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Many people may have learned about Pingtan Island, the last pure land in the Pacific Ocean, with its blue sea and blue sky, because of a variety show.
As a person who grew up by the sea and loves islands, I have been to all the island countries in Southeast Asia. I never thought that there is such a place called Little Maldives in my great Fujian Province. Without going abroad, I can enjoy the blue Pacific Ocean, the local stone houses, the most beautiful ring road around the island in China, the white windmill fields in Changjiangao with the most beautiful sunset, the super nice deserted white sand beach Elephant Trunk Bay, and fresh seafood caught on site.
Pingtan Islandcheck the details
Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island, is China's fifth largest island and the largest in Fujian Province. Known as the "County of a Thousand Reefs," it lies on China's southeastern coast within Pingtan County, Fujian Province, and serves as the county's main island. It is 128 kilometers from Fuzhou and only 68 nautical miles east of Hsinchu Port in Taiwan, making it the closest point between mainland China and Taiwan and a vital window for economic, trade, and cultural exchanges with Taiwan in China's southeastern maritime borders. Haitan Island's scenic spots and historical sites include Sanshiliujiao Lake, Shipaiyang Reef, Xianrenjing, Yipianwa, and Keqiutou Ruins. It also boasts the Longfengtou Resort and Tannan Bay Beach. Haitan Island boasts a winding coastline stretching 408 kilometers, over 100 kilometers of which is high-quality sandy beaches. The island boasts a unique marine erosion landscape, featuring rare granite sea stacks, wind-blown rocks, and spherical weathered granite, earning it the nickname "Marine Erosion Landform Museum."
3425 recommendations, 3298 visits
1. Self-drive or charter
2. Take the high-speed train to Fuzhou and book a ride online. After arriving at the local area, you can charter a car for sightseeing. The price of a chartered car is generally 400 yuan for a 5-seater car.
The Pingtan Strait Bridge is the only way to enter Pingtan Island. We crossed the bridge and headed to our first stop, Xiangbi Bay.
What to do in Trunk Bay? The sand here is very fine, but it is best viewed around 10 minutes of high tide. At this time, I have to recommend the app - Global Tides. With it, you don't have to worry about missing every exciting moment of the ebb and flow of the tide.
If you have a drone, bring it! You need to shoot from above to see the most beautiful view of Trunk Bay. There's even an abandoned boat on the white sandy beach, perfect for taking photos.
In December of the winter in Fujian, I ran barefoot on the Elephant Trunk Bay beach. The sand here is very fine and soft, which is an unexpected surprise. I always thought that there were no good beaches in Fujian, only large gravel that was hard to get out of. Today I was really amazed by such a beach. For this beach, I gave Pingtan a five-star rating and repurchased it twice!
Coming here in winter, it feels like you have the entire beach to yourself. When the tide is high, overlooking the entire beach, it is named Elephant Trunk Bay because it looks like an elephant's trunk.
It is best to eat in the county. I recommend the affordable and delicious Haitan snacks or Xiansheng’s fresh food. When you come to Pingtan, you must try Shilaiyunzhuan (sweet).
There is another recommended spot - Haitan Ancient City. Since I was there two years ago, I passed by it this time but didn’t go in. However, there are still many things to do inside, including a complex of ancient buildings, a snack street, and a good seafood restaurant. If you haven’t been there, you can go in and take a walk.
ps: The entrance fee to the scenic spot is free, but there are some individual points that require payment.
Fairy Well is a natural sea-cut vertical shaft nearly 50 meters in diameter and over 40 meters deep. Legends such as "music playing in the Dragon Palace," "sea monsters appearing," and "flawless cliffs" add a layer of mystery to the Fairy Well.
Before this place was developed, local villagers believed it was a magical well created by immortals. They claim that on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, during high tide, huge waves surge from the well, creating a roaring sound that resembles the beating of gongs and drums, like music from the Dragon Palace. When storms arrive, thousands of dragonflies gather at the well's mouth. Villagers claim this is the Dragon Palace offering treasures, but in reality, the dragonflies are simply taking shelter from the wind and waves. Park your car in the parking lot and drive uphill for about 10 minutes to the scenic area entrance. Admission is currently 15 yuan per person.
Enter the scenic area and walk to the right. There are two roads. Standing at the crossroads of fate, do you go up or down? Going from bottom to top, you can encounter this natural semi-curved tree-shaded corridor, a perfect secret photo spot.
After all, the hill is a hill, delicate and fresh, which fits the recent tourism theme of Fujian.
The sea breeze is still a little strong, so you need to wear a hat at this time to keep out the wind and cold.
