The most beautiful island in China, a must-visit once in a lifetime

Romantic journey to the Pearl of the East China Sea 🌊 Nanji Island is one of the top ten most beautiful islands in China, selected by China National Geography. ✨ Trip Highlights · Encounter the rare shell beach: Walk barefoot on the world’s rare shell beach—Dashao Bay, and feel the unique sensation of fine sand grains covering your feet. · Breathtaking mountain and sea views: At Sanpanwei, enjoy both cliff meadows and the vast East China Sea; this is the best spot on the island to watch the sea. · Fishing village life and seafood feast: Experience traditional fishing village life at Houlong Village and taste freshly caught and cooked seafood. · Chase the magical blue tears: From April to July, you have the chance to encounter the amazing blue bioluminescence on the beach at night. 🚢 How to get to the island Nanji Island is mainly connected to the mainland by ferry, with two main piers to choose from: You can go to Aojiang Pier from Wenzhou Longwan Airport or Pingyang Station. Follow the "Nanji Passenger Tourism" WeChat public account to book tickets. The ferry ride takes about 2 hours, with multiple daily departures. You can also go to Ruian Port Passenger Pier from Ruian High-Speed Rail Station. The speedboat ride takes about 1.5 hours. 🏝️ Itinerary Day 1: Arrival and beach experience · Morning: Take a boat from Aojiang or Ruian Pier to Nanji Island, check into a hotel or guesthouse. · Afternoon: Head to Dashao Bay Beach, which has an 800-meter-long shell beach with fine soft sand and clear water, perfect for swimming, beach volleyball, or shell collecting. · Evening: Watch the sunset at Mazuo Bay, an excellent spot for sunset viewing. Day 2: Sunrise and island tour · Early morning: Go to Sanpanwei to watch the sunrise over the sea, the best sunrise viewing spot on Nanji Island. · Morning: Explore the Sanpanwei scenic area, admire the natural grasslands and rock formations like the Monkey Worshiping Guanyin. · Afternoon: Rent an electric bike on Rainbow Road for a circular island ride to enjoy coastal scenery. · Evening: If visiting between April and July, look for the blue tears at Dashao Bay or stargaze by the sea. Day 3: Fishing village culture and return · Morning: Visit Houlong Fishing Village to experience fishing village culture. · Noon: Enjoy a seafood feast featuring local specialties. · Afternoon: Pack up and take the boat back. 🏞️ Sanpanwei Scenic Area · Features: The best place on the island to watch the sea and sunrise, with natural grasslands and unique rock formations. · Recommended visit time: Early morning for sunrise, about 3-4 hours for the full tour. · Photo spots: Monkey Worshiping Guanyin, Wangfu Rock, natural grasslands. · Tips: It’s cooler in the early morning, bring a jacket; wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. Dashao Bay Beach · Features: A world-rare shell beach with fine, soft sand and crystal-clear water, ideal for beachcombing and water play. · Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours, preferably morning or evening to avoid strong sunlight. · Activities: Swimming, beach volleyball, shell collecting. · Tips: No swimming allowed after 6:30 PM; the last bus from Dashao Bay back to Sanpanwei is also at 6:30 PM. Mazuo Bay · Features: An excellent spot to watch the sunset and enjoy the sea ranch scenery. · Recommended visit time: One hour before to after sunset. · Photography tips: Bring a telephoto lens to capture fishing boats against the sunset. Houlong Fishing Village · Features: The largest fishing village on Nanji Island, preserving traditional fishing village life. · Recommended visit time: 1-2 hours. · Experience: Explore the fishing village atmosphere. 🦀 Food and Accommodation Must-try dishes Nanji Island is famous for seafood, don’t miss: · Large yellow croaker: tender meat, best steamed. · Swimming crab: the fattest in season. · Mussels: extra large, fresh and sweet. · Clams: perfect with beer. Recommended restaurants Hai Zhiyuan Fisherman’s Home: near Dashao Bay. Wanghai Lou Seafood Stall: next to Sanpanwei scenic area. Island food stalls: choose the busier ones. Accommodation options · High-end: · Azure Acacia Resort Hotel: centrally located on Nanji Island, convenient transportation. · Lost·Houlong Cave Hotel: unique cave design, each room faces the sea, but prices are higher. · Mid-range: · Houlong Fisherman’s Home: experience fisherman's life, good value. · Dashao Bay Guesthouse: convenient location near main attractions. · Practical tip: Accommodation on the island is limited, book in advance. ⚠️ Practical Tips Best season: May to October for the bluest sea, but avoid typhoon season. Essentials: · Sunscreen: strong UV rays by the sea, bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. · Mosquito repellent: many mosquitoes on the island. · Comfortable shoes: suitable for walking. · Some cash: some places may not accept electronic payments. ❌ Customs taboos: · Fishermen avoid saying words like "flip," "down," or "bad luck." · When eating, avoid tapping chopsticks on bowls or sticking chopsticks upright in rice bowls. 📷 Photography tips: · Sanpanwei: shoot sunrise early morning, use side backlight for hair light effect. · Dashao Bay: shoot before 10 AM or after 4 PM to avoid harsh light. · Mazuo Bay: arrive before sunset to capture silhouette shots.