"Han Han didn't lie! China's easternmost 'lonely lighthouse': Bioluminescent Sea × Millennium Sunrise
by M@tth3w M00r3
Jul 1, 2025
🌅 Wilder than Jeju Island! The lesser-known 'East Sea Pole' in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai: cliff stone houses × blue tears, rent an uninhabited island for 800 yuan per person!
📍 Exact address
Dongji Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province (including Miaozihu Island, Dongfushan Island, Qingbang Island, Huangxing Island)
✨ Precise navigation:
- Boarding point: Navigate to "Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Pier" (the only boarding point, no land access)
- Core island coordinates:
- Miaozihu Island: Lighthouse from the movie "The Continent" (30.1°N, 122.4°E)
- Dongfushan Island: Monument of the first dawn of the new millennium (easternmost point of mainland China)
🎫 Tickets & opening hours
✅ Ticket policy:
- Entire island open for free! No scenic area tickets, purely wild islands
- Must-buy ferry tickets:
- Zhujiajian → Miaozihu: lower deck 100 RMB / middle deck 130 RMB / upper deck 150 RMB (2 hours one way)
- Inter-island ferry: Miaozihu → Dongfushan / Qingbang Island (pay onboard in cash, 30 RMB/person) ⏰ Opening hours:
- Open all day|Ferry schedule: departures daily at 8:45 / 14:00 (additional trips in peak season), return tickets must be purchased one day in advance
- Best season: May to October (sea water is glassy blue, beware of typhoons in July-August!)
🌟 Reasons to visit
- China's version of "Santorini": Qingbang Island's cliff stone houses stacked in layers, drone shots instantly create a "Potala Palace on the sea" masterpiece 🏯;
- Millennium sunrise ritual: wait at Dongfushan Island at 4 AM to witness the first ray of sunlight on the mainland 🌄, with the phrase "Light is born here";
- Emotional hit from "The Continent": check in at the red and white lighthouse and the Caibo Gong torch statue, recreating the artistic melancholy of Han Han's film 🎬;
- Few people, wild scenery, zero commercialization: daily visitors under 500, rent cliff meadows, bioluminescent sea (summer only), and stargazing spots 🌌!
📸 Featured attractions & activities
1️⃣ Miaozihu Island · Movie-level artistic set
- Hardcore moves:
- Iconic lighthouse silhouette shot: wear a white dress at 17:00 standing on the reef, wait for sunset to dye the sea red and capture the "Lonely Island Watcher";
- Night squid fishing: rent a fishing rod (20 RMB each), use a headlamp to lure transparent small squids on the sea surface, grill and sprinkle chili powder for a fresh taste;
2️⃣ Dongfushan Island · Polar wilderness survival
- Self-torturing romance:
- 4-hour island hike: wear Martin boots to climb Elephant Trunk Peak (volcanic rock wonder), shout "Ordinary Road" from the summit;
- Big Tree Bay stone house blind box: catch bioluminescent crabs (glow at night!) by flipping stones at low tide, collect "mobile star river" in glass bottles ✨;
3️⃣ Qingbang Island · Ruins aesthetic pinnacle
- Secret eggs:
- Child Cave WWII site exploration: crawl into natural sea erosion caves to listen to waves, touch bullet marks on rock walls carved with "Long live peace";
- Bioluminescent sea mysticism: after 20:00 in summer, wait on the dark beach with no light, blue tears appear when waves break (30% chance);
🗺️ 2 days 1 night essential itinerary
🌊 Quick version (for social media check-ins)
- Day 1: 8:45 ferry from Zhujiajian → Miaozihu (2h) → transfer ferry to Dongfushan Island (30min) → 14:00 hike Elephant Trunk Peak → 18:00 shoot sunset at Big Tree Bay stone houses → overnight at "Child of the Sea Homestay" (window view of the Milky Way, 300 RMB/night);
- Day 2: 4:00 wait for the first dawn → 9:00 ferry back to Miaozihu → check in at red and white lighthouse → 12:00 eat seafood noodles at "Extreme Island Noodle House" (38 RMB/bowl) → 14:00 return trip;
🚶 In-depth version (for wilderness lovers)
- Day 1: Zhujiajian → Qingbang Island (stay at "Sea View Homestay") → explore Child Cave + stone house cluster → night chase bioluminescent sea;
- Day 2: Qingbang → Dongfushan island circuit → overnight at Dongfushan;
- Day 3: after sunrise ferry to Miaozihu → wish at Caibo Gong statue → 14:00 return trip;
🚢 Transportation tips to avoid confusion
How to get there
- High-speed rail travelers: from anywhere → Ningbo Station → bus to Zhujiajian (2h, 60 RMB) → ferry at Wugongzhi Pier;
- Self-driving: navigate to "Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Pier", parking 64 RMB/day (do not park by the beach! Easy to get stuck);
Ticket-snatching tips
- Departure: queue at 5:00 AM three days in advance on the "Zhoushan Star Ferry" WeChat official account, grab middle deck tickets instantly (stable and no seasickness);
- Return: buy tickets one day in advance on "Dongji Shipping", say "recommended by A Liang" for priority;
🦞 Foodie storm recommendations
📍 Must-eat on Miaozihu (50 RMB per person, fresh to tears!)
- Seafood noodles: tigerhead fish + mantis shrimp + mussel broth, with handmade noodles (38 RMB/bowl);
- Seaweed cake: crispy crust wrapped with sweet and salty seaweed filling, 5 RMB each, perfect for snacking on the go; 📍 Bring your own snacks:
- Zhoushan dried fish + self-heating hotpot (island supplies rely on boat transport, restaurant prices double);
⚠️ Blood and tears pit avoidance tips
1. Safety red lines:
- Must check the "Global Tide" app! Evacuate reef areas one hour before high tide, violation fined 500 RMB;
- No umbrellas for cliff photos! Sea wind level 10+, wear anti-slip Martin boots for safety;
2. Photo mysticism:
- Bioluminescent sea blue tears: use Huawei phone "Light Painting" mode, 30-second long exposure;
- Wear bright yellow / pure white long dresses! Color contrast with meadows is killer, lighthouse pairs well with denim shorts + straw bag;
3. Hidden perks:
- Borrow tide-chasing tools free from homestay owners (50 RMB deposit, saves 30 RMB compared to renting);
- Touch the Caibo Gong statue torch three times, fishermen say it brings wealth and luck;
4. Ritual hits:
- Bring an empty bottle to collect Dongfushan seawater (write "First light of 2025");
- Bury a wish stone on Qingbang Island (engrave "Next time bring crush to see blue tears");
✨ "The lighthouse is a love letter from the deep sea to the land, and we are the postmen who break into this epic romance"
Check 【Sixteen Travel】 for real-time ferry schedules|Bioluminescent sea forecast
📸 Photo codes: Dawn monument arms welcoming light, stone house ruins lantern night walk, cliff lying down shot for "falling into the sea" feeling
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Post by M@tth3w M00r3 | Jul 1, 2025





















