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Zhoushan is not only China's largest fishing ground, but also one of the four most famous fishing grounds in the world. Yellow croaker, hairtail, grouper, splendid lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp, crab, mussels, blue crab, and other Zhoushan seafood specialties are all exceptional. The local cuisine naturally focuses on seafood, with cooking methods typically steamed, pickled, salted, air-dried, and served raw. Key local dishes include: chicken with white croaker, grilled yellow croaker, large grilled squid, salt-baked shrimp, Shengsi conch sauce, scallion oil clams, smoked pomfret, and stir-fried shredded eel with celery. The renowned Shenjiamen Fishing Port is the perfect place to savor Zhoushan's seafood.
Zhoushan's seafood is incredibly famous, and a must-try when visiting the city. The prices are comparable to those in Ningbo and Shanghai, and the freshness is key. It's best to choose a reputable seafood restaurant. Zhoushan locals generally avoid eating seafood outside, preferring to buy it at the market and cook it themselves. However, there's a way to find affordable and delicious seafood: try visiting Zhoushan during the fall and winter. Of course, it's not all seafood here; if you're tired of seafood, you can definitely find a change of pace.
The ingredients are genuine, and the prices are reasonable. It's not easy to find food at this price in a high-cost tourist city. It's said that most of the buildings are illegal, but the price-performance ratio is so good that even the urban management is reluctant to demolish them. The flavor is not too salty or bland, not too sweet or spicy, but it's just okay, an authentic Zhoushan dish.
The address is a temporary shed in front of Dinghai No. 6 Middle School (Yancang Middle School). There's a new three-lane road running parallel to an older asphalt road. This is where the asphalt road suddenly becomes filled with private cars on both sides.
Transportation: Take bus No. 42 to Dinghai No. 6 Middle School.
Gaojiazhuang is located in the heart of Shenjiamen, just 2 kilometers from the Shenjiamen Wharf. The seafood here is diverse and delicious, and the prices are clearly marked, so you won't be overcharged, so you can enjoy the delicious seafood with confidence.
Address: No. 107 Donghe Road, Shenjiamen, Putuo District (near Binhai Road)
Opening hours: 10:45-14:30; 16:45-20:30
Contact: 0580-3025777; 3021333
Transportation: Bus No. 8, 12, 27, or 28 to Putuo No. 2 Middle School Station.
The best stinky tofu in Zhoushan is located opposite the Dinghai District Senior University. It's a small shop on a side street, and every afternoon it's crowded with students, middle-aged people, and elderly people. It closes once it's sold out (it's definitely gone after 7 p.m.).
Legend has it that the best lard scallion pancakes in the Zhoushan Islands are sold on the side of the road in Yancang County, Dinghai District. A young couple is making pancakes at a small stall. They're available from afternoon to evening, as long as it's not raining heavily. They're 70 cents each. The round ones are filled with pork, and the rectangular ones are filled with scallion oil.
Dinghai City at night will make you feel the lively and rich nightlife of the ancient city on the sea. There are cafes, teahouses, Sichuan restaurants, Hunan restaurants, Korean cuisine and other snacks with diverse colors and bustling atmosphere. The whole street is filled with tempting aroma, which arouses people's appetite from time to time.
Address: Between Changguo Road and Jiefang East Road in the center of Dinghai City
Zhoushan's seafood is world-class, and the nightlife stalls are a vibrant gathering of seafood. Each stall displays a dazzling array of fresh, sustainable seafood, practically a miniature marine life museum. Here you'll find seashells, shrimp, horse mackerel, sesame snails, swimming crabs, small yellow croaker, flounder, grouper, fried conch, braised tiger fish, steamed small yellow croaker, hairtail, top-grade Buddha's hand, and prawn salad...
The most famous seafood stall. Shenjiamen Seafood Stall is close to the Shenjiamen Ferry Terminal. If you are transiting here to Putuo Mountain, Zhujiajian or Taohua Island, you can also stop here to enjoy it. The price is slightly cheaper than Putuo Mountain, but still not cheap, and most of the people who eat here are from other places.
The food here is not only fresh but also full of atmosphere. Everyone gathered around a round table, peeling giant Zhoushan prawns, swimming crabs, and a host of other unusual shellfish. The seafood is served raw or cooked, with razor clams and other shellfish being served raw, a dish many people find unaccustomed to. A must-drink with seafood is Yangmei shochu, or you'll develop diarrhea. The food stalls were bustling with people, clinking glasses, the sounds of cooking, the clacking of alcohol, and laughter filled the air. The sea breeze was refreshing during the meal. Fishing boats, large and small, frequently docked, returning from the sea. The distant waves shimmered, and the lights of the island across the way loomed, creating a sense of mystery.
