Live Your Best Lives
The first ray of dawn of the new century occurred at 6:42 a.m. on January 1, 2001, at the easternmost point of the island.
According to the measurements of the Greenwich National Observatory in the United Kingdom, the first ray of light in the new century on the inhabited islands of the mainland of China was at Dongfu Mountain.
This is the best place to watch the sunrise. When you come to Dongji Island, you must go to the Sun Observation Platform to watch the sunrise and be a witness to the first light of dawn.
Attraction Location: Dongji Island (东极岛), Shengsi Islands (嵊泗列岛), Zhoushan Archipelago (舟山群岛), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), China
History: Dongji Island, as the easternmost inhabited island of China’s Zhejiang province, has been a strategic maritime point for centuries. The Sunrise Viewing Platform was established as a tourist facility to offer unobstructed views of the sunrise over the East China Sea, highlighting the island’s maritime culture.
Architecture: The platform is a modern open-air structure built on a cliff edge. It is designed to blend with the natural environment, using local stone and wooden materials to maintain a natural aesthetic, while providing safety railings and viewing areas for visitors.
Cultural Value: The platform is a symbol of the “first sunrise in China” experience for many tourists. It emphasizes the spiritual and cultural significance of the ocean for island communities and offers insight into the daily life and traditions of Dongji Island’s fishermen.
Other Information: The site is particularly popular during national holidays and early summer when weather conditions allow clear views. It is often paired with hiking trails and photography tours.
Opening Hours: 04:30–19:00 (sunrise tours start as early as 04:30 depending on season)
Ticket Price:
Entry to platform: ¥20–30 per person
Best Photo Spots: At the cliff’s edge overlooking the open sea at sunrise; with local fishing boats in the foreground; aerial view from a nearby hilltop.
Time Reference: 1–2 hours to enjoy sunrise and surrounding views; combine with a half-day island exploration.
Other Information: Clear skies provide the best visibility; early mornings can be windy and chilly, so dress accordingly.
When the first light and wind of the Pacific Ocean touch the island
Time burns in the rolling sea of clouds, dyeing the sea red and the islands
I just want to keep the silence of that moment forever.
If you are going to die, then live life to the fullest.
Dongji Island's Sun Observation Deck is the perfect spot for watching the sunrise. A must-see when visiting Dongji Island is to witness the first light of dawn. This small viewing platform, nestled against the mountains and facing the sea, is the best spot on the island for sunrise viewing.
The Dongji Island Sun Observation Deck in Zhoushan is a marvel of dawn on the shores of the East China Sea. Standing on the cliff edge, you'll be greeted by the first rays of mainland China's sun, where the sea and sky merge into one, a shimmering haze of clouds. The solitary island's breathtaking scenery is a delight for photographers and sun-seekers alike.
The first sightseeing spot is on Dongfushan Island. The scenery is great and you can get up at 3:30 in the morning to see it.
A paradise for young people and a hometown for artists.
The sunrise in the easternmost part of the motherland is worth seeing, it is very beautiful!
The first ray of dawn of the new century occurred at 6:42 am on January 1, 2001, and is located on the easternmost side of the island.
The first ray of dawn of the new century hit the spot at 6:42 on January 1, 2001. The Sun Observation Deck is an extended platform where many people take photos, but be careful because there is a steep cliff below the platform.
We stayed at the beach before dawn. We thought the weather was bad and we might not see the sunrise. Just when everyone was about to leave, we saw the sun rising from the sea. It was really great.
I came here in August 2014 and went to watch the sunrise early in the morning. There were many tourists camping on the mountain. However, the weather was not good and there were clouds blocking the way, so I didn't see the sunrise. It was a pity, but I would like to come again in the future.
At five o'clock, the sky was barely light. I sat on the steps of the observation deck, waiting for the sunrise. The clouds were thick that day, yet they held a unique, hazy beauty. Atop the deep blue sea, a fire seemed to slowly ignite, growing fainter and thicker, finally transforming into a rising orange-red sun. It pierced the clouds, slipped through my fingers, and traversed billions of light years to wake you up in the morning.
When you get to Dongji Island, you still have to watch the sunrise hhhh
You have to get up early to watch the sunrise at Dongji. Who says they see the sun first here in China? Some people say that's not true, as Gouqi Island and Huaniao Island are further east than Dongfushan Island, but Dongfushan Island wins because of its lower latitude. It's just like Han Han sang in "Dongji Island Song": "The Pacific sunshine shines on you first." The sunrise starts around 4:20 (this is in May, and even earlier in the summer). Unfortunately, it was cloudy the day we visited, so we only saw a little bit of the sunset, but didn't see the sun rise from the sea. Also, the first ray of dawn illuminated the area around the platform, which was covered with rocks and weeds. There were also a lot of mosquitoes! It was terrible!
