Guangxi Province Pearl Farms | Beihai & Hepu, China

Hepu County (aka Xichang) is situated along the South China Sea in Guangxi Province (aka Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), and is one of China's major saltwater pearl producing areas. The satellite image below is of some farms off Beihai City, south-west of Hepu, near Dragon Pearl City and Shaukou, on the northeastern coast of Beibuwan.

The pearl farms in this region are located along the Beibu Gulf at the terminus of the ancient maritime Silk Route. Pearls from the Guangxi region were sometimes referred to "South Pearls," and pearls specifically from Beihai and Hepu were called Lian Pearls.