We had been teaching for about a month when we were informed of an upcoming holiday. The Qingming Festival, otherwise known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a festival dedicated to honouring ancestors, cleaning grave sites, and paying respect through ritual offerings. From the 5th to the 7th of April, we were officially free from teaching. However, due to China’s National Holiday Policy, it meant having to work the next Sunday. But that was okay. We were just happy to have some adventuring time.

Of course, due to the late notice of our time off, all our plans fell through before we could book anything. Trains were all booked up, hostels had no vacancies, and we were lost for plans. That was until another intern told us of her students’ tour group that was running an outing during the festival. They had plans to camp on the beach, tour the surrounding beach fronts of Huizhou, and would provide everything from food to transportation for only 186 rmb (38 aud). Excited and unsure of what to expect, we agreed to take the tour.

And it was amazing.

The Journey

We began in a car park opposite our favourite group meeting point: The Wanda Shopping Mall. Initially, we had expected a bus to be transporting us from Dongguan to Huizhou. However, when we arrived, there was a convoy of cars awaiting us. It was a bit unsettling. But, when in China, you just have to go with it.

So, we piled into the cars, stocked up on snacks and water, and drove off into the sunset to camp happily, ever after.

Well, actually, we got caught in the worst traffic imaginable and ended up being stuck in the cars for five hours. But, you know, that’s what you get for driving in China during peak holiday times. And the drive wasn’t at all unpleasant. We had cool music about snowmen and heaps of leg space. What more could you want?

When we finally reached Huizhou, it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. See, I had never pictured a Chinese beach before. I’ve seen Beijing, The Great Wall, temples on the tops of mountains, lanterns strung through trees. Those were all extraordinary and things that I expected to see during my time here. I never expected to see a Chinese beach. Now, I’ve seen PLENTY of beaches before, having lived in Australia for all my life. But this was something else. Stalls were set up along main roads selling bathers, beach toys, and sunglasses. The swimming clothes were covered in frills and more closely resembled waterproof dresses rather than typical bathers. People weren’t walking around in board shorts and thongs. Instead, they were dressed casually and likewise to the fashion in Dongguan – comfortable and classy. There were also plenty of open-floor restaurants. And by open-floor, I mean they were literally set up outside.

We stopped at a restaurant positioned across the road from a stunning view of the waterfront. The sun was setting and the grey-blue ocean was aglow. Our driver and another foreigner teacher ordered seafood rice and soup for us. It tasted amazing. And I was starving. Yes, I ate snacks during the road trip. But when you’re stuck in a car for five hours, you need something a little more sustainable. That restaurant was like a gift sent from the gods. I scoffed so much of that rice, you can not even begin to imagine. Once they finally pulled me away from the rice, we piled back into the cars and headed to the beach to set up camp.

The Arrival

We pulled into a large car park by the sea. A market was set up selling live sea creatures; there was an old circus tent in the distance; stalls selling buckets, spades, and bathers; and an open restaurant. It was definitely interesting.

The other cars arrived with our friends and fellow interns. Their journeys were just as eventful. Our guides retrieved numerous tiny tents that we would have to spilt between each other. Two people per tent. It was going to be a cosy night. With our tents and bags full of clothes in tow, we headed down to the beach.

After spending a month away from Australia, the beach was definitely a sight for sore eyes. I know, I didn’t live right beside the beach when I was in Australia, but it was never far away. In Dongguan, we’re surrounded by mountains and skyscrapers. A change in scenery was just what I needed.

We trudged along the beach for five/ten minutes until we reached the most unexpected little set up. There was a TV, a karaoke machine, a speaker, a little traditional Chinese barbecue, and a supply of booze and food all set up on the sand. The speaker was blasting music for the whole beachfront to hear, the TV broadcasting the music videos. It blew me away.

We quickly set up our tents as the sun went down, and went on a quick tour of the beach. A blocked off pier ended up being the perfect place to view the lights of the city on the opposite side of the water, and we established that a nearby hotel would house our bathroom for the evening.

