Dongfang: Coast, Railway History and Miao Craftsmanship

As you explore Dongfang, you’ll encounter very different themes in Basuo: coastal scenery, railway history, Miao craftsmanship and fishing village life. When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to think ahead about which experiences you’d like to focus on. The coast offers striking landscape views and a stretch shaped by the tides; the museum, old street and workshop lead to other cultural themes.

Coast between the Lighthouse and the Tides

Fish Scale Isle in Basuo has a beach with small stones, a lighthouse and wind turbines. The lighthouse stands on a rock about 20 to 30 metres high and is an important navigational marker in the Gulf of Beibu. This location brings together coastal scenery and a function for maritime navigation.

At Duntou Beach, the coastal stretch formed by shells and sand becomes a popular area for gathering things along the shore at low tide. The small lighthouse there is a popular photo spot among visitors. The bay at Fish Scale Isle has shallow water and white sand, and is considered a natural coastal swimming spot. If you plan to swim, check the current conditions locally.

Railway History and the Old Town

The Hainan Railway Museum in Basuo features three historical exhibitions and an outdoor area with railway vehicles. It opened in 2008 and was modernised in 2021. It is also considered the only railway-company railway culture museum in Hainan. The exhibitions and vehicles in the outdoor area offer different perspectives on railway history.

The Hainan Island Ring High-Speed Railway is also useful to know about: it runs through Basuo and stops at Dongfang railway station. If you plan to include the train in your journey, check the timetable for your travel date.

Several arcaded buildings in the Nanyang style have been preserved on Beili Old Street. During holidays, its arcades, studios and teahouses attract visitors. This offers a different experience from the exhibitions and railway vehicles at the railway museum: here, the focus is on arcaded architecture and the street’s cultural venues mentioned above.

Miao Craftsmanship and Fishing Village Life

At the Pan family’s Miao embroidery and batik workshop, visitors can watch demonstrations of a nationally recognised form of intangible craftsmanship and experience traditional Miao culture. The workshop employs 22 professional artisans. Its offerings include embroidery, batik, brocade weaving and the making of traditional Miao clothing. This gives you an insight ranging from watching a demonstration to learning about the different craft techniques mentioned.

Gangmen fishing village in Basuo offers another glimpse of everyday life: with a bit of luck, visitors can buy freshly landed fish from fishermen returning to shore. The opportunity depends explicitly on luck. It offers a direct culinary connection to the fishing village, though a purchase cannot be planned with certainty.

When choosing a holiday rental in Dongfang, you can weigh up your travel interests: Fish Scale Isle and Duntou Beach offer different coastal experiences, while the museum, Beili Old Street and the Miao workshop offer various cultural themes. If travelling by train is important, also take Dongfang railway station in Basuo into account and check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Xinzhuzhen, Wanning, Ledong, Qionghai, Haikou, Wuzhishan, Danzhou, Ding'an.

For the broader travel overview: Hainan.