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"When I lifted the crab shell, the snow-white crab meat and caramel-colored crab roe were immediately revealed. I couldn't wait to dip it into the special sauce made of minced garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. With a fierce slurp, the crab roe splashed into my mouth, and the plump crab meat was firm, bouncy, and incredibly sweet. It was absolutely delicious!"
Wow~ This summer, the first batch of seafood has quietly arrived! As a foodie, how could You Xiaoxia resist such temptation? I quickly splurged on a swimming crab craving over the weekend, and after finishing it, I felt completely regretful!
Although there are no "proper holidays" in the months between the May Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival, you will definitely get excited when you hear about the Fishing Festival in August every year!
After a long three-month hiatus, the fishermen returned to the familiar sea, embarking on a new round of sea-faring. Above the surface of the sea, the sight of thousands of sails and boats sailing across the waters for the fishing season is visually stunning!
A large number of fresh and delicious wild seafood is "coming ashore", and the eight "fresh" fish that are "banned from sale" during the summer holiday, including large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker, pomfret, hairtail, mackerel, swimming crab, dragon head fish, and mantis shrimp, will all return!
The fishing nets are up! The harvest is plentiful! We, far away on the shore, are even happier than the fishermen themselves. The fresh shrimp, fish, and crabs we've caught are so lively and fresh they're so tempting!
Not only that, but with the addition of seafood, the island, which usually only sells dried goods, feels like it has been infused with life. The sea breeze is gentle, and the seafood is plump and tempting! Even those of us, thousands of miles away in our air-conditioned rooms, can't help but want to eat them! Instead of eating swimming crabs caught from the pond, it's much more satisfying to go directly to the island and enjoy the sea breeze and eat them freshly caught!
With the end of August fast approaching and the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, the weather is gradually cooling down. So, I've found seven hidden gems with ocean views that are within easy reach and perfect for a hearty meal. Hungry souls, are you ready for that 512GB stomach? GO!
When it comes to the fishing festival, people in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai are certainly familiar with it, and the first place that comes to mind must be Ningbo Xiangshan. Xiangshan Fishing Festival, also known as China Fishing Festival or Shipu Fishing Festival.
Every time the fishing season arrives, drums and music blare, firecrackers explode, and the scene becomes a spectacular spectacle! Thousands of fishing boats set sail from the Zhoushan docks, heading for the Yangtze River estuary fishing grounds. The crews are eager to catch the first swimming crab since the opening of the fishing season.
Xiangshan's reputation as the "hometown of swimming crabs" isn't in vain. Here, you'll be eating so much seafood you'll have to lean on the wall. Swimming crabs! Here we come!
📍Ningbo Xiangshan
This time, we went away from the crowd to see the sea, fly kites, watch the sunrise and sunset, watch the stars, take pictures of star trails, set up tents, and play with glow sticks. All the elements you can think of about the island can be found here!
The colorful, undeveloped beachfront offers breathtaking views of the sunrise and stunning reefs. The crescent-shaped beach stretches for kilometers, boasting exceptionally fine sand. Here, you can collect shells, dig for crabs, and enjoy a complimentary sand bath. Escape the city and experience the joys of a truly immersive journey in this small fishing village!
Wucai Reef is a hidden gem. The rocks here have been washed by the sea for thousands of years, creating a dazzling array of colors and jagged shapes that are sure to turn heads in any photo. The marine life here is also abundant, allowing you to catch fish and shrimp, and even encounter adorable hermit crabs.
Swimming crab is a local landmark seafood and a must-have on the dinner table. Whenever I think of the distinctly shredded crab meat and the "succulent" taste of it, I can't help but drool!
After a delicious meal, it's time for a refreshing rafting experience, a must-do in summer! Everyone put on their life jackets and protective gear and embarked on a thrilling kayaking rafting experience. Sometimes the rapids surged, sometimes the current twisted and turned, and we sailed downstream, breaking the scorching summer heat!
