Pingtan Island is back! If you regret it, try to persuade others not to go

⚠️ **Off-season Truths (Let's be realistic first)**
1. **Intense heat and sun exposure**: Daytime feels like 35℃+, with very strong UV rays. Avoid outdoor activities from 11:00 to 15:00.
2. **Typhoon risk**: July to September is typhoon season, which may cause flight cancellations or attraction closures (check the weather before traveling!).
3. **Very rare Blue Tears**: Probability in summer is less than 5%, don’t get your hopes up!
4. **Some facilities closed**: Restaurants in remote villages on the northern route may be closed.

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🌟 **Exclusive Off-season Advantages (Great value if you know how to enjoy)**
✅ **Fewer crowds, private experience**: Take photos freely at popular spots, no traffic jams on the island road for self-driving.
✅ **Accommodation price drop**: Sea view homestays are 50% cheaper than peak season, around 150 RMB per person for a room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
✅ **Fresh seafood freedom after fishing season opens**: After fishing opens in August, buy crabs and mantis shrimp directly at Liushui Town Pier (20 RMB per jin), processing fee 10 RMB.

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🏝️ **Itinerary Planning (3 days 2 nights summer cooling version)**
**Day 1: Northern Route Wind Chasing**
- Morning: **Northern Ecological Corridor** (F2 Viewing Platform → Glass Walkway) → **Windmill Forest Road**
- Afternoon: **Changjiang’ao Beach** (go clam digging or catch small crabs at low tide) → **Tanshui Village** (take photos on the popular swing)
- Evening: **Heping Village** (navigate to "Heping Village Public Toilet" to see the S-shaped coastal road + sunset)

**Day 2: Southern Route Sand Play and Cave Exploration**
- Morning: **Houyan Island** (68 nautical miles landmark, arrive before 8 AM to cool off) → **Tannan Bay Whale Joy Blue Tears** (order a coffee and relax on the sofa bed)
- Afternoon: **Yuehai Bay** (quiet and clean wild beach) → **Elephant Trunk Bay** (best drone shots, check tides!)
- Night: **Backup Blue Tears Spot** (low probability but follow the "Enjoy Pingtan" WeChat official account for forecasts)

**Day 3: In-depth Cultural Experience**
- **Mojing Village** (clam digging base, rent tools for 5 RMB) → **Beigang Village** (stone house cultural and creative shops with singing stones)
- **Island Vegetable Market** (buy dried fish and seaweed specialties) → **Haitan Ancient City** (just pass by for photos, very commercialized)

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🏠 **Accommodation and Transportation Guide**
- **Accommodation**:
- For sunrise chasing → stay at **Changjiang’ao** (but fewer dining options);
- For convenience → stay in the **county town (Xihang Road)**, more takeout choices;
- For quality → choose a **designer homestay near the northern corridor** (e.g., Yuejilan Cuo).
- **Transportation**:
- Rent an electric scooter (60 RMB/day) > charter a car (300 RMB/day) > self-driving (some small roads are narrow).
- Warning: Rental shops may provide old battery scooters, test the battery range before setting off!

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🦞 **Food Recommendations and Warnings**
- **✅ Must-try**:
- **Shisamei Salty Rice Porridge** (lucky breakfast, local favorite)
- **Maoji Seafood Claypot Porridge** (main store! Shrimp and crab porridge 30 RMB/person)
- **Lao Chaofeng Boiled Fish** (with pork intestines + seafood, spicy and satisfying)
- **❌ Avoid**:
Seafood stalls near attractions (especially Longwangtou), snacks inside Haitan Ancient City.

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💡 **Off-season Survival Tips**
1. **Sun protection down to your fingertips**: Hat + arm sleeves + sun-protective clothing + sunglasses, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
2. **Flexible itinerary**: If a typhoon hits, immediately switch to **Fuzhou Sanfang Qixiang** (35 minutes by high-speed train).
3. **Stay relaxed**: Accept the slightly yellow seawater (due to summer algae bloom), enjoy the peace and quiet with fewer people!

> **Ultimate tip**: Bring mosquito repellent (many midges by the sea), Huoxiang Zhengqi liquid (to prevent heatstroke), and a waterproof phone pouch (essential for clam digging)!