Location: Mid-section of the Cross-Sea Bridge in Fangchenggang City

The best time to visit Fangchenggang is from May to October.

0770-2825744

Buses There are only three bus routes (Routes 1, 2 and 3) covering downtown Fangchenggang. The fare is 1 yuan for both air-conditioned and ordinary buses. The ticket price between Gangkou District and Fangcheng District is 2.5 yuan. Minibuses depart from downtown locations including the railway station, long-distance bus station and Xinggang Avenue for Shangsi and Dongxing at approximately 6 yuan per passenger.

Taxis Most taxis in Fangchenggang are Geely vehicles. The flag-down fare is 3 yuan, and the rate becomes 1.6 yuan per kilometre after the first two kilometres.

Motorcycle Taxis Motorcycle taxis are widely available and can be stopped on the street. Fares within the urban area usually range from 2 yuan to 5 yuan. However, they are not very safe. Taxis are recommended for safety, comfort and reasonable cost.

Car Charter Service Self-drive car rental without a driver is generally unavailable locally. Visitors can charter a taxi. A full-day charter of a Geely taxi for touring the city, Wanwei Golden Beach, Jiangshan Peninsula and other scenic spots costs about 300 yuan, excluding bridge tolls and other extra expenses. Discounts are negotiable for long-term rentals.

(Fangchenggang Ping’an Taxi Company Address: Inside Jinlong Hotel on Xinggang Avenue, near the railway station Tel: 0770-2822026)

Pearl Square is a cultural landmark situated at the midpoint of Fangchenggang Cross-Sea Bridge. Completed in 2003, the bridge spans Fangchenggang West Bay. It starts at Yuwan Island, crosses Longkong Pier in the middle, and ends at Huangdi Ridge in the west, with a total length of 1,600 metres and a deck width of 24 metres. After the bridge was put into use, the driving distance from Fangchenggang to the border town of Dongxing was shortened from 70 kilometres to 40 kilometres. The expressway from Nanning to Fangchenggang leads directly to the border pass, fulfilling the age-old local folk vision: Immortals build a bridge across Longkong; generals stride over Ma'an Mountain. The project has played a vital role in the Western Development drive, boosting border prosperity, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and turning Fangchenggang into a gateway city for the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

At the centre of the square stands the bridge emblem: a glittering sculpture of two dragons playing with a pearl, known as the Pearl Altar. The pearl sculpture is 12.88 metres high and 8.99 metres in diameter. It is assembled from 230 pieces of granite quarried from Huian, Fujian, the renowned stone carving capital of China, with exquisite craftsmanship. The design is original and rich in symbolic meaning. Standing here overlooking the vast sea brings immense pleasure. Surrounded by seawater on all sides, the square enjoys an elegant environment. When night falls, colourful lights illuminate the whole area, creating breathtaking scenery. Now it has become a popular public venue for recreation and sightseeing, and admission is free for all tourists.