📍Ningbo Xiangshan
Hua'ao Island Zhejiang Marine Geopark, once recommended by China National Geographic, has 36 valleys and 108 caves. Each valley has its own "scenery" and each cave has its own "fairy". It is known as the "Fairyland of Sea and Mountains, and Yingzhou City on Earth".
As one of the three major volcanic rock primary landforms in the world, Huaao Island has majestic landforms, numerous bays, steep cliffs, and abundant rock columnar joints. It is known as the "No. 1 Stone Forest on the Sea."
Everything here retains the original flavor of the sea. The islanders have made a living from the sea for generations, and the fishing culture and fishing customs they have nurtured are rich and extensive.
On Hua'ao Island, the mere mention of swimming crabs brings joy to the people. Boats sail out to sea, hauling back a full load of live shrimp, crabs, mussels, and scallops, ready to be cooked and enjoyed immediately!
Here you can experience the traditional method of making sea salt, digging clams, catching jumping fish, setting traps, picking sea duck eggs, fighting in the mud on the mudflats, exploring the East China Sea Stone Forest... and experience the daily life of the indigenous people on the island!
Zhoushan, Zhejiang, is located in the East China Sea on the south side of the Yangtze River estuary. The ocean currents converge in the sea area and the nutrients are sufficient. It is especially rich in swimming crabs, large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker, hairtail and cuttlefish. It is also one of the four major marine fishing grounds in my country!
📍Zhejiang Zhoushan
The Shengsi Islands, that is, the islands under the jurisdiction of Shengsi County, are composed of hundreds of islands at the confluence of the Qiantang River and the Yangtze River estuary. The largest island is Sijiaoshan.
Shengsi Islands is known as the "Fairy Mountain on the Sea" with its blue sea, strange reefs, golden sand and fishing lights. It has the "Jihu Lake", the best seaside bathing beach in the Yangtze River Delta.
Liujingtan has an amazing cliff view and a thousand-meter-long wooden plank road built along the cliff. Standing on it, you can see the unparalleled beauty before your eyes.
Donghai Fishing Village has colorful folk wall murals where you can experience the unique fishing culture of Shengsi.
In addition, Shengsi also has coastal roads, stations, lighthouses, and beaches, which are very suitable for taking portraits.
Shengsi is rich in mantis shrimp and large yellow croaker, delicacies locals have enjoyed since childhood. Catch them fresh and enjoy them fresh, vibrant, and sweet, making for a hearty seafood feast!
If that’s not enough, then we can take a fishing boat, experience sea fishing, watch the sunrise and sunset at sea, and take a slow stroll and ride along the beautiful coastline. Isn’t such a holiday enough to make you crazy and excited?
📍Zhejiang Zhoushan
Flower and Bird Island, the name alone sounds beautiful. Its shape is like a seagull spreading its wings to fly. The island is full of flowers and plants, and has beautiful forests and valleys.
Huaniao Island, located in Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, is one of the two islands closest to the East China Sea in China, along with Goji Island. The TV series "Ode to Joy 2" was also filmed here.
Here, you'll find azure seas, fine sandy beaches, and a blue and white architecture, evoking a Santorini-like romantic charm and coastal charm. At the northern end, a century-old lighthouse, built in 1870, has survived years of war.
Because the number of people allowed on the island is limited, there are never crowds, preserving its pristine tranquility and peace. Listen to the waves, feel the sea breeze, and all your worries will vanish, unhurriedly enjoying the slow pace of island life.
Zhoushan’s small seafood is most famous during the fishing season. The lively fish, shrimps and crabs are in the sea one second and appear in your bowl the next. Hurry and taste them to make the most of this gift from nature!
📍Zhejiang Zhoushan
Yanwa Island is located in the southeast corner of the Zhoushan Islands. You would never imagine that it is actually the earliest privately contracted island in China.
