Beihai

City and port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China, situated on the Gulf of Tonkin about 120 km/75 mi west of Zhanjiang; population (2000) 1,441,400. The largest fishing port on the Gulf, its principal industries also include engineering and ship repairing, fish processing and glass manufacture.

Originally part of Guangdong province, Beihai was transferred to Guangxi in 1949. Opened to foreign trade by international treaty in 1876, it was an important centre for export of local produce until eclipsed in the 1890s by the development of ports at Haiphong (Vietnam) and Zhanjiang. In the late 20th century, connected to the national railway and highway networks, it was once more developing as an important regional port.