Here comes the Dongshan Island travel guide!

Below is the latest Dongshan Island travel guide for 2025, covering itinerary planning, transportation, accommodation, food experiences, and tips to avoid pitfalls, helping you efficiently explore this "Fujian's Little Kenting"!

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**1. Itinerary Suggestions**
**One-Day Highlights Tour** (For those short on time)
- **Morning**:
- **Sunrise at Jinluan Bay** (05:30-07:00): Capture the "mirror of the sky" effect on the tidal flats at low tide, wearing light-colored dresses for stunning photos.
- **Nanmen Bay + Ding Street** (07:30-09:30): Stroll through the colorful fishing village featured in the movie *The Left Ear*, visit the "Left Ear Rooftop" for a panoramic bay view, and try "A Fang Braised Noodles" and "Sugar Duoduo Four-Ice Dessert" in the century-old alleys.
- **Noon**:
- **Lunch in Tongling Town** (10:00-11:30): Recommended dishes include pepper-salt mantis shrimp at "Chen Ji Meatballs" and fresh seafood at "A Wei Sao Stir-Fry" (¥50-80 per person).
- **Afternoon**:
- **Su Peak Mountain Ring Road** (12:00-14:00): Rent an e-bike (¥50/day) to ride along the cliffside Blue Bridge, stopping at Yan Ya Ancient Village for rocky coastline photos.
- **Nanyu Double-Sided Sea** (15:30-17:00): Walk to the green lighthouse at low tide (check tides via the "Tide Table Genius" mini-program), or switch to sailing at Maluan Bay if tides rise.
- **Evening**: Grab souvenirs like "Little Wife Sweet Soup" or "Fragrant Ginger Duck" at Tongling Night Market before heading back.

**Two-Day In-Depth Tour** (Recommended for immersive experiences)
- **Day1**: Artistic Coastline
- Jinluan Bay sunrise → Nanmen Bay fishing village cultural market → Wind-Rock Scenic Area (¥45 ticket, featuring unique rocks + Guandi Temple) → Tongling Night Market.
- **Day2**: Natural Wonders + Island Adventure
- Su Peak Mountain biking → Lover's Cliff at Yan Ya → Nanyu Double-Sided Sea → Jinluan Bay bonfire party (seasonal).

**Three-Day Immersive Tour** (Off-the-beaten-path exploration)
- **Day1-2**: Same as the two-day tour.
- **Day3**:
- **Ao Jiao Village**: Sunrise photos at the cliffside lighthouse, join a fishing boat for trawling (¥30/person), and have your catch cooked.
- **Fishbone Sandbar**: Take a boat (¥100/person) at low tide to capture the "fishbone" shape via drone.

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**2. Transportation & Accommodation Guide**
**Getting to the Island**
- **High-Speed Rail**: Arrive at "Yunxiao Station" → Take Bus No. 15 (¥10/person, 1 hour to Tongling Town) or shared taxi (¥30/person).
- **Self-Drive**: ~2 hours from Xiamen/Zhangzhou, with free parking on the island (designated lots required at Su Peak Mountain).

**Island Transport**
- **E-Bike Rental**: Best option! ¥50/day, 50km range, flexible for sightseeing.
- **Private Car/Tricycle**: Recommended for distant spots like Ao Jiao Village (~¥150 round-trip).

**Accommodation Recommendations**
| **Area** | **Features** | **Options** | **Price/Night** |
|------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------|
| **Nanmen Bay** | Artsy vibe, near night market | "Sea Listening Inn," "Left Ear Lodge" | ¥150-300 |
| **Jinluan Bay** | Sea-view rooms + sunrise | Yuehua Hotel (family-friendly), high-rise apartments | From ¥800 (off-peak) |
| **Maluan Bay** | Beach + water sports | Villas (for groups/families) | From ¥2000 |

> **Tip**: Book 1 month ahead for peak season (May-Oct), prioritize high-floor sea-view rooms in Jinluan Bay.

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**3. Must-Try Food & Pitfalls**
**Seafood Lovers' Picks**
- **Buy & Cook**: Select fresh seafood at Tongling's "Tiezhu Fish Market" or Xipu Central Market, with cooking fees at ¥15-20/jin.
- **Local Snacks**:
- Oyster Omelet: "A Wei Sao Oyster Omelet" (¥15) at Nanmen Bay.
- Cat Porridge: "Zhongyi Oyster Noodles" (¥15 + fried dough sticks) at Tongling Night Market.
- Sweet Soup: "Little Wife Sweet Soup" eight-treasure ice (¥8).

**Pitfall Avoidance**
- ❌ Avoid "free photo" scams on beaches—hidden fees apply.
- ❌ Skip touristy seafood stalls; opt for alleyway eateries in Tongling.
- ❌ Fishbone Sandbar tides change fast—wear proper shoes and follow boat schedules.

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**4. Pro Tips**
1. **Tides Rule**: Nanyu Double-Sided Sea and Fishbone Sandbar are only accessible at low tide—check "Tide Table Genius" mini-program!
2. **Sun & Safety**: Extreme UV (SPF50+ a must), wear anti-slip shoes on rocks (no flip-flops!).
3. **Photo Spots**:
- Jinluan Bay sunrise → low-angle shots on tidal flats;
- Su Peak Blue Bridge → aerial shots of mountain-meets-ocean road;
- Lover's Cliff → silhouette shots on rocks.
4. **Family-Friendly**: Jinluan Bay's shallow waters for tide-pooling (bring buckets/shovels), Yuehua Hotel offers kids' pool + workshops.

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**5. Budget Reference**
- **One-Day**: ¥200-300/person (meals + transport + tickets).
- **Three-Day**: ¥800-1000/person (lodging + seafood feasts).
> *Student Discounts: Half-price tickets for Wind-Rock Scenic Area/Fishbone Sandbar with ID.*

Dongshan Island’s beauty lies in the morning’s mirrored tides, the fishing village’s twilight glow, and the slow rhythm of salty breezes. The tides wait for no one—pack this guide and set off! 🌊🛵