Live Your Best Lives
Every summer, I must go to the beach. The island embodies people's romantic and exotic imagination. Everything about the sea is beautiful: blue sea, blue sky, sunshine, white sand...
For children who grew up in the mainland, the moment they set off from the seaside in a car should be the beginning of summer.
Zhangzhou is undoubtedly the best place to see the ocean in Fujian. While Xiamen's waters are considered inland and turquoise, Zhangzhou's are a glassy blue. If you have two days, head to Zhangzhou; it's only a two-hour drive from Xiamen!
Volcano Island, Cape Zhenhai, and Baitang Bay are spread out along a coastline, and the scenic spots are not far from each other. It is recommended to check in all three places together. Compared with Volcano Island and Cape Zhenhai, Baitang Bay is even more secluded.
The main means of transportation here are taxis and motorcycles. Since it is relatively remote, it is basically impossible to call an online taxi. It is recommended that you save the driver's contact information in advance at the entrance of the scenic spot so that you can contact him in time.
Tips:
Volcanic Island - Baitang Bay (about 5km, about 10 minutes by car)
Baitang Bay - Zhenhai Cape (about 12 km, about 25 minutes by car)
The picture below is a guide map of the Volcano Island Resort. The entire park is very large. Girls who like taking photos are recommended to spend half a day or a whole day visiting.
It is said that the volcanic island has experienced more than eight volcanic eruptions. Up to now, it still retains the typical tectonic remains of the central volcanic eruption in the third century and the landform landscape of later weathering and erosion.
Take a sightseeing bus from the main gate. Tell the driver to drive to the "Volcanology Museum" and he'll know what you're talking about! Go past the museum and walk down the wooden boardwalk to a vast expanse of volcanic rocks.
I don't know if it's because of the rain, but there are a lot of unknown black bugs on the reefs here, jumping around on the rocks. Girls, be careful not to go barefoot, and friends with trypophobia should be careful.
Whether you want a fresh and clean style or a high-end movie feel, you can capture it here. The color of the sea water varies in different weather conditions, making it perfect for capturing emotional photos.
When the rain stops and the sky clears up, the dark clouds just disperse, the sun shines down, and the sky shows a little blue, which is simply beautiful.
The orange Geological Museum has been under construction and renovation in recent months, so you can't enter it for the time being. However, some of the exterior is still visible, which does not affect the photography effect.
Go around the back of the museum and you'll see a huge photo spot with a minibus, hot air balloons, and vine swings. It's definitely a treasure trove for girls who love taking photos.
Tips:
If you come during weekends and holidays, you will need to queue up at each photo spot, so it is recommended that you try to come here on non-weekends so that you can take as many photos as you want.
Compared to the blue bus at Cape Zhenhai, the one at Volcano Island is more worn. If you still decide to go to Cape Zhenhai, you don’t have to take pictures of the bus here, because it is all rusted and it doesn’t look good in the photos.
If you come here in spring, you will encounter a vast sea of cherry blossoms. The feeling of seeing cherry blossoms by the sea must be particularly romantic.
There are also large lawns in the scenic area. If you have plenty of time or plan to stay in the volcanic island scenic area, it is recommended that you bring a picnic mat and a kite.
Tips:
Address: Qianting Town, Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou City
Transportation:
Public transportation: Take Xiamen Ferry Terminal to Zhangzhou Island, then transfer to bus 604 to the crater or volcanic island.
Self-driving: Enter "Volcano Island" in Baidu Maps or Amap Navigation. The default "Volcano Island Natural Ecological Scenic Area" and "Volcano Island Tourism and Leisure Resort" refer to the Volcano Island Tourism and Leisure Resort. You can easily reach the scenic area according to the navigation.
Tickets:
The ticket price at the volcanic island ticket office seems to be 90 yuan. The museum is currently under renovation and the price seems to be around 70 yuan. The ticket on Meituan is 60 yuan/person (if you also need a sightseeing bus, it will be 78 yuan/person).
Key points:
The museum closes at 6pm, so everyone must enter before 6pm!
The scenic area is very large, so I suggest you take the sightseeing bus for 20 yuan. Moreover, the bus can be called at any time, which is more convenient (if you walk, it will be super tiring, and girls will not have time to take pictures hahaha).
Speaking of "Zhenhai Village" in Longhai, Zhangzhou, not many people know about it. If it weren't for the popularity of Zhenhai Cape, few people would have paid attention to it. You can find it by navigating to "Zhenhaiwei".
Five or six hundred years ago, this was the location of the famous "Zhenhaiwei", which was known as one of the four major cities of the Ming Dynasty along with "Tianjinwei", "Weihaiwei" and "Jinshanwei". It was an important ancient garrison city for resisting Japanese pirates along the coast of Fujian.
