Meizhou Island, the birthplace of the Goddess Mazu, turns out not to be part of Quanzhou

Meizhou Island is actually part of Putian and is the second largest island. Due to its elongated shape from north to south, resembling the eyebrows of a beauty, it is named Meizhou. It has a population of 40,000, with an average annual temperature of 21°C, making it especially suitable for tourism and vacations. The island's coastline stretches over 30 kilometers, including more than 20 kilometers of beaches and 5 kilometers of marine erosion rocks, creating a natural spectacle where mountains are surrounded by water, the sea extends beyond the mountains, and the mountains and sea are connected, blending into the horizon. Coupled with blue skies, white clouds, golden sands, and green forests and temples, it forms a romantic and picturesque coastal scenery and is a national 5A scenic spot. Meizhou Island is the divine birthplace of , hence it is known as the 'Penglai of the South'. Parks, temples, and film and television bases themed around Mazu are scattered throughout the island. There is also the ancestral temple of Mazu, which nearly 300 million Mazu devotees revere. During the annual lunar calendar dates of March 23rd, Mazu's birthday, and the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, Mazu's ascension, the pilgrimage tourism is unprecedented, earning it the reputation of the 'Mecca of the East'. Travel advice: From the downtown area of Putian, you can take a taxi or a bus to Wenjia Wharf. From Wenjia Wharf, take the ferry to Meizhou Island, with departures every half hour (the last return trip at night can be as late as 9 pm, but it is recommended not to be later than 5:30 pm, otherwise many buses will have stopped running, unless you take a taxi or have a private car). After leaving the wharf, walk more than 500 meters to reach the ancestral temple of Mazu (you can choose to visit from near to far, that is, first visit the ancestral temple of Mazu, then explore further; or you can visit from far to near, first take the bus to the southernmost Goose Tail Marine Erosion Geological Park, then head back). Regardless of where you start, it is recommended to rent an electric scooter. The public ones are for single riders. If you are traveling as a couple, you can contact locals to rent a double scooter, which costs 60 yuan plus a 100 yuan deposit. Note: You must park at the designated place to get your deposit back. If you stay at a B&B on Meizhou Island, they will have electric scooters for rent for just 50 yuan. Actually, there is no need to ride around the island, because the distance between attractions is long from north to south and short from east to west, so you can switch back and forth in a zigzag pattern. Because winter is the off-season, there is basically very little food for sale in the scenic area, only the town near the ancestral temple of Mazu will have food. If you are on a day trip and time is tight, it is recommended to bring your own dry food. If you are staying on the island for a two-day trip, you can look for delicious food in the town.