Nestled in the heart of the sea, there’s a small island in Fujian that has been named the most beautiful island in China by National Geographic. With its romantic windmills, soft sandy beaches, colorful stone houses, and enchanting luminous sea, this island beckons us to visit.
Pingtan Island
The poet Haizi once said that he wanted to build a house facing the sea, with spring flowers in bloom. These words have become a dream and utopia for people worldwide, and if you want to make it a reality, Pingtan Island is the place to be.
The island is dotted with well-preserved stone houses that are scattered along the beach in a picturesque manner. The red brick tiles, green stone strips, saddle-shaped fire walls, and herringbone-patterned roofs are typical of the Minnan architectural style.
Many of these houses have been converted into cafes and boutique hotels, where you can sit by the window, sip coffee, and listen to the song of the sea, whiling away an entire afternoon.
The Milky Way Arch Bridge spans across the East China Sea, with the Cowherd and Weaver Girl gazing at each other across the bridge. This must be the legendary fairy bridge. The starry sky is dazzling, and meteors streak across the sky, making the journey through time and space seem long and distant. Light a lantern and gather with your loved one under the bright moon.
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the super romantic and rare sight of “blue tears” at night. These tiny blue lights dance and flicker, hidden in dreams, and are so beautiful that they take your breath away. The endless starry sky and this earthly paradise are truly unparalleled!
These “blue tears” are actually a type of marine microorganism that survives on the energy in seawater. However, when they are washed ashore by the waves and leave the seawater, they can only survive for less than 100 seconds. As their energy dissipates, the light of the “blue tears” fades, and their life comes to an end.
Seaside Bathing Beach
In the summer, the seaside bathing beach is the perfect place to escape the heat.
The Pingtan seaside bathing beach we chose has sand that is as fine as powder and feels incredibly comfortable underfoot! The view is wide open, and as far as the eye can see, the sea and sky merge into one, creating a breathtaking sight!
The beach is spacious, giving you plenty of room to run and play to your heart’s content! Jet skiing, surfing, parasailing, and various other water sports are waiting for you to take on the challenge!
68 Nautical Miles Island
The Closest Island to Taiwan
This is the closest point in mainland China to Taiwan. Here, you’ll find clean seawater, azure skies, oddly-shaped rocks, and a white lighthouse. Taiwan is just 68 nautical miles across the sea. From here, you can gaze at Taiwan Island in the distance and take a photo in front of the giant “68 Nautical Miles” topographic sculpture. The ground is also adorned with a relief map of the straits on both sides.
General Mountain
Originally named Tiger Mountain, it was renamed to commemorate the grand occasion when more than 100 generals climbed the mountain to observe a joint military exercise in early spring of 1996.
On a clear day, you can truly see the five-colored sea from General Mountain, and the mountain itself is also very beautiful. Standing atop the mountain and overlooking the azure sea, the feeling of being in command is awe-inspiring.
Lianjiang
This hidden gem of Lianjiang satisfies all my fantasies about the sea.
If you’re tired of seeing the same old sea, come here for a different experience.
It has the most comfortable coastal self-driving road, it cultivates one-eighth of the country’s abalone and oysters, and it has unique marine abrasion landforms where you can walk on the undulating volcanic rocks.
There’s a village here that they call the Rio de Janeiro of China, and so it has a magical allure that makes everyone who comes here open their arms to embrace the beautiful scenery.
There’s also a colorful geopark here with unique marine abrasion features, as well as colorful cottages and a boardwalk leading to the sea, with every element exceeding expectations.
Enjoy the blue sea all to yourself. Who doesn’t love looking at the sea? It’s truly therapeutic.
Of course, when you’re by the sea, you have to savor the authentic flavors of fresh seafood!
Head to the port coast or local seafood market to purchase live seafood and prepare a seafood feast together.
The local food market is a gathering place for fresh ingredients, with an array of fresh lobsters, crabs, shrimp, shellfish, and various types of fish. Whether steamed, boiled, grilled, or stir-fried, as long as it’s fresh, it’s delicious no matter how it’s prepared.
On the way to Pingtan, there are also some very beautiful scenic spots!
Taining Ancient City
Taining Ancient City has a long history, dating back 1,340 years. Not only does it have the best-preserved Ming Dynasty civilian building in Jiangnan, the Shangshudi Building Complex, which is a national key cultural relic protection unit, but it also includes buildings from various periods spanning over 500 years from the early Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty. It is the best-preserved Ming Dynasty civilian building complex in the Jiangnan region of China.