As I ascended the steps by the sea, the sea breeze blew past my ears, and I could hear the sound of waves. At first, I thought it was just the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, so I didn't pay much attention to it. But when I arrived at the Fairy Well, I was amazed by the wonders of nature.
Seawater pours into the well from three natural caves, roaring like a dragon. This is also the most exciting part of the scenic area.
My acquaintance with Beigang Village began with watching the show “Where Are We Going, Dad?” I believe that many people, like me, went there just to watch the variety show, to look for the singing stones, and to follow in their footsteps, but they may have forgotten the significance of the village itself.
This was the first cultural and creative village designated in Pingtan. With a cultural and creative theme, Beigang Cultural and Creative Village integrates a pristine island fishing village with Taiwanese culture. It now attracts numerous cultural and creative groups from both mainland China and abroad. Today, Beigang has become a unique themed village integrating artistic creation, homestay experiences, and leisure tourism. A constant stream of tourists can be seen daily, making the area less quiet and more trendy.
Tips:
How to play:
1. Every stone house is a ring of history. A leisurely stroll in the village is the best place to check in and take photos.
2. Only by not taking the conventional route can you discover the village’s most ancient fishing culture.
3. Find a singing stone, do some primitive craftwork, and run on the embankment.
The decorations in the courtyard are all handmade by the store owner. The most interesting one is the flowing colors on the windows, which are particularly dreamy.
Broken beer glass wind chimes hanging on frangipani, cobblestone numbers on the house numbers, iron retro street lamps, there is always a corner suitable for you to check in.
The characteristics of this place are suitable for a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. You can temporarily put aside your worries and feel the cultural and creative atmosphere of the fishing village.
The best photo spot is inside the embankment. Be sure to take more photos of the sea view while sitting on the embankment.
We stopped and walked along the west coast all the way and were shocked by the beautiful scenery of the Ring Island Road under the afterglow of the sunset. It was more beautiful than the one in Kenting, China!
The correct way to drive around the island is to drive back and forth several times, with green mountains, terraced fields and villages on the left and the boundless Pacific Ocean on the right.
The place with the highest concentration of windmills on Pingtan Island is none other than Changjiangao. They stand quietly in the blood-red sunset, lonely but spectacular.
The sunset in winter is short. Quicken your pace and you will find a great viewing point on the way to Changjiangao.
Many newlyweds take wedding photos here, which seems very romantic. If you are proposed to or take a set of wedding photos here, it will definitely be an unforgettable memory.
We drove north and parked at Qingfeng Village, the northernmost corner of Pingtan, to see the quiet village under the afterglow. The village was very quiet before 5 o'clock. There were few people on the main road and the street lights were not on yet. The gray stone houses had a visual feeling that was a bit like a horror movie.
This place is mostly inhabited by indigenous people and has not yet been developed. It is also the best place for seafood in Pingtan, and the supply often exceeds the demand. However, the price will be a little higher than outside, but who makes it the seafood here is of good quality~
If you like seafood and the sea, you can come here and experience going to the port early in the morning to wait for the fishing boats to return with full loads. Fresh seafood does not need to be over-processed, and steaming or blanching is best.
Pingtan's starry sky, with its shining stars without any light pollution, is within reach, and the Milky Way is right above my head. It may have been a long time since I have looked at this beautiful starry sky so quietly. In the city, there are only lights but no starlight.
Tips:
Recommended starry sky locations:
Shangyueding, Tanshui Village, on the edge of Changjiangao
It is difficult to capture the entire starry sky with a mobile phone. If you are an astronomy enthusiast, you can bring professional equipment to capture the most beautiful starry sky.
1. Pingtan Island is surrounded by the sea and fresh water resources are scarce. If you encounter a water outage when staying in a hotel, don't panic, the water will come back after a while.
2. There is a level 5 sea breeze all year round, with over 200 days of strong winds. Be sure to bring windproof clothing when you go.
3. Ultraviolet rays are extremely strong, so be careful to wear sunscreen;
4. Pingtan seafood feast is really delicious, but don’t eat too much or drink too much, otherwise you will easily get diarrhea;
5. If you charter a car to travel around Pingtan Island, be sure to agree on the price and pick-up time in advance to avoid unnecessary trouble;
6. If you want to take good-looking photos, you can refer to the Sony Black Card 7 we used;
7. When you go to Trunk Bay, be sure to check the tide table first, as it won’t look good at low tide.
Pingtan is very small, and you can basically cover all the beautiful attractions in one day, but friends who love taking pictures may need a little more time to pose ~ Ladies who love beauty can prepare a beach group, the sunset at the beach is the most beautiful.
I never thought there was such a beautiful place in the secret island of Fujian. It is worth experiencing it many times.
