Sunrise, scenery in one of China’s best photo spots draws photographers in their thousands

Dawn in Xiapu county, Fujian province, attracts travellers from all over China looking to capture the perfect photo of sunrise over the East China Sea

The chief attraction is the coastal flats that wind around its inlets and coves, and the autumn seaweed harvest is a particular draw

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Chinese tourists taking photos of the sunset from Dong An Island in Xiapu in China’s Fujian province. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:23pm, 18 Dec 2019Updated: 12:23pm, 18 Dec 2019

It is dawn in Xiapu county and sunrise over southeastern China is welcomed by dozens of clicking camera shutters.

Locals along this rather isolated stretch of coast in Fujian province have drawn their livelihood from the sea since ancient times.

But another thriving industry has emerged as steadily rising incomes put cameras and smartphones into the hands of countless Chinese.

Xiapu is a major attraction for budding Chinese photographers drawn to its striking imagery and a traditional way of life far removed from the skyscrapers and bustle of the country’s mega cities.

Boats collecting seaweed around Dong Bi fishing village in Xiapu. Photo: AFP

The chief attraction is the coastal flats, alternately exposed and flooded by the ebb and flow of the tide, which wind around Xiapu’s maze of inlets, coves and promontories.

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