The island is full of lush grass and singing birds, and has a rich ecology. It has a blue bay that is comparable to Dongji Island, and has green mountains, beaches, strange reefs and weird rocks. It was once listed in the online selection of "The Most Beautiful Islands in Zhejiang".
Only 100 people can go to the island every day, and no one can go to the island without an advance reservation. There are no other residents living on the island, truly realizing one island, one hotel, and one beach.
The island boasts a 2.58-kilometer-long trail, shaded by trees and boasting an intact ecosystem. It's a refreshing natural oxygen bar. Stopping and starting to wander, you'll admire the boundless sea and rolling hills in the distance, while the occasional sight of wild rabbits and birds nearby creates a feeling of stepping into Alice in Wonderland.
Fishing here is a breeze, giving you the freedom to catch seafood! Return by dark, laden with catches, and enjoy a bonfire on the beach with a barbecue dinner of shrimp, crab, and mantis shrimp, along with plenty of beer!
Wenzhou boasts three major fishing grounds: Dongtou, Nanji, and Beji, known as the "Fish Warehouse of Southern Zhejiang." The August Fishing Festival brings the harbor, which had been quiet for three months, back to life. Fishing nets are cast into the vast ocean, unearthing the "deliciously fresh" delicacies from the depths of the East China Sea.
📍Wenzhou, Zhejiang
The Nanji Islands are located in the East China Sea, 30 nautical miles outside the mouth of Aojiang River. The islands are known for their beautiful mountains, unique rocks, beautiful beaches and green grass, diverse biological species and rich shellfish and algae resources. They are known as the "Blue Pasture", "Fairy Blue Sea and Mountain" and "Kingdom of Shellfish and Algae". The abundant seafood is also one of the reasons why it is so popular.
Fresh ingredients don't need excessive processing. After the fishing season, Nanji Island offers a breathtaking seascape, delicious seafood, and sunny beaches. Be sure to try the spicy sand clams and snails, along with a variety of rare fish like yellow croaker and grouper. Enjoy the authentic flavors of the ocean—I'm sure you won't want to miss them!
Tired of island beach photography? Overcrowded with internet-famous attractions? Nanji Island offers no such worries. Enjoy pristine lawns, expansive grounds, a deep blue sea, and steep, dark grey cliffs. The Instagram-inspired color scheme is beyond compare!
The best beach here is Dashaao, which is rare in the world and the only beach in China formed by shell desertification. The sand is extremely fine and soft.
There are romantic sunsets here. Matsuao is located to the west of Nanji Island, with a wide view. Whenever the sun sets, seabirds return to their nests, the sky is filled with sunset clouds, and the sea and sky become one color, which is beautiful beyond words!
There is a beautiful starry sky here. It is 80 nautical miles away from the continental shelf. There is no light pollution and you can see the shining stars when you look up.
📍Wenzhou, Zhejiang
Dongtou District is a district under the jurisdiction of Wenzhou. It is located on the coast of southern Zhejiang. It was called Zhongjie in ancient times and has the reputation of "County of a Hundred Islands" and "Pearl of the East China Sea".
Huagang Fishing Village is known as "Wenzhou's Little Erhai Lake" and is praised by travel experts as "an island comparable to the Maldives." On a clear day, every photo is a postcard.
In addition, you can also experience the fairy-like atmosphere of Wanghai Tower, the fantastic rocks of Xiandie Rock, the small seaside fishing village of Dongao, the windmill power generation of Baidie Village, and the stone houses on the mountaintop...
Dongtou is also the second largest fishing ground in Zhejiang Province, with abundant and fresh seafood, including small yellow croaker, mantis shrimp, pomfret, crab... your appetite can be fully satisfied here.
"When a naturally sunny day arrives, I want to take you to the beach." Let's catch the last train of summer, windswept, whistles blaring, and head for the ocean! Together, we'll wear flip-flops, shorts, and fairy dresses, and enjoy the joy of eating and drinking to our heart's content!
