A beach city trip with a 2,000 yuan budget that’s perfect for kids
Where mountains meet the sea, and families grow together🌊 A 4-city, 6-day, 5-night itinerary that lets you enjoy the fun of beachcombing, experience the charm of Chaoshan culture, and savor quality family time on free beaches! With a 2,000 yuan budget, easily make your family beach trip dream come true!👨👩👧👦
📅 Itinerary overview and budget allocation
✨ Core goal: 4 cities, 6 days, 5 nights, unlocking beachcombing DIY, intangible cultural heritage, Chaoshan cuisine, and natural wonders with the kids! All transportation, accommodation, food, and entertainment covered for just 2,000 yuan per person—maximum value!
💰 Budget breakdown:
🚄 Transportation: High-speed rail/bus + local car rental/public transit, 800 yuan per person;
🏠 Accommodation: Budget homestays/family hotels, 500 yuan per person;
🍲 Dining: Seafood feasts + local snacks, 400 yuan per person;
🎫 Tickets/experiences: Beachcombing tools/snorkeling/museums, 300 yuan per person.
🌴 City-by-city guide: Full playthrough of four cities
📍 Yangjiang: Hailing Island beachcombing + intangible cultural heritage exploration
💡 Highlights: Free collection of giant sea conches, Song Dynasty shipwreck museum, kite DIY!
🚩 Itinerary:
🚄 Day 1: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Yangjiang (2h, 100 yuan), taxi to Hailing Island (50 yuan), check in at Poly Lantao Villa Area (500 yuan/night with pool, super fun family slide + ball pit!).
🌊 Day 2:
🌅 Morning: Dajiao Bay Beachcombing Festival (tools free! Dig for sand crabs, collect shells, kids thrilled to the max~).
🏛️ Afternoon: Nanhai No.1 Shipwreck Museum (ticket 70 yuan), see Song Dynasty porcelain spanning a millennium.
🦞 Evening: Dongping Town chicken rice (30 yuan per person) + Chengcun oyster feast (freshly shucked oysters 10 yuan each, finger-licking fresh!).
🪁 Day 3: Lingzhi kite DIY (128 yuan per family), kids paint their own kites and fly them by the sea—super healing!
👶 Family tips:
Buy beachcombing tools online in advance (Taobao 10 yuan set), sold for 30 yuan at the site;
For seafood processing, recommend Magong Wharf (fishing boats supply fresh catch at 4 pm, processing fee 10 yuan per jin).
📍 Shantou: Nan’ao Island circuit + Chaoshan cuisine
💡 Highlights: Qing’ao Bay beachcombing, lighthouse sunset, all-you-can-eat beef hotpot!
🚩 Itinerary:
🚄 Day 4: Shantou high-speed rail → Nan’ao Island (3h, 180 yuan), ferry 20 yuan, check in at Xiaogongyuan family homestay (300 yuan/night with slide tent, kids instantly become “little explorers”).
🌅 Day 5:
🦀 Morning: Qing’ao Bay beachcombing (free! Dig for sand worms, collect starfish, kids become “little ocean guardians”).
🏰 Afternoon: Visit Changweishan Lighthouse, Qian’ao Bay Lighthouse, and Sancongya Lighthouse (fairytale vibes max!).
🍲 Evening: Strawberry ice at No. 12 Middle School (5 yuan/cup), Laoma Palace rice dumplings (8 yuan each), beef hotpot (50 yuan per person, tender enough to scream!).
🏛️ Day 6:
🔬 Morning: Shantou Science Museum interactive experience (30 yuan, kids don’t want to leave!).
📸 Afternoon: Photo shoot at Xiaogongyuan arcade, wear qipao for vintage-style shots!
👶 Family tips:
Rent electric scooters for 50 yuan/day for more freedom around the island (kids sit in front, super cool!);
Learning the Chaoshan phrase “jiaojiren” (meaning “one of us”) helps bond with locals, kids saying it is adorable!
📍 Shanwei: Jinding Bay Art Camp + Red Sea Bay
💡 Highlights: Beachcombing DIY, Windmill Island’s fairytale windmill sea, all-you-can-eat snacks on Ermalu!
🚩 Itinerary:
🚄 Day 7: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Shanwei (1.5h, 80 yuan), check in at Jinding Bay sea view homestay (off-season 200 yuan/night, window view of the sea is super romantic!).
🌅 Day 8:
🦀 Morning: Jinding Bay Art Camp DIY sea salt (50 yuan per family), kids experience “salt worker” life!
🌇 Afternoon: Watch sunset at Zhelangjiao Lighthouse in Red Sea Bay, take photos of the fairytale windmill sea on Windmill Island (two-tone sea is stunning!).
🍜 Evening: Ermalu Food Street (seafood porridge 10 yuan/bowl, thin pancakes 5 yuan each, kids eat until they can’t stand!).
🦞 Day 9:
🐟 Morning: Buy fresh seafood at Magong Wharf for processing (10 yuan per jin, freshly caught and cooked!).
🌅 Afternoon: Return trip.
👶 Family tips:
Check tide tables in advance for beachcombing (WeChat mini-program “Tide Elf”), wear non-slip shoes (kids won’t cry if they fall!);
Bring mosquito repellent around the ancient sea castle ruins (kids sprayed become “fragrant little princesses”).
