Live Your Best Lives
China has two international tourist islands, one is the well-known Sanya, and the other is the lesser-known Pingtan Island.
It was only discovered by various internet celebrities in recent years that it became popular and was called the Oriental version of Maldives. But I think it is more pure and original than Maldives, with ancient stone house ruins, uncommercialized small fishing villages, simple folk customs and the experience of catching fish at sea.
As a player who has been to Pingtan Island 11 times, I would like to share with you some travel tips for this place:
When people search for Pingtan Island travel guides, the following picture often appears↓↓↓
At first glance, it looks quite complete and the markings make sense. If you have such an idea, be careful not to be misled! The points on this map are basically places that traditional travel agencies often go to. There are a few points that are quite useless:
For example, Taiwan Town and Haitan Ancient Town are both antique commercial streets, and they are all the same across the country.
For example, the environment of Beach Tianshen and Dongyang Island is very poor, and the accommodation and dining reception capacity is very insufficient, and the local authorities need to make some improvements.
So which of the above spots are OK? Let me tell you clearly that the hidden beautiful spots are not listed here. Next, the experienced driver of the island will tell you one by one:
The soft and pure beach extends into the sea, and the sea water kisses your toes while you walk.
You can easily take a blockbuster picture of the sky. If you bring a drone for aerial photography, it will probably get millions of likes in seconds on Douyin. This is also a short video that was made popular by a Douyin account.
This place quickly became popular due to a TikTok video by an internet celebrity, but I can’t find “Elephant Trunk Bay” at all when I search for it on the map. What should I do?
This is a village called "Jianmin Village" in the southwest of Pingtan Island. You can clearly see it by simply searching for "Jianmin Shaba" on the map.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving
The dreamy blue tears often appear here, and the Smurfs of the ocean will dance on the shore at night. Only those who have seen it can feel its dreamy and suffocating experience.
Blue tears often occur most frequently in summer (May-September). When they are very large, they form a sea of fluorescent light, which is extremely dreamy. Only those who are lucky enough can encounter it.
But this is a marine microorganism, and it reacts when frightened, so don't step on it or damage it. It's best to admire it from a distance.
There is also a special bonfire site in Tannan Bay. In the summer, locals gather here to sing and dance like a party, have barbecue snacks, drink cold beer when they are thirsty, and go directly into the sea for a night swim when they get hot.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving
Maotougan, located in the northeast corner of the island, gets its name from its resemblance to a cat's head. Visitors have praised it as a paradise on the sea. Stone houses are nestled among lush greenery, nestled against the mountain and facing the sea. The waters are a deep, mirror-like green, making them particularly impressive.
Strolling around the village, chatting with the grandparents, and sitting down under the big banyan tree to drink tea are the best ways to show respect to this place.
But 99% of tour groups will never go to this secluded place because it is too remote and the roads are too narrow for buses to pass.
There's a local B&B called "Travel Notes." The owner, driven by his love for his hometown, returned to start a business dedicated to exploring and spreading Pingtan's marine culture, thereby boosting the prosperity of his fellow villagers. This area is ideal for independent travel.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving
The East China Sea Wonderland consists of the Fairy Well, Fairy Cave, Fairy Valley, Fairy Peak, Fairy Pillar, Fairy Terrace, Fairy Spring, Wangye Valley, Golden Guanyin, Oyster Reef and other landscapes.
There is a vertical shaft formed by natural sea erosion here, with a diameter of nearly 50 meters and a depth of more than 40 meters. There are two holes on the bottom of the well leading to the sea. When the tide is high, the waves rush in, and the white waves at the bottom of the well churn, with a sound like a bell, which is spectacular. Legend has it that this is the residence of the gods in the sea.
Standing on the rocks above, watching the crashing waves is the coolest experience of seeing the mountains and the sea at close range.
It is even more dreamy to come here at night, and you can see the boundless Milky Way starry sky. If friends who like camping encounter good weather, it will definitely be a good experience. Of course, this is also the best choice for photography enthusiasts.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★
Ticket price: 15 yuan
Transportation: Self-driving/East China Sea Wonderland Scenic Area Bus Station
This is a very popular spot. In the summer, people from all over the country come here to eat. However, the coastline here is a full 9.5 kilometers. Because it is specially managed, the water here is very clean, the sand is very fine, and the beach slope is very gentle and safe.
Because of the excellent conditions, watching the sunrise and sunset is also a beautiful scene. If you stroll to a deeper position, you can definitely take pictures of the "Bolivian Sky Realm".
There are also various sea entertainment activities here, such as kayaking, surfing, jet skis, etc. During the summer vacation, there are also exciting sea kite surfing performances.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Walking distance to the county center
Because it became popular as a filming location for the variety show "Where Are We Going, Dad?", clusters of stone houses are located at the foot of Junshan Mountain, which is indeed unique when viewed from a distance.