By the time we arrived at the observation deck at 4:30, it was already quite crowded. Arriving so early probably meant getting a good spot. The sun hadn't risen yet, but the sky, which had been pitch black when we left, was slowly brightening, and the view, which had gone from pitch black to completely clear, was gradually becoming clearer. Waiting for the sunrise is truly a romantic experience. Even though we waited for half an hour, and even though the sun only broke through the horizon for a few minutes, watching it with everyone, the moment it finally emerged, radiating its dazzling light, the simultaneous cheers and exclamations of "Wow!" from everyone around us, made it all so worth it. The sun has risen above the horizon. I hope today will be another beautiful day with dazzling light.
The entire sunrise period lasted from 5:03 AM to 5:11 AM, but the wait was long and the sunrise was fleeting. Perhaps that's just how beautiful things are; as the saying goes, scarcity makes things valuable. Half the river rustles, half is crimson. The entire brief process can be described by the idiom "clouds parting to reveal the sun." Listening to the waves lapping against the rocks and catching the first rays of early summer sunshine is an experience that comes only a few times in life.
Watching the sunrise at sea really requires luck. It was so beautiful the day before, but it became cloudy the next morning.
The scenery is great when the weather is good and the infrastructure is OK
When you arrive at Dongji Island, you must watch the sunrise. The sunrise is magnificent and worth seeing.
A good place to watch the sunrise, but it is windy in the morning, so you still need to keep warm
I went there during the year of the total solar eclipse. I was on a ship at Dongji Island. The deck was completely filled with people. We watched the eclipse as the ship rocked on the sea. The moment we arrived at Dongji Island, the total eclipse had just begun. It was instantly pitch black, and the sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums could be heard everywhere. Random sunlight would leak out. It was very interesting.
It's a great place to watch the sunrise. Many people stay and set up tents just to see the sunrise.
Looking at the tents set up on the Sunrise Terrace, many people were camping there. It was a pity that we didn’t see the sunrise.
Basically, I went to Dongji Island and stayed overnight just to watch the sunrise. I set up tents all over the viewing platform. When I got hungry, I went to a small shop to eat snacks and fried rice. The prices were definitely expensive. Of course, the view of the sunrise in the morning was definitely worth it.
It was foggy that day and I didn’t see the sunrise at all. I waited for a while and then went back to sleep, hahaha.
Finally saw the sunrise I had been longing for, making up for the regret of not seeing it last year. It was beautiful
It's really beautiful, a good place to take pictures, the sea water is so clean
I think you must watch the sunrise when you go to Dongfu Island! After all, this is the safest feature of the island! The first ray of dawn of the century is just a few steps away. However, it is very likely that you will not wait for the sunrise for a long time, but only wait for dark clouds, hehe. For example, I
The sunrise is super beautiful ~ it is worth a visit ~ the most beautiful sunrise
The moment of sunrise is so beautiful, the feeling of the sun coming out little by little is really...
It is so beautiful to greet the first ray of sunshine every day here
By the time we reached the Sun Observation Deck, the sun had long since vanished. But the clouds in the sky were now stained purple and red by the setting sun, and the entire coast of Dongji Island was bathed in a tranquil, even somewhat ambiguous atmosphere.
Two years ago, at the same spot, after a sudden power outage in the entire village, I was unexpectedly treated to a dazzling starry sky. This time, I certainly wouldn't miss it. After dinner, I rushed to the Sun Observation Deck and waited for the Milky Way to crest over the hills. The Sun Observation Deck wasn't ideal for photographing the Milky Way, but going any deeper would have been time-consuming, so I gave up. Furthermore, on a rocky shore, I unexpectedly spotted the legendary "blue tears." Initially, I dismissed the endless blue stretching along the shoreline, assuming it was simply a reflection of the village lights, mistaking it for the foreground of the starry sky. Looking back at photos, I realized that in the same location, under the same lighting, the color wasn't uniformly blue, and I realized this might be the so-called "blue tears."
Great place, great scenery, especially the sunrise
The Dongji Island Sun Observation Deck is located on Dongfu Island, very close to the harbor. There are many tents available for rent at the starting point of the right-hand loop around Dongfu Island, perfect for watching the sunrise the next day. However, if your accommodation is close by, you can skip the tents and get up early to see the sunrise. I arrived at Dongfu Island at the end of May. My landlady suggested setting out at 4:30 AM to wait for the sunrise, saying we could see it by 4:50 AM. However, it was foggy that morning, so we waited until 5 AM for the sun to come out.
