In the tropics, spending time close to the ocean and marine life is highly aspired to in the way of nature enjoyment. Thus, the province of Hainan has emerged as one of the better destinations for close encounters with sea creatures-be it surfing on shore or snorkeling in crystal-clear waters.

A tour to Hainan, a tropical island on the South China Sea, provides the opportunity to create lifetime memories while visiting pristine beaches and hidden beachcombing spots. It is an exciting adventure to find treasures hidden in the sands.

The beauty of the Beigang Island mud flats in Haikou hosts hustle and bustle with beachcombing enthusiasts both local and visiting. At sunrise and sunset, skilled gatherers garner thousands of oysters, razor clams, and mantis shrimps, which are in an of value source of income for the community.

Ever since she was six, she had been learning her skills from Weng Qiongyu, known locally as a beachcomber. Today she is 62 years old and combines collecting shellfish to sell with services as a “beachcombing aunt,” whom several tourists visit for an exciting treasure hunt.

Experienced beachcombers under whose guidance the distant visitors take home unforgettable experiences on a tour of the biodiversity of the mud flats of Beigang Island.

Weng stresses that the best source of success in beachcombing should result from knowledge of tidal patterns for beachcombing in Hainan. Tides constitute rhythmic cycles; thus, visitors ought to prepare their forays by working on the tidal clock to dig at the right times.

The first to the fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar calendar presents spring tide time, in which the former will be high tides and the latter low tides with great exposure to the seabed, thus presenting great opportunities for searching on beaches.

The low tide season falls on the sixth to twelfth days of the lunar calendar.

The minimum equipment needed for effective beachcombing includes a shovel, tongs, headlamp or flashlight, gloves, nonslip shoes, and a bucket.

Yang Chen, a visitor from Hubei province in the central part of China, spoke of his nostalgia for this beachcomber life: “You work at sunrise and rest at sunset, a refreshing change from the constant hustle and bustle of urban life.” But he also says: “The idyllic beach life is far from free of risks”.

But beachcombers never know if they will come back empty-handed or with a quite good catch, as this is dominated by luck. The feeling of adventure comes with the moment and suspense of the uncertainty of what comes next.

“While modern life relieved survival pressures, it often feels mundane and routine-like lines of code running smoothly day after day, devoid of excitement. Beachcombing reintroduces an element of surprise,” Chen reflects.