A Hidden Realm Where Mountains and Sea Embrace with Fireworks

Fujian · China When the morning mist of Wuyi Mountain gently caresses the thousand-year-old tea fields, when the earthen walls of the Tulou glow golden under the sunset, when the sounds of piano and waves intertwine on Gulangyu Island—Fujian, this land cherished by mountains and sea, awaits every traveler who knows how to savor a slow journey with its unique rhythm. Here, not only are there world heritage-level landscapes, but also the everyday life hidden in the streets and alleys: a secret realm where mountains and sea embrace with fireworks. Let’s avoid the crowds and explore the most authentic side of Min land. ### 1. A Natural Symphony of Mountains and Sea 1. **Wuyi Mountain Tea Journey** The early morning in Wuyi Mountain belongs to the fragrance of tea. Instead of squeezing in at Tianyou Peak to see the crowds, we recommend heading to Tongmuguan Nature Reserve, following tea farmers through the original tea forests. Experience hand-picking, shaking, and roasting tea at the Yanzi Nest Ecological Tea Garden, then sit by the Nine-Bend Stream to savor a cup of Zhengshan Xiaozhong while watching bamboo rafts gently glide over the mirror-like water. 2. **Light and Shadow Magic of Xiapu Tidal Flats** Want to capture China’s most beautiful tidal flat light and shadow? It’s best to avoid holidays and visit Dongbi Village. Every morning at 5 a.m., the viewing platform in Huazhu Village presents a stunning encounter of sunrise and sea fishing rafts. At low tide in the afternoon, join local fishermen to dig for razor clams and pick clams in the mudflats; the seafood you catch can be cooked directly at the fishermen’s homestay. 3. **Blue Tears Adventure on Pingtan Island** Known as the "Maldives of the East," this island flashes dreamy blue bioluminescence at night from May to August. Rent an electric scooter to circle the island, pass through the glass plankwalk in the northern ecological corridor, and wait for a sunset at Changjiang’ao windmill fields. The best place to chase the blue tears is the beach near the South Island language culture village, where there are fewer people and a higher chance of success. ### 2. Contemporary Interpretation of Cultural Codes 1. **Immersive Tulou Life Experience** The Chuxi Tulou cluster in Yongding is more pristine than Hongkeng. From the viewing platform, you can see the Tulou layout resembling the Big Dipper constellation. It’s recommended to stay a night at Chengqi Lou, learn to make Hakka rice balls with the host in the morning, and listen to 70-year-old Grandpa Jiang sing Tulou stories in Hakka mountain songs. Nearby, try making Tulou models using traditional rammed earth tools. 2. **Xunpu Women’s Flower Hairpin Experience** Quanzhou’s Xunpu Village hides a stunning "mobile garden." Find Auntie Huang in the village to style a Xunpu woman’s hair, decorated layer by layer with fresh flowers, silk flowers, and fishbone hairpins. Wear a large-hemmed shirt and take photos in front of the oyster shell houses. After 3 p.m., go to the pier to see returning fishing boats and flower-hairpin women carrying seafood, creating a vivid living picture. 3. **Puppet Show Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop** At the puppet troupe backstage in Tongzheng Alley, Quanzhou, intangible cultural heritage inheritors will teach you to operate 30-string marionettes. Try making the puppet pour tea or dance with a sword, and you’ll understand why this art was featured at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Nearby, visit the Minnan Ancient Residence Construction Skills Exhibition Hall. ### 3. A Culinary Map of Min Flavors 1. **Old-Fashioned Food Walking Route** At Xiamen’s Eight Markets, Zhong Lijun’s fried rice cakes must be eaten hot, paired with the neighboring You Sheng satay noodles; Fuzhou’s Erlongbo’s glutinous rice balls reveal a salty meat filling when bitten; Quanzhou’s Guozai Mianxianhu in Shuimen Alley is best with vinegar meat and seafood. Hidden tip: buy smoked goose wings at Wuyi Mountain’s Langu Smoked Goose Shop, a local favorite snack with Da Hong Pao tea. 2. **Minbei Mountain Wild Feast** In Wuyi Mountain’s Sangu Village, find a farmhouse restaurant that can make "Wengong Cai." Created by Zhu Xi, this dish has 21 layers of ingredients symbolizing "rising step by step." Pair it with stir-fried smoked pork with dragon claw mushrooms and Wufu lotus seed soup, followed by a pot of homemade yangmei wine for an authentic Wuyi Mountain feast. 3. **Minnan Sweet Flavor Chronicles** Quanzhou’s Bingzhengtang’s stone flower jelly is served with honey water, taro balls, and seasonal fruits; Xiamen’s Huang Yuantang pineapple cakes have fillings with fruit fibers; Putian’s "Yanpi" is actually wonton wrappers made by pounding meat. Special recommendation: Fuzhou’s Old Yaoxhou Street’s Meiya Bo peanut soup paired with taro paste is a must-try. ### 4. Off-the-Beaten-Path Secret Spots 1. **Zherong Mandarin Duck Grassland** A rare southern highland meadow of ten thousand acres, turning into green waves in June. Stay at the starry sky tent hotel, use a star pointer at night to identify the Milky Way, and watch the sea of clouds roll over the windmill cluster at dawn. The hiking route ends at a natural cold spring—remember to bring a towel for washing. 2. **Zhangzhou Volcano Island** More spectacular than Jeju Island’s basalt columnar joints, at low tide you can walk among the "Terracotta Warriors of the Sea" stone pillars. The Rainbow Mountain behind the Geological Museum is great for photos, but it’s even better to explore the heart-shaped dissolution caves on the coastal volcanic rocks. 3. **Youxi United Terraces** The morning cloud sea terraces here are more beautiful than Yuanyang’s, with a mirror-like broken surface during the April irrigation period and rolling rice waves in September. Stay at Yunshan Village homestay to experience rice planting, snail catching, and enjoy lunch cooked in bamboo tubes. ### 5. Local Life Proposals • After soaking in the golden soup hot springs at Fuzhou Hot Spring Museum, head to Shaoyuan No.1 Cultural and Creative Park for hand-brewed coffee • Participate in Hui’an women’s folk experience and learn the unique clothing culture of "feudal head, democratic belly" • Make willow leaf steamed dumplings by hand at Shaxian Snack Culture City and taste authentic "national snacks" • Listen to an impromptu concert in an old villa on Huaxin Road, Xiamen; the siphon coffee at 32how Café is worth trying **Travel Tips:** - Best season: September to November (avoid rainy season and enjoy comfortable temperatures) - Transportation tips: Self-driving is recommended in eastern Fujian; intercity buses are more convenient in southern Fujian - Dialect tip: Learning to say "duō xià" (thank you) will warm locals’ smiles even more The charm of Fujian lies in its preservation of millennia-old traditions while embracing modern life with ease. When you see oil-paper umbrella craftsmen live-streaming with smartphones on Guling Old Street, or discover Michelin-level wonton-making skills in a Shaxian snack shop, you’ll realize—the stories here are always more exciting than any guidebook. Bring your curiosity and set off, let the mountains and sea of Min land become the most vivid memories in your collection. [Camping][Camping][Camping][Camping][Camping][Camping][Camping]