However, with the increasing number of tour groups entering the area, the area is becoming overcrowded even during peak season, and commercialization has become serious. This place has attracted many young Taiwanese artists to open studios here, and coffee, homestays, and handicrafts are the standard combination for young artists.
If you really want to check in, you can visit "Singing Stone" and "Travel in the Wind". If you get along well with the manager of Wind Travel, he may even take you to the birthplace of "Singing Stone". Other places are not recommended.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★
Niche Index: ★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving/Beigang Cultural and Creative Village Bus Station
This place is less than 1 km above Beigang Village, but it is free of any commercial interference and is still a small fishing village with a peaceful life. There is a large viewing platform at the entrance of the fishing village with an extremely wide view.
You can walk down to the shore, where there is a low dam built with gravel by local fishermen.
When the tide goes out, you can harvest a lot of small things, such as starfish, small crabs, shells, etc. If you are lucky, you can definitely have a big feast and DIY seafood meal.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving/Yuyu Village Bus Station
This is probably one of the most beautiful island-circling roads in China. At 70 mph, that's definitely too fast. If you're on a tour group, be sure to ask the driver to drive at 40 mph. A large bay passes over Yuyu Village, and a 270-degree, expansive ocean vista opens up before your eyes.
On one side is Junshan Mountain, the highest mountain in Pingtan, and on the other side is the endless blue sea.
If you are traveling by yourself, it is recommended to hike or cycle here. You can see the undulating sea terraces and the abandoned stone houses halfway up the mountain.
Under the azure sky, walking and stopping, you can create a literary and artistic blockbuster.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Self-driving
"The white windmill is turning quietly" - Jay Chou, "White Windmill"
Dozens of pure white windmills stretch for dozens of kilometers along the coastline, making you feel like you are back in your first love.
"Mountains, sea, village, windmills, and mudflats" may be the most pleasant island scenery painting~
The beach here is better quality and wider. Girls wear skirts and run barefoot on it freely, while boys chase and take pictures all the way.
There are some abandoned lonely boats nearby, which can be used to shoot the texture of Song Dongye's "Lillian" MV~
When the tide goes out, you can go to the beach with the locals and catch small crabs, fish, hermit crabs, and sea urchins without any hesitation.
Tips:
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Niche Index: ★★★★
Tickets: None
Transportation: Driving? Changjiangao Bus Station
You can travel by yourself or join a tour group, but you must choose a small group with few people and travel like friends.
The seafood here is definitely very fresh. I have personally tested more than ten restaurants and I would like to recommend two restaurants here, one of which is called "Mr. Fresh".
Their grilled eel and salt and pepper razor clams are both specialties, one is smooth and tender, the other is crispy and chewy.
I strongly recommend ordering a dozen ice-cold "Taiwan Beer" in the summer, and then you will feel that happiness is sometimes so simple.
Tips:
Per person: 50 yuan
Address: 100 meters behind Pingtan Yucheng International Hotel
Another restaurant is called "Red Star Pingtan Seafood Restaurant". It is very popular with hundreds of tables. If you don't sit down in advance, there will be basically no seats left. The seafood is cooked to order.
The shrimps here are very delicious, the meat is plump and tender, just add light soy sauce for dipping, and you can taste the original flavor of the ocean with one bite!
Tips:
Per person: 80 yuan
Address: Parking lot at Longfeng East Road, Pingtan County
There is currently no train station on Pingtan Island, so you can only take a direct bus from Fuqing City or Fuzhou City or rent a car to drive there.
If you rent a car and drive yourself, it is also convenient to start from Fuzhou, and it only takes 2 hours to get there.
There are direct buses to Fuzhou Changle Airport and the railway station. Please see the following picture for collection:
Double-decker tourist buses depart the island at 9:00 AM and end at 7:30 PM, 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 Tourist Service Center or by scanning a QR code on the bus.
There are quite a few accommodation options on the island, mainly concentrated in the center of Pingtan County. My friends and I have stayed in and visited several that we found quite good. Here are a few for your reference:
The price is subject to the actual online price during off-season and peak season
① Suitable travel season: early April to mid-October
② Recommended items: Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, anti-heat medicine, swimsuit, slippers, skirt, water bottle
③ Be sure to take good sun protection measures on the island and drink plenty of water. It is easy to get dehydrated when playing in the sea in summer.
④ When going to the beach, be sure to pay attention to safety and check the tide time in advance. Go to the beach when the tide is low.
⑤ When going into the sea barefoot, be careful of contact with sharp objects, such as reefs, broken shells, etc.
