East Island Travel Guide

If you want to see the sea, then go to East Island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang. East Island is the filming location of Han Han’s directorial debut “After Love,” which made most people in China know about this place after its release. However, it has another reason for being known to the public – “the easternmost island of mainland China.” If you also yearn for the mystery and tenderness that the sea reveals, if you also prefer the tranquility and peace left by the blue, if you also enjoy playing in this sea, chasing the waves ashore, if you also indulge in the sunset on the beach watching the sun slowly sink into the end of the sky, if you also like to listen to the tides rise and fall, watch the sea and sky merge, then come to East Island to realize your infinite yearning for the sea!

First acquaintance with East Island

East Island is the collective name for all the islands under the jurisdiction of Dongji Town, Putuoshan District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, which includes three major islands. Here, there are not only rich and simple fishing village customs and characteristics, but also beautiful and breathtaking island scenery, it almost encompasses all the sunshine, blue sea, reefs, seafood and other imaginable and unimaginable beautiful scenery you can imagine; the environment and climate here are pleasant, the water is clear, it can satisfy all your longing and fantasy for an island trip.

The main attractions of East Island are Temple Lake, Qingbang Island, Dongfu Mountain, Huangxing Island, and it also enjoys the reputation of “Lijiang on the Sea”; after the popular film “After Love” was filmed here, it further raised the expectations of the public, especially many travel enthusiasts, for East Island, and also added a few different colors.

Among the three islands of East Island, Temple Lake is the most prosperous. The beautiful legend of Cai Bo Gong is still being passed down here. Dongfu Mountain, with its “the first point of sunrise in the new century”, is the best choice to watch the sunrise. Looking at the “Sea Potala Palace” on Qingbang Island from a distance, the essence of Dongji can be seen at a glance.

Journey to East Island

There are no direct buses to East Island, you need to take a boat to get there. Therefore, you can choose to take a bus from Hangzhou to Zhoushan, the final stop is “Putuoshan Center Station”, “Putuoshan Bus Station” or “Putuoshan Long-distance Bus Center”, these are the starting points for taking the boat. There are three passenger stations on Zhoushan Island that can go to East Island, from west to east, they are Dinghai Passenger Station, Xincheng Passenger Station and Putuoshan Passenger Station. Long-distance buses may stop at all three stations, but if your destination is Shenjiamen, please be sure to take the bus to the easternmost Putuoshan Passenger Station, be sure not to take the wrong bus!

Timetable

The boat to East Island departs from Banshengdong Wharf in Shenjiamen, Zhoushan at 8:30 am every day and returns at 11:00 am. Usually there is only one trip every day, on weekends in the peak season of July and August, an extra trip will be added, departing from Shenjiamen at 13:30 pm and returning to Temple Lake at 16:00 pm.

The round-trip ferry between Temple Lake-Qingbang-Dongfu Mountain runs twice a day, departing from Temple Lake at 7:30 and 11:00 am, and returning from Dongfu Mountain at 8:30 and 12:00 am. On weekends in the peak season of July and August, two more trips will be added, two more trips will be added on Saturdays, departing from Temple Lake at 13:00 and 16:00 pm, and returning from Dongfu Mountain at 14:00 and 16:30 pm, and on Sundays only one more trip will be added, departing at 16:00 pm and returning at 16:30 pm. For the specific timetable, please refer to the following figure:

Stay on East Island

There are basically no hotels on the island, all are homestays. When you get on the island, someone will come forward and ask you about accommodation, you can choose a homestay that you like and is suitable for you. Moreover, with the rapid development of the homestay industry in recent years, there are many homestays on East Island, so you have a lot of choices, but it still depends on your own wishes and preferences, and you also need to consider your own economic ability, travel arrangements and other factors.

Generally, when traveling to East Island, the most common choice is to arrange the accommodation schedule as follows: stay in Shenjiamen for the first day, go to the island on the second day, stay in Dongfu Mountain for one day, stay in Temple Lake for one day, and if you have more time, you can also stay in Qingbang Island for one day.

Eat on East Island

As the saying goes, “rely on mountains to eat mountains, rely on the sea to eat the sea”, East Island is located in the East China Sea, and nearby is China’s most famous Zhoushan fishing ground, seafood is the signature dish here, so the local seafood on the island is not only rich in styles and varieties, but also basically there is a scene of letting you pick and choose.

