The charm of Zhangzhou is "slow." Because it really is～

Budget: 1.2k to enjoy a 3k quality experience!

💰 Total cost: Transportation 300 + Accommodation 400 + Food 300 + Tickets 200 = 1200 RMB (excluding major transportation)

- Money-saving tips: ✅ Carpool instead of chartering (Zhangzhou → Volcano Island 35 RMB/person) ✅ Buy tickets online in advance as a combo (Volcano Island + Nanjing Tulou saves 30 RMB) ✅ Night market snacks + DIY seafood (Tongling Market squid 15 RMB/jin, processing fee 10 RMB)

🌊 Recommended attractions: Off the beaten path & cool spots prioritized!

1. Dongshan Island Nanmen Bay
- 📸 Colorful houses and fishing boats on the dam just like in the movie "The Left Ear," shoot a deserted fairyland before 8 AM!
- 🌅 Jinluan Bay mirror beach: catch the sunrise reflection before 5:30 AM (free!)
2. Volcano Island Monument Valley
- Avoid the scorching sun from 10 AM to 3 PM❗️ Enter after 4 PM, snap pink maze + seaside swings for an Instagram vibe
- Hidden play: hike into the islet at low tide (check tide table! Rush 2 hours before high tide)
3. Yunshuiyao Ancient Town
- Enter at 3 PM! Banyan tree shade + cool creek, see the Huaiyuan Building from "Big Fish & Begonia"
- Pitfall alert: Don’t pay more than 5 RMB for Tulou tower climbing!
4. Zhangzhou Ancient City Night Tour
- Go after 6 PM! Arcade lights are super retro, eat four-fruit soup with ma ci (20 RMB per person fills you up)

🚗 Route: 3 days 2 nights lazy version (optimized for summer heat)

Day 1: Ancient city vibes + island sunset

- 7:00 Breakfast in ancient city: Afang braised noodles + large intestine (15 RMB) → Confucius Temple juice (Pianzaihuang sugarcane juice, 7 RMB)
- 11:30 Carpool to Volcano Island (35 RMB), lunch cold noodles + sour plum soup (25 RMB)
- 16:00 Enter park to shoot Rainbow Mountain → head straight to Black Reef Cliff (stunning basalt columns!)
- 18:30 Free sunset at Zhenhaijiao Orange Sea 🌄 (wear a white dress! Windy, hold onto your hat)

Day 2: Deep tour of Dongshan Island

- 5:30 Sunrise at Jinluan Bay → rent electric scooter to circle island (60 RMB/day)
- 8:00 Check in at Nanmen Bay → walk to Nanyu Lighthouse at low tide (check tide! Best 8-10 AM)
- 11:30 Buy seafood at Tongling Market → “Awei Sao Stir-fry” processing (30 RMB per person for squid + oysters)
- Afternoon: Relax at Maluan Bay / bike ride along Su Feng Mountain coastal road (super cool sea breeze!)

Day 3: Tulou cultural line

- Charter to Nanjing Tianluokeng (90 RMB ticket) → viewpoint for panoramic "Four Dishes and One Soup"
- Afternoon stroll Yunshuiyao Ancient Trail → buy dried longan before returning (20 RMB/jin)

🍜 Food hits! Local secret list

Must-eat TOP 5:

1. Braised noodles: Afang braised noodles + sausage fried meat (20 RMB), super rich braising soup!
2. Oyster omelet: Ancient city night market “Fat Sister Oyster Omelet” (15 RMB), crispy and juicy with rice batter
3. Four-fruit soup: with ice slush + Adazi! Circle Song Yue Sheng Tang next door (7 RMB)
4. Ma Ci Shun: peanut molten filling (1.5 RMB each), freshly wrapped crispy filling beats trendy shops
5. Tofu pudding with vermicelli: with braised large intestine + fried meat (12 RMB), hot and cold combo

Avoid being overcharged: Seafood stalls require “one dish one price,” filter water before weighing!

🏨 Accommodation recommendations: High cost performance + prime locations

1. Around Zhangzhou Ancient City
- Orange Hotel (150 RMB/night): 5-minute walk to snack street, clean and smart
- Baixiang Yuanshan Hotel (408 RMB/night): luxury! With pool + family rooms, city view
2. Dongshan Island sea view
- Maluan Bay Seaview Apartment (200 RMB/night): balcony directly to the beach, host helps with sea harvesting
- Nanmen Bay Homestay (off-season 300 RMB): window view of fishing boats, host helps retrieve slippers at dawn (tested!)
3. Volcano Island overnight
- Nomi The Sea (500 RMB/night): 270° floor-to-ceiling sea view, bubble house for stargazing