A beach city trip with a 2,000 yuan budget that’s perfect for kids

Where mountains meet the sea, and families grow together🌊 A 4-city, 6-day, 5-night itinerary that lets you enjoy the fun of beachcombing, experience the charm of Chaoshan culture, and savor quality family time on free beaches! With a 2,000 yuan budget, easily make your family beach trip dream come true!👨👩👧👦 📅 Itinerary overview and budget allocation ✨ Core goal: 4 cities, 6 days, 5 nights, unlocking beachcombing DIY, intangible cultural heritage, Chaoshan cuisine, and natural wonders with the kids! All transportation, accommodation, food, and entertainment covered for just 2,000 yuan per person—maximum value! 💰 Budget breakdown: 🚄 Transportation: High-speed rail/bus + local car rental/public transit, 800 yuan per person; 🏠 Accommodation: Budget homestays/family hotels, 500 yuan per person; 🍲 Dining: Seafood feasts + local snacks, 400 yuan per person; 🎫 Tickets/experiences: Beachcombing tools/snorkeling/museums, 300 yuan per person. 🌴 City-by-city guide: Full playthrough of four cities 📍 Yangjiang: Hailing Island beachcombing + intangible cultural heritage exploration 💡 Highlights: Free collection of giant sea conches, Song Dynasty shipwreck museum, kite DIY! 🚩 Itinerary: 🚄 Day 1: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Yangjiang (2h, 100 yuan), taxi to Hailing Island (50 yuan), check in at Poly Lantao Villa Area (500 yuan/night with pool, super fun family slide + ball pit!). 🌊 Day 2: 🌅 Morning: Dajiao Bay Beachcombing Festival (tools free! Dig for sand crabs, collect shells, kids thrilled to the max~). 🏛️ Afternoon: Nanhai No.1 Shipwreck Museum (ticket 70 yuan), see Song Dynasty porcelain spanning a millennium. 🦞 Evening: Dongping Town chicken rice (30 yuan per person) + Chengcun oyster feast (freshly shucked oysters 10 yuan each, finger-licking fresh!). 🪁 Day 3: Lingzhi kite DIY (128 yuan per family), kids paint their own kites and fly them by the sea—super healing! 👶 Family tips: Buy beachcombing tools online in advance (Taobao 10 yuan set), sold for 30 yuan at the site; For seafood processing, recommend Magong Wharf (fishing boats supply fresh catch at 4 pm, processing fee 10 yuan per jin). 📍 Shantou: Nan’ao Island circuit + Chaoshan cuisine 💡 Highlights: Qing’ao Bay beachcombing, lighthouse sunset, all-you-can-eat beef hotpot! 🚩 Itinerary: 🚄 Day 4: Shantou high-speed rail → Nan’ao Island (3h, 180 yuan), ferry 20 yuan, check in at Xiaogongyuan family homestay (300 yuan/night with slide tent, kids instantly become “little explorers”). 🌅 Day 5: 🦀 Morning: Qing’ao Bay beachcombing (free! Dig for sand worms, collect starfish, kids become “little ocean guardians”). 🏰 Afternoon: Visit Changweishan Lighthouse, Qian’ao Bay Lighthouse, and Sancongya Lighthouse (fairytale vibes max!). 🍲 Evening: Strawberry ice at No. 12 Middle School (5 yuan/cup), Laoma Palace rice dumplings (8 yuan each), beef hotpot (50 yuan per person, tender enough to scream!). 🏛️ Day 6: 🔬 Morning: Shantou Science Museum interactive experience (30 yuan, kids don’t want to leave!). 📸 Afternoon: Photo shoot at Xiaogongyuan arcade, wear qipao for vintage-style shots! 👶 Family tips: Rent electric scooters for 50 yuan/day for more freedom around the island (kids sit in front, super cool!); Learning the Chaoshan phrase “jiaojiren” (meaning “one of us”) helps bond with locals, kids saying it is adorable! 📍 Shanwei: Jinding Bay Art Camp + Red Sea Bay 💡 Highlights: Beachcombing DIY, Windmill Island’s fairytale windmill sea, all-you-can-eat snacks on Ermalu! 🚩 Itinerary: 🚄 Day 7: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Shanwei (1.5h, 80 yuan), check in at Jinding Bay sea view homestay (off-season 200 yuan/night, window view of the sea is super romantic!). 🌅 Day 8: 🦀 Morning: Jinding Bay Art Camp DIY sea salt (50 yuan per family), kids experience “salt worker” life! 🌇 Afternoon: Watch sunset at Zhelangjiao Lighthouse in Red Sea Bay, take photos of the fairytale windmill sea on Windmill Island (two-tone sea is stunning!). 🍜 Evening: Ermalu Food Street (seafood porridge 10 yuan/bowl, thin pancakes 5 yuan each, kids eat until they can’t stand!). 🦞 Day 9: 🐟 Morning: Buy fresh seafood at Magong Wharf for processing (10 yuan per jin, freshly caught and cooked!). 🌅 Afternoon: Return trip. 👶 Family tips: Check tide tables in advance for beachcombing (WeChat mini-program “Tide Elf”), wear non-slip shoes (kids won’t cry if they fall!); Bring mosquito repellent around the ancient sea castle ruins (kids sprayed become “fragrant little princesses”). 📍 Maoming: China’s No.1 Beach + Fangji Island snorkeling 💡 Highlights: Free beach, snorkeling adventure, petrochemical industrial park science tour! 