Traditional Chinese Barbecue 

During our beach expedition, we received word that a car full of the barbecue food had arrived. Of course, we headed back quick-smart. With our arrival, myself and another intern were given the duty of cooking the barbecue. There were skewered meat sticks, whole eggplants, potatoes, sausages, sweet corn, and bags of obscure snacks like chicken necks. We tried, but we just weren’t cut out for the barbecue chef lifestyle. Eventually, a true barbecue chef jumped in and took control of the situation. He seasoned and cooked up a tonne of delicious food within moments.

While we ate our Chinese barbecue, other people sang karaoke, sought seashells, and chased crabs. A bonfire was set up, and after a few drinks, we found ourselves dancing around the bonfire. I found myself pouring my heart into Britney Spears’ ‘hit me baby one more time.’ Of course, I also found myself being filmed by literally every local nearby and who knows how many people have viewed those videos so far. Oh well.

Fireworks, Lanterns, and Bonfires

A trip to the bathroom ended with us running around screaming as fireworks were blasted over our heads. Only the most courageous of us braved watching the embers flare in the sky. Nobody got hurt, and the colours were spectacular. Also, nobody got embers in their eyes from staring directly at the blasting fireworks, so that was a plus.

We saw a lantern be lit and released above the ocean, soaring into the sky as a wish and tribute to ancestors. Many dances around the bonfire were had, and many songs were sung.

Eventually, the night fell quiet and we retreated to our tents to prepare for the next day.

Roadside Meals

You see, we had all planned to wake up and watch the sunrise. And we did. Except, the sun rose from the other side of the hotels behind the beach. And we were too lazy to get out of our tents to watch it.

For breakfast, we had a hot-pot with noodles, dumplings, and vegetables. We then set off for a beach trek. A switching of cars led us to driving with a group of culinary experts. Well, not really. But our driver enjoyed food and we ended up stopping on the side of the road where a family was selling fire-roasted chickens and sweet potato. Deceased, featherless chickens were hung up beneath a makeshift undercover area, just waiting to be cooked. A fiery coal-pit with a grill was inset nearby roasting more food.

We sat beneath the makeshift roof and dug into a freshly roasted chicken. It was amazing. The whole place had me a bit wary, but the food tasted incredible. The sweet potato – ohmygosh. Best thing ever. Our driver then treated us to red bean tofu soup and it was just the thing to finish the roadside meal. Needless to say, the other cars weren’t too impressed that we were digging into food while they were waiting on us to arrive.

The Beach Trek

When we did catch up to our crew, we set off for a long beach trek. We saw snake-skins, overturned beetles, wandering chickens and stray dogs. The beaches were absolutely beautiful. However, we went on a day that had potential storms brewing. As a result, the beaches were incredibly windy. Like, INSANELY windy. Streams of sand were flying at me from multiple angles, attacking my skin. Apart from the crazy sand attacks, it was lovely.

We ate snacks in between enormous rocks by the water, climbed a small cliff, tip-toed across rubble, walked across a fallen tree bridge, and were lucky enough to have a beach side stall owner offer us refuge in the back of his shack when the sand attacks grew too strong. We ate mochi, lollipops, and tiny custard sponge cakes.

The Weekend Finale

After a long day of trekking, we returned to our cars. Unfortunately the driver of our spacious car didn’t want to be stuck with myself and my fellow intern on the return trip because of the language barrier, so we crammed into yet another car. For five hours, I sat in the middle back seat. I was extremely sunburnt and hungry. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but they bought us a service station buffet dinner and that soothed my hangry mood.

When we finally arrived back in Dongguan, it was late, and we were exhausted. We headed straight back to our apartments, and I slept until 1pm the next day. Yeah, I had a great sleep. And a great weekend.

Overall, it was an amazing weekend. I definitely recommend camping out and singing karaoke on a beach in China one day.