You have to get up early to grab a seat, there are so many people, if the weather is good you can see it clearly!
The best viewing point to watch the sunrise is very exciting and beautiful
Dongji Island's Sun Observation Deck, known as the spot where the first rays of the sun shine in the new century, is located on the north side of Dongfu Mountain, about a 10-minute walk from Da'ao Village, where the inns are concentrated. It's said to be the spot where the sun shines in the new century, but when I visited in February, I couldn't see the sunrise at all because it was blocked by the southeastern headland, so I'm skeptical of this claim.
Both islands have their own attractions, such as the Fu Ru Dong Hai, Baiyun Palace, Xiangbi Peak, and the stone houses on Dongfu Mountain, and the Cai Bo Gong stone statue and Dongji Pavilion on Miaozi Lake. Actually, I just want to see the sea. Who cares about the shape of the stone? I only care about the view from the top.
It is said that you can see the earliest sunrise here, so I got up early. The sea breeze was very cold and foggy. When I saw the sunrise, it seemed that it could no longer be called the sunrise - you have to check the weather forecast before watching the sunrise
Staying in the Love House, I woke up at 3:30 and walked straight up from the residential area to the Sun Viewing Pavilion. I waited for a long time, thinking I wouldn't see the sunrise, but the red sun slowly rose over the hilltop. I was so excited.
I went there early in the morning. It's very close by taking the small road. Haha
It's not the peak season, and there are dozens or even hundreds of people watching the sunrise early in the morning. It's very lively and the sunrise over the sea is very nice.
Dongfushan Island is located at the easternmost end of the Dongji Islands in the East China Sea and is the first place to be illuminated by the dawn of the new century.
In Han Han's films, it is the easternmost island with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. It is the hometown and past that can never be returned to, and it is a place where we will never meet again.
But in my heart, it is a touch of pure blue, it is the warm light and shadow in the sunset, it is a meeting in the future.
【Notes】
Personally, I think walking around the island is really tiring!!! My legs felt like they were breaking.
You must start at the first light of dawn, as the scenery there is the most beautiful. Then you can walk back a little further. The whole circuit is really a test of your physical strength. The second half of the trail is all in the mountains, which I think is pretty much the same. There are also a lot of bugs and mosquitoes, which is quite dangerous. I recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants.
Be sure to prepare mosquito repellent and sunscreen. I got sunburned after three days. I cried.
The place where the first ray of sunlight shines is also the closest place to watch the sun rise.
It is said that this is the place where you can see the first ray of sunshine.
Go to the east to see the first sunrise, blow the sea breeze and watch the seagulls.
I don't know where this refers to, I saw it on Dongfushan Island.
The scenery is absolutely great, the service facilities are monthly, maybe the transportation is not convenient and there are not many people, but it is worth a visit
It's a pity that I didn't see the first ray of sunlight in the east, but I learned what it means to be bright in the east from the top of the mountain.
There were so many people on this viewing platform. If you want to have fewer people, you can go to the rocks below or climb up. It's a pity that we didn't see the sunrise that day because the clouds were too thick and it was a bit cloudy. I hope there will be sunrise next time.
The point of illumination of the first dawn of the new century was determined by the Greenwich National Observatory in the United Kingdom. The point of illumination of the first dawn of the new century on the inhabited island of mainland China was Dongfushan. The sunrise time was 6:42 on January 1, 2001, and the illumination point was located on the easternmost side of the island.
This is a small viewing platform with the mountain at its back and the sea in front. It is the best place to watch the sunrise on the island.
I walked up, walked for 50 minutes, and paid 30 for a bus.
Watch the blue sky and azure sea on three sides, the ebb and flow of the tide, and the sunrise and sunset. The silhouettes of people in the sunset, the boat, the sea, the sunset, are all pleasing to the eye. At sunrise, the sea and sky meet, and day and night alternate in an instant.
A must-see place for watching the sunrise. The weather is a big factor. If you don't want to walk, you can take the island bus.
This is a must-see attraction. It's impossible to find a place to stay during the day because the area is packed with people and tents. However, I came here to watch the sunrise in the early morning. The juxtaposition of the colorful tents against the pre-sunset blue was so stunning that I was momentarily transported to a trance. For sunrise viewing, I recommend walking three to five minutes further to a deserted reef where you can take as many photos as you want!
