Beihai means "north sea" in Chinese, meaning that the place is a seaport on the north shore of the Gulf of Tonkin. Between the years 2006 and 2020, Beihai is predicted to be the world´s fastest growing city.Beihai is known within China as a travel destination. While Beihai does suffer from pollution as much of China does, it is not nearly as severe as most other parts of the country. It is a hub city connecting the southwest of China to Southeast Asia while lying adjacent to Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Macau and Viet Nam. Beihai is a beautiful and romantic city boasting subtropical seaside scenery.
Generally speaking, shopping centers in Beihai - such as the Hualian Department Store in Xinli Square and the Guotong Center - are all located at the middle section of Beibu Gulf Road. In addition, the Old Street areas of Zhongshan Road and Jiefang Road are good places for window shopping. Beihai is also the hometown of Nanzhu (southern pearl) and many shops sell pearls.
