Live Your Best Lives
In the past, transportation was slow, letters were far away, and travel was rare in a lifetime. A photo or a red ticket could be a memory for a lifetime.
With today's bustling traffic and fast internet, you've made countless trips in your lifetime. A single photo or ticket can be uploaded to any number of apps. Have you forgotten the original purpose of travel?
Pingtan Island is also known as "Qilin Island" because it resembles a unicorn when viewed from above. Pingtan County, centered around Pingtan Island (Haitan Island), comprises over 100 islands. Pingtan Island itself is the fifth largest island in China and the largest in Fujian Province. It is 120 kilometers from the provincial capital, Fuzhou, and only 68 nautical miles from Hsinchu, Taiwan. It is the closest point from mainland China to Taiwan and has been dubbed China's "Maldives."
Before November 2010, access to Pingtan Island required a ferry from Nianggong Wharf. On November 30, 2010, the 4,976-meter Pingtan Strait Bridge was completed after three years of construction, making it much more accessible. Officials will release information in advance about bridge closures during typhoons. It's important to note that the speed limit on the bridge is 60-80 km/h (11-15 mph), so please don't exceed the speed limit!
Pingtan has a long season for tourism, starting from April and lasting until October.
The fluorescent sea that appears from April to June, also known as blue tears, is formed by some fluorescent algae in the sea water washed ashore with the tide. On early summer nights, if you are lucky enough, you can encounter this beautiful and romantic blue fluorescent wave at the beach.
June to October is the peak season for tourism in Pingtan. You can go to the sea for fun, but you need to pay attention to the impact of typhoon weather.
From November to March, there will be fewer people and the weather will gradually become colder, but it is still beautiful when the weather is clear, which is suitable for friends who like photography.
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Notice:
Pingtan is very windy (hence the many windmills), especially in winter. Be sure to check the weather beforehand, as rainy and windy days can ruin your trip. Summer is fine; even with strong winds, it's still cool, as long as you avoid typhoons.
airplane
You can first fly to Fuzhou Changle Airport and then take a bus to Pingtan.
high-speed rail
If you choose to take the high-speed rail, you can first arrive at Fuzhou or Fuqing Railway Station, and then take a bus to Pingtan.
bus
There are many buses running back and forth between Changle, Fuzhou, Fuqing and other places every day.
There are many transportation options on the island, including buses, taxis, and motorcycle taxis. If the attractions are not far apart, motorcycle taxis are more convenient.
Pingtan now has a circular island sightseeing bus service, departing daily at 9:00 AM and ending at 7:30 PM, with buses running every 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 15 yuan, a full-day ticket is 68 yuan, and a weekly ticket is 318 yuan. Tickets can be purchased at the Longwangtou Visitor Center or by scanning a QR code on the bus. However, self-driving is the most convenient option.
Dafu Bay, a haven of peace and tranquility, nestled amidst the sea, is nestled on the shores of Pingtan's renowned Jiangjun Mountain. Located within Pingtan's Xiahu'ao district, Dafu Bay faces the Taiwan Strait, connecting its vast expanse to the open ocean. Its clear waters, dotted with numerous islands and reefs, create a picturesque and captivating landscape.
Nestled between the mountains and the sea, the scenery is charming. Here you can hike on the stone plank road, or take pictures freely on the Lover's Sea Corridor, or climb to the top of the Mushroom Viewing Pavilion to overlook the blue Pacific Ocean.
🖐Attraction tickets: None
Most of the houses in Dafu Bay are built of stone, which makes them more solid. Fishing boats can be seen everywhere, and fishermen rely on them to support their families.
The Lover's Corridor extends out to the sea through a broken bridge. Standing on the corridor, you can't see the end of the bridge. Going down the stairs, you will see the magnificent sea, which seems like a scene from a movie.
After lunch in town, we headed to Beigang Village, the filming location for the popular variety show "Where Are We Going, Dad?" Wandering through the ancient stone-built village, feeling the sea breeze, we experienced the unique charm of southern Fujian dwellings. The village retains its traditional stone architecture, with walls of cyan and gray granite, roofs covered in red and gray tiles, and a variety of pebbles.
🖐Attraction tickets: None
Fishing boats are the most common means of transportation in Beigang Village and even Pingtan Island. Every corner of the fishing boats is full of traces of being damaged by waves and sea breeze. They will only stay quietly on the shore, waiting for their owners to take them out to sea at any time.
The houses here are all made of stone because the wind at the seaside is really, really strong.
Beigang Village is a cultural and creative village that has attracted several creative teams to create an art community that combines homestays, restaurants, cafes, and creative spaces. One of the most famous features is the singing stones, which can actually be heard as a song when struck with a hammer.
Facing the sea and nestled against the green mountains to the north, as seen from the Ring Road, the village boasts a cluster of dark green stone houses neatly arranged on the hillsides along the coast. Beneath the azure sea and blue sky, the rustic and weathered Beigang stone houses resemble a fairytale castle from Hayao Miyazaki's paintings.
You can also find old-fashioned water wells in the ancient houses, and you seem to be back in your childhood: "blue-framed ginkgo flowers in front of the iron gate, people living in thatched houses, playing and laughing on the way home from school, and the sound of water flowing between the ridges of the fields."
You can also wait for the sunset in Beigang Village, feeling the slow passage of time, completely putting down your phone, just sitting quietly, and experiencing a sense of peace and beauty that you haven't felt in a long time. When dusk falls, pick up your camera; I heard that dusk and silhouettes are a perfect match.