📍 Maoming: China’s No.1 Beach + Fangji Island snorkeling
💡 Highlights: Free beach, snorkeling adventure, petrochemical industrial park science tour!
🚩 Itinerary:
🚄 Day 10: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Maoming (2.5h, 120 yuan), taxi to China’s No.1 Beach (30 yuan), check in at beachside homestay (150 yuan/night, kids dig in the sand until dark!).
🌅 Day 11:
🏖️ Morning: Digging at China’s No.1 Beach (free! Kids build castles and chase waves, super happy!).
🚤 Afternoon: Visit Shuidong Bay Marine Park to see mangroves, the “sea forest” at high tide is picturesque!
🍲 Evening: Dianbai seafood porridge (20 yuan/bowl), Shuidong duck porridge (30 yuan per person, duck meat juicy and tender!).
🐠 Day 12:
🤿 Morning: Take a boat from Bohe Port to Fangji Island (snorkeling gear rental 50 yuan), explore coral reefs and tropical fish (kids scream with excitement at the fish schools!).
🌅 Afternoon: View sea clouds at Yanjingling Observation Deck, experience fishing village life at Tongzi Bay (kids try net fishing, super fun!).
🚄 Evening: Return trip.
👶 Family tips:
Check snorkeling equipment before use (kids wear life jackets, adults accompany throughout!);
Petrochemical industrial park science tour suitable for kids 6+ (kids wear safety helmets, take “little engineer” photos!).
🚗 Transportation and accommodation: Save money and hassle
🚄 Transportation:
Intercity: Prioritize high-speed rail (Yangjiang → Shantou → Shanwei → Maoming, total about 800 yuan per person);
Local: Car rental (Yangjiang/Maoming self-drive), bus/electric scooters (Shantou/Shanwei), total about 200 yuan per person.
🏠 Accommodation:
Yangjiang: Poly Lantao Villa Area (500 yuan/night with pool, kids don’t want to leave the water!);
Shantou: Xiaogongyuan family homestay (300 yuan/night with slide tent, kids instantly “little explorers”);
Shanwei: Jinding Bay sea view homestay (off-season 200 yuan/night, window view of the sea is super romantic!);
Maoming: Beachside homestay (150 yuan/night, kids dig in the sand until dark!).
🍲 Food recommendations: Kids eat until they can’t stand!
🦞 Yangjiang:
Chengcun oyster feast: freshly shucked oysters 10 yuan each (kids happily eat 3!);
Dongping Town chicken rice: 30 yuan per person (chicken oil mixed rice, kids lick the bowl!).
🍲 Shantou:
Beef hotpot: 50 yuan per person (tender enough to scream!);
No. 12 Middle School strawberry ice: 5 yuan/cup (kids shout “wow!”).
🍜 Shanwei:
Ermalu Food Street: seafood porridge 10 yuan/bowl, thin pancakes 5 yuan each (kids eat until they can’t stand!);
Magong Wharf seafood processing: 10 yuan per jin (freshly caught and cooked!).
🦀 Maoming:
Dianbai seafood porridge: 20 yuan/bowl (lots of shrimp and crab!);
Shuidong duck porridge: 30 yuan per person (duck meat juicy and tender!).
💣 Pitfall guide: Avoid detours!
🦀 Beachcombing:
Check tide tables in advance (WeChat mini-program “Tide Elf”), wear non-slip shoes (kids won’t cry if they fall!);
Shells are sharp, children must be accompanied by adults (kids wear gloves for safer digging!).
🦞 Seafood:
Be cautious with seafood stalls in scenic areas (recommend Ermalu/Magong Wharf, freshly caught and cooked!);
Ask clearly about seafood processing prices (avoid being overcharged, kids eat with peace of mind!).
🚗 Transportation:
Taxi rides between Yangjiang/Maoming attractions under 30 yuan (kids sit in the front seat to enjoy the view!);
Rent electric scooters in Shantou/Shanwei for more freedom (kids sit in front, super cool!);
Nan’ao Island ferry 20 yuan (watch the last ferry time, don’t let kids fall asleep!).
🌈 Summary: Have a blast with the kids!
💡 Itinerary highlights:
Yangjiang: Beachcombing + intangible cultural heritage, experience sea farming culture (kids excited digging sand crabs!);
Shantou: Nan’ao Island + Chaoshan cuisine, feel the coastal vibe (kids eat beef hotpot until full!);
Shanwei: Jinding Bay + Red Sea Bay, fewer crowds and beautiful scenery (kids love the windmill sea photos!);
Maoming: Free beach + snorkeling, strong parent-child interaction (kids scream at the fish schools!).
💰 Budget control:
Transportation 800 yuan + accommodation 500 yuan + dining 400 yuan + tickets/experiences 300 yuan = 2,000 yuan per person;
Off-season travel is more cost-effective (homestays/hostels offer great value, kids stay happily!).
👶 Family tips:
Sunscreen essentials (sunscreen + sun hat + sunglasses) are a must (kids won’t cry after getting sunburned!);
Buy beachcombing tools online in advance (Taobao 10 yuan set, sold for 30 yuan at the site);
Seafood allergy sufferers should be cautious (bring common medications, kids play safely!).
📸 Photo ops: Kids holding little crabs, running under lighthouses, snorkeling with fish schools... your social feed’s grid won’t be enough to show it all!💥