China's Ministry of Agriculture recently released a list of the "Most Beautiful Fishing Villages" in the country, as part of the country's efforts to regulate the leisure fishing industry development and nurture a batch of national-level rural tourism destinations.

Fujian in Southeast China secured four slots on the list, namely, Weitou village, Huiyu village, Aojiao village and Xipi village.

Weitou village

An aerial view of Weitou village in Quanzhou, Fujian province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Weitou village is located at the tip of Weitou Peninsula in Quanzhou, Fujian province. The village has a rich and diverse culture, a product of its history as a seaside fishing community and its close associations with overseas Chinese and Taiwan communities.

Embraced by seas on three sides, Weitou village also boasts unspoiled natural landscapes and receives the recognition as the "first village in the Taiwan Strait".

Huiyu village

A tranquil view of the Huiyu village in Quanzhou, Fujian province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Also in Quanzhou, Huiyu village, sprawling across an island covering less than 2-square kilometers, is often compared to the Gulangyu island, a renowned attraction in the port city of Xiamen in Fujian by virtue of its captivating views.

Most of the villagers are descendants of the Xiao family and still eke a living by fishing and sea farming on the island.