Of course, you should mainly eat seafood when traveling to the archipelago. If you can’t eat it, you can also choose to bring your own food. It is recommended that you bring some food that is easy to carry and not easy to spoil. Remember to choose carefully when eating, after all, if you eat comfortably and your mood is good, you can better feel the fun of traveling!

Play on East Island

East Island is a collective name for a series of islands in the nearby waters. There is actually no single piece of land called “East Island”, East Island is a town name, and within East Island there are one or two hundred small islands, of which four are inhabited: Temple Lake, Qingbang Island, Dongfu Mountain, Huangxing Island; and the first three are relatively developed, and most tourists go to these three places to experience island travel.

Seawater that can change color

Seawater is blue, this is a universally recognized truth, but if you are used to seeing blue seawater, it might be a joyful thing to see seawater of different colors. The seawater in the south of East Island is very clear, the seawater here is not only different from the color of ordinary blue seawater, but it can also “change color”, from yellow to yellow-green, dark green, and at its clearest it turns blue-green, forming a unique gradient sea area.

It is said that the first ray of light in the Chinese dawn is the one that appears on Dongfu Mountain in East Island, plus the surrounding seawater, sea breeze, rocks and windmills, it can form a unique landscape; there are also unique fishing village culture houses, stone houses are the characteristics here, every brick and tile highlights the island fishermen’s marine wisdom.

Appreciate the charming Sleeping Buddha

Next to Dongfu Mountain is the famous Sleeping Buddha of Xifo Mountain. Looking from afar, it is like a huge old man standing there. Its supine sleeping posture makes people marvel at the wonders of nature; the primitive and simple natural scenery on the island has also created the unique fishing village culture here.

Temple Lake Island

Temple Lake is the political and cultural center of East Island. It is commercially developed, so it has also become the most lively place on East Island. There are also beautiful legends of Cai Bo Gong, and of course there are exhibition halls and temples related to it. The lighthouse of Temple Lake echoes the sea, and the monument to the sea frontier guards of Temple Lake is also a worthwhile attraction. It is known as the first sentry post in the East China Sea. If you go there once, you will feel very commemorative.

Qingbang Island

Qingbang Island is a quieter place. It is named after the indigo blue color of the surrounding waters. It is suitable for those who like peace. Although few people stop to play here, the famous Sea Potala Palace and part of the World War II memorial area are also very good places to play. Moreover, nearby is where many famous historical naval battles took place. It is also a place where “After Love” was filmed, you can find the places shown in the movie’s scenes, so it is also a place that needs to be checked in.

Watch the sunrise and admire the sunset

East Island has many reefs and rich fish resources. You can go out to sea by boat to participate in boat fishing. Watching the sunrise on Dongfu Mountain is also a particularly beautiful thing. The first rays of sunshine in the morning are very worth experiencing. Of course, with the sunrise, there is also the sunset. The sunset on Dongfu Mountain is not like the sunset in other parts of China. Feeling the sea breeze blowing, listening to the calls of seabirds and returning fishing boats, mixed with the soft murmur of the tide, watching the sunset burn the sky red, that feeling is unique.

Soaring in the mysterious night sky

At night, you can also see the starry sky on East Island, even the moon, you can see very clearly. Take a walk on the beach under the moonlight, chat, play in the shallows, or go fishing, watch the night color merge with the edge of the East China Sea, watch the sunrise and sunset, experience the leisurely life of a paradise, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, taste the refreshing feeling of fishing village style, what a pleasant and romantic experience!

Notes

1. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen, otherwise you will regret it for a long time. Holding an umbrella will be very inconvenient, and it won’t block the wind on the island; if you wear a hat, be sure to have a windproof rope, which will save you a lot of effort. The sea breeze on the island is relatively strong, if you are afraid of cold, you still need to pay attention to keeping warm, your body is your own.

2. If you want to take good pictures, wear white shoes or canvas shoes, remember to put sanitary napkins in your shoes, so your feet will not be too tired. Thick insoles are also OK, depending on your personal preference. Also, insect repellent and peppermint oil, don’t forget these, especially at the height of your ankles, be sure to apply more, because the island is full of life, you never know when you will be visited by small insects; because many of the roads are very narrow, stepped out of the sand and grass, especially after rain, muddy and uneven, so be sure to choose suitable shoes.

3. Don’t bring a tripod, power bank and other essential items for daily travel don’t need to be reminded!