Zhanjiang, Port city in Guangdong, China
Zhanjiang is a port city at the southern tip of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province, facing the South China Sea. Several harbors spread across sheltered bays, flanked by islands such as Naozhou and Donghai, while the city stretches north into the interior.
France established Fort Bayard from 1899 onward and used the harbor bay as a base for trade with southern China. The concession ended in 1943, after which the city grew into a central hub for cargo traffic from the southwest.
Many residents make a living from the catch landed at the docks each morning, shipped to cities across the region within hours. Fishermen speak of old customs that treat the sea as a living force and mark certain days each year as rest days for fishing.
Many travelers reach the city via the railway station, connected by overnight lines to larger cities inland. Visitors arriving at the harbor find regular ferry connections to offshore islands that serve as starting points for day trips.
The Huguangyan geopark east of the city holds an almost circular crater lake formed about 160,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption. The water remains calm even in strong winds because the steep crater walls shield it from gusts.
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