Holiday Hotel: Open the window to Longhuitou sea view, off-season price around 300 RMB with excellent value, booking on Trip.com includes pier shuttle.

2️⃣ Gao Family Homestay: Qing Dynasty courtyard in the ancient city, 200 RMB including breakfast + paper-cutting experience, listen to crickets sing opera in the courtyard at night.

3️⃣ Juehua Island Fisherman’s Guesthouse: 150 RMB per person including three meals, the landlord auntie’s shrimp dumplings are so fresh they’ll make your eyebrows raise.

📸 Photo Hotspots

• Southeast corner of the ancient city, Kuixing Tower: frame composition for panoramic city wall shots

• Longhuitou glass platform: low-angle shots of waves crashing on rocks

• Juehua Island Strange Rock Beach: hexagonal sea erosion pillars at low tide as foreground

🍤 Food Highlights

1️⃣ Stir-fried clams with chives and eggs: white clams are chewy, chives aroma hits your brain directly

2️⃣ Charcoal-grilled mackerel: fruitwood aroma + crispy fish skin, fish meat still dripping juice

3️⃣ Seaweed buns: bite and the seaweed’s fresh sweetness explodes, 3 RMB can’t go wrong

4️⃣ Shahuosuo Banquet: braised razor clams with rice, carb happiness for Northeasterners

5️⃣ Fried Yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls): crispy outside, molten inside, peanut filling so fragrant you’ll lick your fingers

💰 Three-Day Expense List

• Accommodation: 2 nights at Seaview Holiday Hotel 600 RMB + 1 night at Fisherman’s Guesthouse 150 RMB = 750 RMB (375 RMB per person)

• Food: Seafood every meal, 500 RMB per person (includes sauerkraut hotpot + dumpling feast + night market snacks)

• Tickets: Juehua Island ferry 125 RMB + Shoushan 30 RMB = 155 RMB

Total cost ≈ 1000 RMB/person, feels like staying in a sea view room for the price of a budget hotel, and seafood to your heart’s content!

💡 Friendly Tips

• The ancient city’s bluestone pavement is slippery, wear non-slip shoes! The UV rays by the sea are fierce, wear sun-protective clothing.

• Juehua Island ferry runs infrequently, book tickets on Trip.com in advance! Buying seafood at the market yourself is more cost-effective.

🙈 Suffered: Went tide pooling without checking the tide table, legs went numb and only picked up two shells😭. Climbed Shoushan in sandals, toes battled the steps and I questioned my life...

Who can resist Xingcheng in August! Be a history class rep by day, an island photographer by dusk, and a seafood foodie by late night~ The only regret this time was not soaking in the night hot springs, next time for sure! Any pros with hidden tips? Drop them in the comments!