Zhejiang · Zhoushan | Must-Visit Attractions and Food Guide!

👍Why Visit: 🏝️Zhoushan, China's only "City of a Thousand Islands," boasts 1,390 emerald islets. It's both a Buddhist sanctuary of Guanyin's sacred site and a seafood paradise of the East China Sea. The incense smoke of Mount Putuo lingers over centuries-old temples, while the azure waves of Dongji Island cradle the first rays of dawn. Gouqi Island's mussel farms stretch like underwater grasslands. The briny sea breeze carries legends of hairtail fish migrations, every reef whispers tales from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," and each fishing net pulses with the heartbeat of the East China Sea. 📅Must-Visit Attractions: 🏯【Mount Putuo】"Buddhist Kingdom on Sea and Sky"—Puji Temple’s Nine-Dragon Caisson Ceiling reflects millennia of incense smoke, while Fayu Temple’s glazed tiles shimmer with Buddha-like radiance. Pilgrims kneel every three steps amid chanting and crashing waves. 🌅【Dongji Island】China’s easternmost inhabited island. The "Statue of Caibo Gong" guards fishing grounds on Miaozihu, while Dongfushan’s boulder bears the inscription "First Dawn of the New Century." Qingbang Island’s stone houses cascade like a "Tibetan Potala Palace on Sea." 🏖️【Zhujiajian】"Home of Zhoushan Sand Sculptures"—Nansha Beach’s golden coastline spans 5km, dotted with International Sand Sculpture Festival artworks. The Daqing Mountain coastal road connects Niutou Mountain’s sea of clouds with Shaojiwan fishing village. 🗡️【Taohua Island】The martial arts wonderland from Jin Yong’s novels. Huang Yaoshi’s Villa in the "Condor Heroes" film set still echoes with sword energy, while Tawan Golden Beach cradles Zhoushan’s deepest harbor. Anqi Peak’s misty summit feels celestial. 🐚【Gouqi Island】"Home of Mussels"—vast floating farms twinkle like fallen stars. Sunset at Xiaoxitian paints mussel racks crimson, and the abandoned Wuwu Village cloaked in vines resembles a "real-life Fairy Tale Forest." 💡【Huaniao Island】The East China Sea’s last slow-living haven. The 1870 Far East Lighthouse illuminates century-old sea routes, while summer bioluminescent waters glow blue. At Mataline Road’s end, a cliffside bookstore overlooks roaring tides. ⛰️【Shengshan Island】"Heart of East China Sea Fisheries"—its 80m-high Dongya Cliff dwarfs the abandoned Houtouwan Village, dubbed by National Geographic as "Nature’s Reclaimed City." 🛕【Puji Temple】Mount Putuo’s core monastery. The Imperial Stele Pavilion houses Kangxi’s calligraphy, while devotees kowtow every three steps under ancient camphor trees. 🌊【Daqing Mountain Scenic Area】Zhujiajian’s coastal drive crown—Qiansha, Lisha, and Qingsha Bays form a trio. Sailboats dot the marina, and Shaojiwan’s fishing boats return at sunset like gold leaf on water. 🎑【Shenjiamen Fishing Port】One of the "World’s Top Three Fishing Ports"—miles of nightlights never dim. At Bin’gang Road stalls, live swimming crabs ooze golden roe, and diesel-scented breezes embody true fishing-town grit. 📅3-Day Itinerary: 🎉**Day 1: Buddhist Pilgrimage** - 🌞AM: Morning chanting at Puji Temple → Huiji Temple atop Foding Mountain (cable car views) - 🍲Lunch: Vegetarian Guanyin cakes & bamboo shoots - 🌳PM: Fayu Temple’s Nine-Dragon Wall → Guanyin Bronze Statue → Hundred-Step Beach tides - 🌃Evening: Stay at boutique lodgings, stroll incense-lit Miaozhuang Road - 🍽Dinner: Kaiyuan Hall’s vegan feast 🎉**Day 2: Island-Hopping Adventure** - ⛴️Transport: Early ferry from Zhujiajian to Dongji - 🌞AM: "The Continent" film sites → Caibo Gong Museum - 🍲Lunch: Dongji Stone House’s tigerfish tofu soup - 🌳PM: Dongfushan loop (Stone Houses → Elephant Trunk Peak) → Sunset at lighthouse - 🌃Evening: Stay at Qingbang’s "Stone Pier" homestay, hunt bioluminescent waters - 🍽Dinner: Grilled mussels & spicy snails at dockside stalls 🎉**Day 3: Ocean & Sandscapes** - 🌞AM: Nansha Sand Sculpture Park → Sailing Center - 🍲Lunch: Gao’s Seafood (braised hairtail rice) - 🌳PM: Daqing Mountain drive (Niutou lookout → Shaojiwan Village) - 🌇Evening: Guanyin Dharma Realm light show - 🍽Dinner: Dockside scallion-oil crabs & yellow croaker stew 🏨Stay Smart: 🛏️Areas: - Zhujiajian: Luxury (Westin / Greentown Resorts) - Dongji: Stone-house stays (Fanyu / Manyu) - Mount Putuo: Zen retreats (Kaiyuan / Landison) - Gouqi: Cliffside views (Qianmo / Musu) 💗Pro Tips: 1. 🚢Ferry Hacks: - Book Dongji tickets 3 days early via "Zhoushan Haixing" (midnight queues in peak season) - Shengsi routes: follow "Shengsi Passenger Transport" 2. 🦀Seasons: - Best crabs post-Sept fishing ban; winter hairtail shines - May = plump mussels; haggle at 30% of "market price" 3. ⛵Island Hopping: - Mount Putuo → Dongji requires Zhujiajian transfer - Gouqi ↔ Shengshan via Sanjiaojiang Bridge 4. 📿Temple Etiquette: - Puji’s 5AM chanting; wear plain attire - Keep small cash for incense tickets (¥5-6/temple) 5. 🌊Safety: - Typhoon season (Jul-Sep) cancels ferries—buffer days! - Dongfushan loop: 4hr hike, avoid cliff edges > "Misty mountain floats on celestial seas"—Zhoushan’s waters aren’t monochrome: they’re Buddha-light sapphire, fishing-fire gold, and bioluminescent jade. Three days barely lift the East China Sea’s hem, yet enough to drench your soul in salty freedom.