It's very suitable for watching the sunrise, but you have to get up early in the morning
Dongji Island's Sun Observation Deck is said to be the spot where the first rays of sunlight reach my country. Many people set up tents here to watch the sunrise... the island at dusk... those who rose early to watch... sunrise was at 5:06, but the clouds were still a bit thick. After 5:00, there was still no movement, and some people had already started to turn back. But at 6:00, the sun peeked out, and everyone exclaimed, "Hey, everyone, come back!" The rising sun over the sea doesn't give the same shocking feeling as the setting sun, but rather a different kind of rebirth. The sun rises higher and higher, the sky brightens, as if everything before us begins to illuminate... rising, rising, through the clouds, from dark red to blazing... seeing such a perfect sunrise was worth the trip, and well worth getting up at 4:00 for two consecutive days.
I personally think that the Dongji Island Sun Observation Deck has a much wider view than the Dongji Pavilion in Miaozi Lake. I recommend going to Dongji Island to watch the sunrise. Where can I see the most spectacular sunrise?
It is definitely a pleasure to have the opportunity to watch the sunrise in Dongfu Island, but it requires great luck.
We went there on a Saturday. Actually, the weather was not very good. It started to drizzle as soon as we arrived on the island. However, I had never experienced strong winds and waves at sea. Just looking at the rain line on the sea level in the distance, moving from one side of the sky to the other side and heading towards the island, was also a very unforgettable experience.
We returned on Sunday. It was foggy that morning, so we couldn't get up to see the sunrise, but the sky cleared up by mid-morning. I really enjoyed the sunny weather and the quietness of this place. It's a shame we were rushed. Dongji is a good place for a three-day trip—one day to go, one day to play, and then back on the third. It's just that there are so few boats, so scheduling isn't easy.
Around 4am, we set off for the Sun Observation Deck to watch the sunrise. Flashlights littered the path. A strong wind blew, clouds billowed, and we watched the sunrise in the rustling wind. This was the easternmost sunrise in China, an unforgettable experience.
I took a bus from Shanghai to a boat and then another boat to come to this place on May Day just to see the two sunrise pictures in which you can't see anything. The darker one is before sunrise, and the brighter one is after sunrise. Yes, I spent a long time watching the sunrise, but it was foggy and I didn't see anything. Look at how this group of people got cheated of watching the sunrise, and then the flight back was cancelled. If there weren't so many people on May Day, the boat might not have come. I don't know how to describe this trip, and I don't know if I will go to see the sunrise again. Please enjoy the sunrise I took.
Go to the first ray of dawn to watch the sunrise, the first place in China to see the sunrise! Unlucky, failed to see the sunrise
After taking a boat to Dongji Island, you absolutely have to watch the sunrise at the easternmost point in China! We woke up at 3:30 in the morning and rushed to the Sun Observation Deck. We thought it was too early, but the sun came up after a while. The vast ocean stretched out before us, and breathing in the slightly salty, wet sea breeze was a delight! Even in summer, it can be a bit chilly in the morning at the Sun Observation Deck, so be sure to dress warmly.
On Dongfu Island, just walk straight from the pier to reach it.
The 360-degree sea view of the sunrise on Dongji Island is so stunning! The sunrise on the island is very early, so you can catch the first ray of sunshine in China!
You must go on a sunny day~ Don’t ask me how I know!
Going to Dongji Island was a big surprise. The azure water and the blue sky made me marvel that there is such a pure place in the bustling Yangtze River Delta. Of course, my favorite thing was the seafood dinner at the farm house. In the words of the boss, you should not only eat enough, but also eat well!
Located on Dongfushan Island, the easternmost of Dongji Island, it serves as the starting point for island tours and is the perfect platform for watching the sunrise.
You must wait for a good time. Although it didn't rain this time, the clouds were too thick, so we didn't see the sun rising from the sea level.
The weather was bad when we went there, it was raining, so we didn't see the sunrise. My sister went there later and saw a particularly beautiful sunrise. It is definitely worth a visit, but the prerequisite is to go when the weather is good.
Watching the sun slowly rise from the horizon, the red sun dyed the sky red, it was so beautiful, it was my first time to see the sunrise
Dongji Island is the easternmost island in China and the filming location of Han Han's film "No Regrets". If you have time, you can come and visit. The transportation is not very convenient.
It's a place you don't want to leave once you come here, but the quality of the locals is not very good!
I heard that this is where the first ray of dawn of the new century shines, and it is also the best place to watch the sunrise on Dongfushan Island.
At 5:20, the clouds on the horizon were already tinged with gold, and then the sun slowly rose from the sea level until its brilliant light filled the sea.