Dongshan Island is stunning, but I honestly don’t recommend going in July because............

Dongshan Island: The “Wind-moving Rock and Glass Sea” of the Minnan Coast — 2 Days 1 Night Essential Guide Keywords: Wind-moving Rock, Nanmen Bay, Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road, Seafood Delicacies Budget: 600-1000 RMB per person (including transportation + accommodation + activities, slightly higher in peak season) Best Season: April to October (clear seawater, great for water activities), September to November (seafood at its plumpest) 1. Must-visit Highlights: The 3 Core Experiences of the Mountain-Sea Stone City 1. Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area: See the “Dancing Rock” and the 600-year-old ancient city Highlights: Dongshan Island’s “landmark,” a 200-ton giant rock with a contact area of only about ten square centimeters at the bottom, moves with the wind but has stood firm for a thousand years, known as the “World’s Greatest Wonder Rock”; Inside the scenic area are the Guandi Temple (the largest in Minnan, very popular for incense offerings), and Tongshan Ancient City (Ming Dynasty anti-pirate city walls, climb the walls for sea views); You can take a boat (15 RMB/person) to Dongmen Islet (filming location of the movie "The Left Ear," with beaches and reefs). Activities: Push the Wind-moving Rock (a light push lets you feel the “rock move”), touch the Guandi statue to pray; Stroll along the Tongshan Ancient City walls and watch the waves crash against the reefs. Tips: Entrance fee 45 RMB/person (half price for students), no shade inside the scenic area, bring a sun umbrella and water; No shops on Dongmen Islet, bring your own snacks. 2. Nanmen Bay: The “Blue Romance” of the movie "The Left Ear" Highlights: Half is deep blue sea, half is colorful houses, known as the “Minnan version of Santorini”; Core activities: Walk along the sea dike, take photos of the colorful houses, watch the sunset on the beach, eat seafood at the night market. Activities: Wear a white dress and walk along the sea dike for fresh photos; Explore the colorful alleys to find filming spots from "The Left Ear," chat with local grandmas; Arrive at the beach before 6:00 PM to watch the sunset dye the sky red. Tips: Free entry, beach chairs require a fee (20-30 RMB/hour); Night market recommendation: “Little Wife Sweet Soup” (8 RMB/bowl, a great summer cooler). 3. Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road: Ride an electric scooter to see “Mountains and Sea Embrace” Highlights: Fujian’s most beautiful island loop road, with lush green mountains on one side and blue sea on the other, known as the “Fujian version of Highway 1”; Core activities: Rent an electric scooter, shoot “mountain-sea road” photos, climb Sufeng Mountain for panoramic views. Activities: Rent an electric scooter (50 RMB/day), stop at the “blue railing section” for photos; Ride to the top of the mountain to see the full view of Dongshan Island and shoot “mountains and sea in one frame” videos. Tips: Free to enter, electric scooters can be rented at Nanmen Bay or Tongling Town; The road has many bends and steep slopes, control your speed, bring sunscreen and water. 2. In-depth Experience: Dongshan Island’s “Art and Everyday Life” 1. Early Morning: Jinluan Bay’s “Mirror Beach and Sunrise” Highlights: At low tide, the beach looks like a mirror reflecting the sky, known as the “Mirror of the Sky.” Activities: Arrive before 5:30 AM to watch the sun rise above the sea, dyeing the mirror-like beach red; Bring a tripod to shoot low-angle reflections overlapping with the sky. Tips: Free entry, beach chairs require a fee; Sunrise is around 5:40 AM in summer and 6:30 AM in winter, check the time in advance. 2. Afternoon: Dingjie’s “Minnan Ancient Houses and Artistic Shops” Highlights: A 600-year-old historic district preserving many Minnan red brick ancient houses, known as the “Living Minnan Architecture Museum.” Activities: Explore alleys to see red brick walls and swallowtail ridges, take vintage-style photos; Visit “Island Language” (filming location of “We Are Here”) for coffee and reading; Try the mango shaved ice at “Shanhe Yue” (25 RMB/serving). Tips: Free entry, some shops require purchase to enter; Do not touch artifacts inside ancient houses, no flash photography. 3. Evening: Maluan Bay’s “Sunset and Sailboats” Highlights: Fine sandy beach, clear water, summer water sports like sailing and jet skiing. Activities: Arrive before 6:00 PM to watch the sunset dye the sailboats red; Try sailing (80 RMB/person for 15 minutes) to feel the sea breeze and waves; Eat at seafood stalls, recommended “Wanglai Seafood Stall” (60-80 RMB per person, the mantis shrimp and crabs are the plumpest). Tips: Free entry, sailing requires an extra fee; You can bargain at seafood stalls, ask prices before ordering. 3. Dongshan Island Cuisine: The “Taste of Mountains and Sea” 1. Must-try Classics Small squid (68-98 RMB/serving): Blanched and dipped in soy sauce, fresh, sweet, and tender; Cat Congee (15-20 RMB/bowl): Seafood, pork, and rice cooked into a rich and fragrant porridge; Xiao Mi (2-3 RMB/each): Glutinous rice, pork, and shrimp wrapped and steamed, dipped in sweet chili sauce. 2. Hidden Snacks Lotus Flower Bun (3-5 RMB/each): Flour buns filled with red bean paste or winter melon sugar, shaped like lotus flowers, sweet but not greasy; Grilled Pork Tendon Skewers (10-15 RMB/skewer): Pork marinated with fish sauce and charcoal-grilled, crispy outside and tender inside; Wheat Pancake (8-10 RMB/serving): Wheat flour and eggs cooked into a pancake, stuffed with red bean paste or pork floss. 4. Accommodation Recommendations Seaside Resort: A luxury tent camp in Dongshan Island (1500-3000 RMB/night), stay in a tent with sea views; Artistic and Fresh Style: Dongshan Island Island Language Apartment (300-600 RMB/night), near Nanmen Bay, with strong design sense; Cost-effective: Tongling Town homestays (150-300 RMB/night), near Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area and Dingjie; Hostel: Dongshan Island International Youth Hostel (50-100 RMB/bed), near Nanmen Bay, suitable for backpackers. 5. Classic 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary Day 1: The Interweaving of Mountains, Sea, and Ancient Houses Morning: Arrive at Dongshan Island, check in at a Nanmen Bay guesthouse; Afternoon: Ride the Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road, shoot “mountain-sea road” photos; Evening: Eat seafood and drink sweet soup at Nanmen Bay night market, enjoy the sea dike night view. Day 2: Farewell to Culture and Cuisine Morning: Push the rock at Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area, climb Tongshan Ancient City, take a boat to Dongmen Islet; Afternoon: Explore ancient houses in Dingjie, have coffee at “Island Language,” buy Xiao Mi and Lotus Flower Buns as souvenirs; Evening: Return trip. The wind of Dongshan Island is the gentleness of Nanmen Bay; The water of Dongshan Island is the mirror of Jinluan Bay; Here, there’s no need to rush, just sit on the sea dike, Watch the waves, listen to the fishermen’s songs, and let the legend of the Wind-moving Rock Become the most healing footnote in your memory.