A super awesome hidden gem island quieter than Xiamen and cheaper than Sanya is here

🌊 Dongshan Island 3-day 2-night in-depth guide: Bioluminescent sea on the left, food street on the right, blowing up your social circle!

——Includes movie filming spots, hidden activities, and 2025 pitfall avoidance guide

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📅 Itinerary Planning (High Cost-Performance Loop)

Day 1: Artistic Bay · Light and Shadow Feast

• Morning: Head straight to Nanmen Bay

◦ Must-do: Check in at the rooftop from the movie "The Left Ear" (navigate to "Nanming Academy"), shoot colorful houses contrasting with the bay, rent an electric scooter to ride along the coast (3 RMB/hour).

◦ Hidden photo spot📸: At low tide, rush to Nanyu Double-sided Sea, walk to the green and white lighthouse, get the same romantic proposal spot as in "Your Wedding".

• Afternoon: Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area

◦ Touch the "World's Number One Strange Rock" (contact area only palm-sized!), walk the coastal boardwalk, and draw lots at the Guan Di Temple with great luck (600 years of continuous incense burning).

• Overnight: Nanmen Bay sea view homestay (recommended "Island Hotel" featured in variety shows, about 150 RMB per person with sea view from the window).

Day 2: Mountain and Sea Wonders · Sunrise Exclusive

• Early morning 5:00: Jinluan Bay Mirror Beach

◦ Enjoy the sunrise reflection spectacle alone! Bring a drone to shoot the "Sky Mirror" (location: Golden Bauhinia Square).

• Morning: Su Feng Mountain Island Road

◦ Rent an electric scooter to speed (80 RMB/day), rush to the blue internet-famous bridge + Yanya Village cliff reefs (stand on the reef at low tide to shoot the "Shipwreck" blockbuster).

• Afternoon: Play at Maluan Bay

◦ Experience water sports at the National Sailing Base (windsurfing 80 RMB/hour), or lie on the beach drinking coconut water watching the jellyfish sea.

• Night: Tongling Night Market street food tour (oyster omelet + catfish porridge + four-fruit soup, about 30 RMB per person to eat full).

Day 3: Secret Exploration · Fishing Village Life

• Morning: Fishbone Sandbar (tide-dependent!)

◦ Check tide tables👉 Best on lunar calendar days 8 and 23 (visible 9:00-15:00), aerial shoot the fishbone-shaped sandbar.

• Afternoon: Aojiao Village Secret Spot

◦ Climb the viewing platform to shoot windmill sea + Four Beasts Islets, explore volcanic rock caves (wear non-slip shoes!).

• Return trip souvenirs: Buy "Huang Ji Ma Ci" handmade peanut crushed version at Tongling Market (15 RMB/box).

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🌟 Top 5 Must-Try Experiences (Locals Certified)

1. Nanmen Bay Bioluminescent Algae

◦ Summer exclusive! Blue glow in the waves in July-August, more obvious after 23:00 on the dark coast (Safety tip: Do not enter the water).

2. Caidie Bay Fairy Tale Train

◦ Ride the seaside small train like in Studio Ghibli films (30 RMB/person), shoot the cloud sea reflection at the "Sea and Sky Mirror" viewing platform on the tower.

3. Night Squid Catching

◦ Go out with fishing boats (about 100 RMB/person), use headlamps to lure transparent squid, freshly boiled with dipping sauce so fresh it will blow your mind.

4. Guan Di Cultural Festival

◦ Held in August 2025! Watch parade formations, fireworks, and fire dragon (free admission, book accommodation early).

5. Wujiao Bay Black Sand Beach

◦ Avoid crowds! Located inside a national forest park, lonely reefs + forest tunnel for dark style photo shoots.

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🦞 Foodie Must-Have List (Legendary at 50 RMB per person)

Category Legendary Shops Must-Order Formula
Seafood stall Tongling Town "Wang Lai Seafood Stall" white boiled small squid + steamed balang fish (CCTV certified)
Oyster omelet Nanmen Bay Night Market stall 3 with double eggs! Served with sweet chili sauce + pickled radish
Roast pork tendon Ling Tongling People's Market charcoal-grilled pork net oil roll, paired with pineapple to cut greasiness
Four-fruit soup Little Wife Sweet Soup (Tuanjie Road) add taro balls + grass jelly, iced smoothie base
Hidden gem Xixikeng speedboat seafood feast 150 RMB all-inclusive: freshly caught on board + barbecue

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💡 2025 New Practical Tips

• Transportation Hacks:

◦ Xiamen → Yunxiao Station by high-speed train (1h), turn right out of the station to take Dongshan Route 15 bus (10 RMB direct to Nanmen Bay);

◦ Bargaining phrase for island tricycles: "5 RMB down to 3 RMB, if not, I leave immediately" (tested effective).

• Accommodation Rankings:

◦ Cost-effective: Nanmen Bay homestay (about 100+ RMB per person, listen to waves at night)

◦ Luxury: Jinluan Bay "Haisong Wooden House" (detached villa, wake up to mirror sand beach view)

◦ For niche lovers: Yanya Village cliff stone house (book 1 month in advance!)

• Pitfall Avoidance Triple Strike:

❶ Not drone filming at Fishbone Sandbar = wasted trip! Rent a drone at the entrance for 100 RMB/time;

❷ Seafood stall anti-overcharge tip: "Ask price before ordering, check bill carefully";

❸ Prepare plenty of aloe vera gel from July to September! UV index is extremely high, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.

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The romance of Dongshan Island is the bioluminescent waves of Nanmen Bay, the smoke from fishing boats returning to port, and the moment you bite into juicy small squid💥. This island quieter than Xiamen and cheaper than Sanya is waiting for you to unlock 256G of appetite and photo album!

Guide data source: Zhangzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau 2025 announcement + on-site verification