Transportation: Donghe Station on Bus No. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 15, 27, or 28.
The seafood stalls at Zhoushan's Dinghai Harbor terminal differ from the Shenjiamen seafood night stalls. Shenjiamen is a fishing port, while Dinghai is a harbor terminal, resulting in distinct styles and unique characteristics. As night falls, after a busy day of hustle and bustle at the port, over 30 night stalls line the harbor. Amidst the gleam of knives and spoons, plates of fragrant seafood delicacies waft forth, accompanied by the cries of the stall owners, making mouths water. Fifteen specialties, such as "Sizzling Razor Clams," "Shrimp on a String," and "Baked Squid with Salted Egg Yolk," are among the stalls' signature dishes. The Dinghai Harbor night stalls offer a unique seafood experience, offering both tourists and locals alike a delightful dining experience.
The food stalls here are mainly concentrated in the Qiandao Seafood Food Plaza, the indoor building corridor, and the family-style night food stalls. They are all on the second floor. Each stall has about six or seven tables, and you can see the sea through the large glass sliding door. (There is no beach, only passenger ships and shipyards.) The price-performance ratio is moderate.
Address: Dinghai Port Wharf, along the coast, two-story elevated building.
Contact: 0580-8171399
Transportation: Bus No. 50 Dinghai Station, Bus No. 28 Minxing Wharf Station.
Address: Next to Zhujiajian Strait Bridge, Putuo District
Transportation: Daqiao Toll Station on Route 27; Donggang Trade City Station on Routes 1, 2, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 27
On any of the outlying islands, staying at a fisherman's lodge will allow you to enjoy fresh seafood. If you plan to eat at a fisherman's lodge, you can contact the owner in advance to negotiate a price. Popular islands generally charge around 60 yuan per person, plus a processing fee of 15-20 yuan. Then, have the owner take you to the local seafood market to buy fresh seafood. This way, you won't be ripped off and will still enjoy a satisfying meal. Of course, each fisherman's cooking technique varies, so if taste is paramount, it's recommended to visit the islands' night food stalls. You can find food stalls near the docks of Putuoshan, Shengsi Sijiao Caiyuan Town, and Daishan Island.
Located near the Caiyuan Central Farmers' Market, the Shengsi Log Cabin Seafood Stalls boast eight locations, offering both outdoor and private seating, serving authentic Shengsi seafood. Shengsi is known for its freshest seafood, and at our log cabin stalls, you'll experience more than just this unique marine cultural atmosphere. Each stall is named after a distinctive Shengsi landscape, such as "Mountain and Sea Wonders" and "Harvest Fishing Port," offering visitors a cultural treat before their feast. The unique fishing culture and the cheerful character of the islanders are a true delight, making them unforgettable. The seafood here is truly fresh and unique. The sheer number of stalls and the sheer number of diners creates a bustling atmosphere. On the table, red tigerfish, yellow croaker, and white dragonhead fish; round sand clams, pointed yellow snails, and swimming crabs with their claws raised high—it feels like stepping into an aquarium. On a hot summer day, when night falls, it is quite charming to sit by the harbor, savor seafood in the gentle sea breeze, and watch the night scene of the fishing harbor with the mast lights and the bright moon shining against each other.
In Daishan, nearly every household enjoys seafood, and fresh seafood is readily available. Most hotels and restaurants offer full seafood banquets, and seafood permeates every corner of the island. The most famous are the "seafood night stalls." At the Daishan Central Fishing Port, a nationally Class-B public fishing port, these night stalls line the waterfront, creating a spectacular scene. As the sun fades, the night stalls come alive, creating a stunning backdrop alongside the fishing boats' lights. There's no need to look at a menu here, as every stall is overflowing with seafood. Peering through the neatly arranged buckets, you'll find boneless, fresh fish, spitting shells, and hopping shrimp... The sheer variety is dazzling, and just the sight of them will whet your appetite. Famous Daishan dishes include steamed grouper, steamed sixteen fish, braised cocktail shrimp, braised Zhoushan hairtail, yellow croaker with pickled mustard greens, horsetail conch with snow sauce, three-armed croaker (with jellyfish heads), and red crab with pickled mustard greens. Eating seafood, looking at the sea view, listening to the waves, and feeling the sea breeze with a strong fishy smell is definitely a pleasant and comfortable feeling.
Address: Near the wharf of Gaoting Town, Daishan County.
Opening hours: 17:00- late