Yangmadao Island is not what you imagine…

🚌 1. Money-saving Transportation Tips
1. **Ways to Get to the Island**
- **Bus**: Take Route 617 directly to "Yangmadao Station" from Yantai Station/Yantai South Station (most economical, about 5 RMB one way).
- **Carpool**: Taxi from downtown costs about 60 RMB; carpool with 4 people costs 15 RMB per person.
- **Self-driving**: Navigate to "Yangmadao Transfer Center Parking Lot" (free), then transfer to the scenic shuttle bus (25 RMB/person, unlimited rides on the same day).

2. **On-island Transportation**
- **Electric Scooter Rental**: Top choice! Rent at the bridge entrance or Tianma Square, about 30 RMB/hour, bargaining possible (recommended to rent in 2-3 hour segments).
- **Island Loop Bus**: Pass costs 25 RMB/person, suitable for visitors who don’t want to ride scooters.
*Avoid taking the bus onto the island (prone to traffic jams) and shared bikes (poor management, easy to incur extra fees).*

🏞️ 2. Free Must-visit Attractions (Avoid Paid Traps)
1. **Natural Scenery**
- **Zhang Island**: Redwood boardwalk + rocky coast, excellent sunrise spot (free, arrive before 5 AM).
- **Qinfeng Cliff**: Seven horses sculpture + Qin and Han dynasty architecture, a holy place for sunset photography.
- **Lotus Sunset**: Explore the popular rock cave at low tide (check tide tables in advance! High tide is dangerous).

2. **Experience Activities**
- **Beachcombing**: Free tidal flats near Yubiyuan, bring your own small bucket/shovel to dig clams and catch crabs (best within 1-2 hours after low tide).
- **Island Cycling**: Rent an electric scooter and ride along the coastal road, 20 km coastline with stops for photos anytime.

🏠 3. Affordable Accommodation Recommendations
- **Guesthouses**: Non-sea view rooms cost 100-150 RMB per person per night (e.g., guesthouses around Longmen Village).
- **City Accommodation**: Chain hotels in Muping District (e.g., Home Inn/Hanting), about 80 RMB per person + early bus to the island.
*Book 3 days in advance during peak season (July-August), prices double on the day!*

🍽️ 4. Dining Money-saving Guide
1. **Seafood Meals**
- **Xinyang Restaurant**: Popular with locals, 80 RMB per person for hairtail fish dumplings + sea intestine rice.
- **Good Brothers Fisherman’s Home**: Salt and pepper mantis shrimp with clear pricing, avoid "market price" traps.

2. **Self-cooked Seafood**
- **Gaogong Island Market** (near Yangmadao): Buy before closing in the afternoon, 100 RMB fills a box (mantis shrimp + oysters + sea clams), cook fresh and sweet at the guesthouse.
*Avoid: Scenic area food stalls without prices, roadside "fresh catch" often short-weighted.*

⏳ 5. High Cost-performance Itinerary
**One-day Highlight Route** (total cost ≈ 150 RMB):
- Morning: Bus to the island → rent electric scooter → Tianma Square (free landmark) → Zhang Island (rocky photo spot)
- Noon: Bring your own food or buy seafood at the market for cooking
- Afternoon: Beachcombing at Yubiyuan → Lotus Sunset (enter cave at low tide) → Qinfeng Cliff sunset
- Evening: Return electric scooter → bus back

**Two-day In-depth Experience** (total cost ≈ 300 RMB):
- Day 1: Island cycling + beachcombing, stay at affordable guesthouse
- Day 2: Zhang Island sunrise → Island Diary Café (photo only, no purchase) → Xishan Viewing Platform

💡 Other Money-saving Tips
- **Bring Your Own Sunscreen**: Strong UV on the island, prepare sunscreen/hat in advance (high markup on site).
- **Travel Off-peak**: April-June or September-October, accommodation prices drop 30% + fewer people and beautiful scenery.

> 💰 **Budget Reference** (per person/day): Transportation 50 RMB + Accommodation 100 RMB + Food 80 RMB = **230 RMB**, easily achievable by avoiding paid attractions and trendy consumption!