Walk up the stone steps to the top and you will find this great photo spot. Below you are a group of ancient stone houses from southern Fujian, and in the distance is a clear blue bay. It is super beautiful.
The old houses are all built with rough and uneven stones, and the steps and floors are also paved with stones. At first glance, they feel like stone castles. Now the old houses on both sides are too dilapidated and abandoned and no one lives there. They are very rare.
Zhenhai Cape is known as the "Little Kenting in Fujian". Although it is a bit remote, the scenery is very beautiful. Therefore, many people come here to take wedding photos, and any photo looks like a picture.
To get to Zhenhai Cape, you need to park your car at the foot of the mountain and walk for about 15 minutes to climb the small hill by the sea. Standing on the hill, you can see the lighthouse, coast and reefs.
The main road was trampled by people. If you take photos along this road, the background will be full of people, and it is easy to take tourist photos. Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid the main road and choose the grassy path for more gains.
Zhenhai Cape has not been fully developed yet, so no entrance fee is charged.
However, there are four-fruit soup and snack shops run by locals along the way. The clever locals have placed a lot of photo props in front of the shops. If you want to take pictures, remember to buy them first (which is the price of a bowl of four-fruit soup).
This Kenting cottage is a must-visit shop, with its pink motorcycle, blue bus, transparent bubble house... it has completely captured the hearts of thousands of girls.
Tips:
Address: Hai Village, Longjiao Township, Longhai City, Zhangzhou City
Transportation: Take a boat from Xiamen Tourist Passenger Terminal or Tongyi Wharf to Zhangzhou Port, then take a shuttle bus from Zhangzhou Port to Baitang or Volcano Island. However, you will need to take a local shuttle bus after getting off the bus.
Baitang Bay is more famous for its crater and underwater terracotta warriors.
The crater at Baitang Bay is one of the world's best-preserved ancient submarine craters, though it can only be seen at low tide. Follow the path to the end, climb the hill, and through a winding path to see the "Terracotta Army of the Sea."
Compared to the crowded places like Zhenhai Cape and Volcano Island, it is quieter here and you can take some very touching photos even on cloudy days.
Tips:
1. Route 605 runs from Baitang Bay (5:50-16:30) to Zhangzhou Port (7:30-18:05), with one bus departing every 30 minutes. The journey takes 50 minutes and costs 3 yuan.
2. Route 22 runs between Baitangwan (6:20-18:10) and Gangwei (6:20-18:10) every 30 minutes, takes 1 hour, and costs 2 yuan.
3. Route 26 runs from Gangwei Bus Station (06:30-17:50) to Zhangzhou Railway Station (07:00-18:00). The journey takes 90 minutes and costs 3 yuan.
Since it's a newly popular online tourist spot, there are many popular B&Bs nearby. I won't recommend them all, but you can find many by searching on Xiaohongshu. However, remember that these popular B&Bs are very popular, so it's best to book a week or two in advance.
You must also pay attention to the location from various attractions, because many popular homestays are very far away from the scenic spots, and you need to ask the taxi driver's phone number from the front desk of the homestay.
If you can't book a popular homestay, you can choose to stay in the volcanic island scenic area. Although the price is a bit expensive, the experience is very good.
RV campsites and log cabins are both alternative accommodations, and you can also have an open-air barbecue at night.
(Wooden House)
(Tent Room)
Go to the Xiamen Tourist Passenger Transport Terminal (address: No. 33 Lujiang Road, a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal) to buy a ticket for the Xiamen-Zhangzhou Port ferry. You can buy tickets as soon as you enter the door, no need to buy in advance, and there are very few people. The boat runs every 15 minutes, and the fare is 12 yuan per person + 2 yuan for compulsory insurance. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Zhangzhou Port (remember to bring your ID card).
After arriving at Zhangzhou Port, walk 20 meters forward from the port. There is a narrow corridor on the right. Turn right and walk into it, and you will reach the passenger terminal.
After entering the gate, take the bus to Baitang, 4 yuan per person, pay the coin on the bus;
After getting on the bus, tell the driver to go to Volcano Island National Park (be sure to ask the driver for the minibus schedule card, and call the driver to make an appointment to pick you up before the last bus in the afternoon. The shuttle bus ride takes about 1 hour).
After the bus, take a motorbike to Volcano Island Park. The motorbike costs 10 yuan per person (negotiable) and takes 5 minutes. (It is recommended to leave the motorbike driver's phone number and call him to pick you up on the return trip.)
Let's go to the beach before summer ends.