After bidding farewell to Beigang, drive along the highway network and you will arrive at the very beautiful Ring Island Highway. Along the highway, you can see quaint and original villages, terraced fields, stone valleys, volcanic rock beaches, and cattle and sheep grazing.
👉👉👉Here comes the highlight!!! The scenery on this section of the road around the island from Beigang Village to Changjiangao Windmill Farm can only be described as stunning. If you drive by yourself, I suggest driving slowly and enjoying it.
Changjiang'ao Beach is one of Pingtan's three major coastal beaches, boasting fine white sand, clear blue water, and a patchwork of islands and reefs. The windmill field is located inland from the bay northeast of Haitan Island. Thanks to its geographical location, Pingtan's Changjiang'ao Wind Farm boasts abundant wind resources, enjoying nature's most selfless gift while also benefiting the simple people of Pingtan.
There is no hustle and bustle of the city, no trivial troubles, only the endless sea and beach. You can empty your mind here or shout to the sea.
🖐Attraction tickets: None
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Tips:
If you're too tired and have plenty of time, we recommend staying at the Fengxiang Shouyi Hot Spring Resort for the night. After a long day of traveling, soaking in the hot springs at the resort is very relaxing! The price is not expensive either!
Since its formation in the Jin and Tang dynasties, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys have been a gathering place for aristocrats and scholars, reaching prominence during the Qing and Republican eras. Approximately 270 ancient dwellings remain in the area, 159 of which are listed as protected buildings. The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys complex, exemplified by nine iconic structures such as the former residences of Shen Baozhen, Lin Juemin, and Yan Fu, has been designated a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Site by the State Council.
Located in Fuzhou's central urban area (Old Town), the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys boasts a 38-hectare protected area. As one of the largest and most well-preserved historical and cultural districts in China, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys boasts one of the few remaining ancient architectural remains in the country, earning it the title of "a living fossil of China's urban lifang system" and "a museum of Chinese Ming and Qing architecture."
On June 10, 2009, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys historical and cultural district was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as one of China's Top Ten Historical and Cultural Streets. The area, comprising three lanes, seven alleys, and a central street, has been known as the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" since ancient times. These lanes are Yijin Lane, Wenru Lane, and Guanglu Lane; Yangqiao Lane, Langguan Lane, Ta Lane, Huang Lane, Anmin Lane, Gong Lane, Jipi Lane, and Nanhou Street.
🖐Attraction tickets: None
The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys began in the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. After thousands of years, it finally formed the lane pattern of today. However, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys were not built overnight, but were gradually improved.
Aerial photography of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys reveals a scene reminiscent of an ink painting. I particularly admire the saddle walls, with their incredibly smooth and elegant lines. While most saddle walls in Jiangnan architecture are formed by straight lines at 90-degree angles, the saddle walls of the residences in the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys are uniquely curved, flowing along the undulating wooden frames, with angled corners projecting outward. These walls are typically symmetrical, with painted clay sculptures adorning the walls and corners, creating a unique wall-top style characteristic of Fuzhou's ancient residences.
Some compare the shape of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys to fish bones and thorns, others to bodhi leaves, or simply to the Chinese character "fei" (non). I find it more like the branches of a graceful palm tree, with Nanhou Street as the main vein, the three branches extending westward forming the Three Lanes, and the seven smaller veins branching eastward forming the Seven Alleys.
Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is a place steeped in history. The doorknobs on the ancient gates sit quietly yet imbued with majesty. Countless times have I walked through the rainy alleys of Jiangnan, a long, lingering melancholy spreading, letting my oil-paper umbrella blossom like a flower of longing. And in the early afternoon sun, brilliant, even a bit scorching. Wandering through Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, nestled in a corner of Fuzhou's bustling city, you're greeted by a sense of historical tranquility and remoteness.
If the West Lake landscape of Hangzhou is a lady of noble family who is soft and delicate, with a quiet grace in her beauty and elegance in her gentleness, then the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys of Fuzhou is a man of imposing bearing and graceful talent, with wisdom in his vicissitudes and handsomeness in his silence.
When a traveler from afar accidentally pushes open the creaking door of a large mansion, he will see the old people and old things blending peacefully into one, and listen quietly to the leisurely knocking of the old wooden clock on the mottled ancient wall, which forms a sharp contrast with the noisy sounds of the city in the distance.
There are quite a lot of delicious food in Sanfang Qixiang. I recommend the following restaurants (your preference varies depending on your individual preference).
Dessert Market
It is a breath of fresh air in Sanfang Qixiang. The number of visitors is relatively small during non-holidays. The interior decoration is quite artistic, which is suitable for girls to take photos here.
Excellent Q Iron Pot Rice
Located in Dongbai Building (very close to Sanfang Qixiang), I highly recommend this place. The food here is so good-looking! I can't bear to destroy it!
Daming Food Street
This place is a bit like a downtown area in Taiwan. It opens at night and there are all kinds of delicious food on the street. You can eat from beginning to end!
What is travel? Someone once said, "Money determines the length of a journey; vision determines the breadth of a journey; and the heart determines the depth of a journey." I believe that in life, we should have at least two impulses: one for reckless love, and one for a spontaneous trip. My travels are to walk slowly, think less, and see more.