🚩 Itinerary: 🚄 Day 10: Guangzhou high-speed rail → Maoming (2.5h, 120 yuan), taxi to China’s No.1 Beach (30 yuan), check in at beachside homestay (150 yuan/night, kids dig in the sand until dark!). 🌅 Day 11: 🏖️ Morning: Digging at China’s No.1 Beach (free! Kids build castles and chase waves, super happy!). 🚤 Afternoon: Visit Shuidong Bay Marine Park to see mangroves, the “sea forest” at high tide is picturesque! 🍲 Evening: Dianbai seafood porridge (20 yuan/bowl), Shuidong duck porridge (30 yuan per person, duck meat juicy and tender!). 🐠 Day 12: 🤿 Morning: Take a boat from Bohe Port to Fangji Island (snorkeling gear rental 50 yuan), explore coral reefs and tropical fish (kids scream with excitement at the fish schools!). 🌅 Afternoon: View sea clouds at Yanjingling Observation Deck, experience fishing village life at Tongzi Bay (kids try net fishing, super fun!). 🚄 Evening: Return trip. 👶 Family tips: Check snorkeling equipment before use (kids wear life jackets, adults accompany throughout!); Petrochemical industrial park science tour suitable for kids 6+ (kids wear safety helmets, take “little engineer” photos!). 🚗 Transportation and accommodation: Save money and hassle 🚄 Transportation: Intercity: Prioritize high-speed rail (Yangjiang → Shantou → Shanwei → Maoming, total about 800 yuan per person); Local: Car rental (Yangjiang/Maoming self-drive), bus/electric scooters (Shantou/Shanwei), total about 200 yuan per person. 🏠 Accommodation: Yangjiang: Poly Lantao Villa Area (500 yuan/night with pool, kids don’t want to leave the water!); Shantou: Xiaogongyuan family homestay (300 yuan/night with slide tent, kids instantly “little explorers”); Shanwei: Jinding Bay sea view homestay (off-season 200 yuan/night, window view of the sea is super romantic!); Maoming: Beachside homestay (150 yuan/night, kids dig in the sand until dark!). 🍲 Food recommendations: Kids eat until they can’t stand! 🦞 Yangjiang: Chengcun oyster feast: freshly shucked oysters 10 yuan each (kids happily eat 3!); Dongping Town chicken rice: 30 yuan per person (chicken oil mixed rice, kids lick the bowl!). 🍲 Shantou: Beef hotpot: 50 yuan per person (tender enough to scream!); No. 12 Middle School strawberry ice: 5 yuan/cup (kids shout “wow!”). 🍜 Shanwei: Ermalu Food Street: seafood porridge 10 yuan/bowl, thin pancakes 5 yuan each (kids eat until they can’t stand!); Magong Wharf seafood processing: 10 yuan per jin (freshly caught and cooked!). 🦀 Maoming: Dianbai seafood porridge: 20 yuan/bowl (lots of shrimp and crab!); Shuidong duck porridge: 30 yuan per person (duck meat juicy and tender!). 💣 Pitfall guide: Avoid detours! 🦀 Beachcombing: Check tide tables in advance (WeChat mini-program “Tide Elf”), wear non-slip shoes (kids won’t cry if they fall!); Shells are sharp, children must be accompanied by adults (kids wear gloves for safer digging!). 🦞 Seafood: Be cautious with seafood stalls in scenic areas (recommend Ermalu/Magong Wharf, freshly caught and cooked!); Ask clearly about seafood processing prices (avoid being overcharged, kids eat with peace of mind!). 🚗 Transportation: Taxi rides between Yangjiang/Maoming attractions under 30 yuan (kids sit in the front seat to enjoy the view!); Rent electric scooters in Shantou/Shanwei for more freedom (kids sit in front, super cool!); Nan’ao Island ferry 20 yuan (watch the last ferry time, don’t let kids fall asleep!). 🌈 Summary: Have a blast with the kids! 💡 Itinerary highlights: Yangjiang: Beachcombing + intangible cultural heritage, experience sea farming culture (kids excited digging sand crabs!); Shantou: Nan’ao Island + Chaoshan cuisine, feel the coastal vibe (kids eat beef hotpot until full!); Shanwei: Jinding Bay + Red Sea Bay, fewer crowds and beautiful scenery (kids love the windmill sea photos!); Maoming: Free beach + snorkeling, strong parent-child interaction (kids scream at the fish schools!). 💰 Budget control: Transportation 800 yuan + accommodation 500 yuan + dining 400 yuan + tickets/experiences 300 yuan = 2,000 yuan per person; Off-season travel is more cost-effective (homestays/hostels offer great value, kids stay happily!). 👶 Family tips: Sunscreen essentials (sunscreen + sun hat + sunglasses) are a must (kids won’t cry after getting sunburned!); Buy beachcombing tools online in advance (Taobao 10 yuan set, sold for 30 yuan at the site); Seafood allergy sufferers should be cautious (bring common medications, kids play safely!). 📸 Photo ops: Kids holding little crabs, running under lighthouses, snorkeling with fish schools... your social feed’s grid won’t be enough to show it all!💥