Dongshan Island is stunning, but I honestly don’t recommend going in July because............
Dongshan Island: The “Wind-moving Rock and Glass Sea” of the Minnan Coast — 2 Days 1 Night Essential Guide
Keywords: Wind-moving Rock, Nanmen Bay, Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road, Seafood Delicacies
Budget: 600-1000 RMB per person (including transportation + accommodation + activities, slightly higher in peak season)
Best Season: April to October (clear seawater, great for water activities), September to November (seafood at its plumpest)
1. Must-visit Highlights: The 3 Core Experiences of the Mountain-Sea Stone City
1. Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area: See the “Dancing Rock” and the 600-year-old ancient city
Highlights: Dongshan Island’s “landmark,” a 200-ton giant rock with a contact area of only about ten square centimeters at the bottom, moves with the wind but has stood firm for a thousand years, known as the “World’s Greatest Wonder Rock”;
Inside the scenic area are the Guandi Temple (the largest in Minnan, very popular for incense offerings), and Tongshan Ancient City (Ming Dynasty anti-pirate city walls, climb the walls for sea views);
You can take a boat (15 RMB/person) to Dongmen Islet (filming location of the movie "The Left Ear," with beaches and reefs).
Activities: Push the Wind-moving Rock (a light push lets you feel the “rock move”), touch the Guandi statue to pray;
Stroll along the Tongshan Ancient City walls and watch the waves crash against the reefs.
Tips: Entrance fee 45 RMB/person (half price for students), no shade inside the scenic area, bring a sun umbrella and water;
No shops on Dongmen Islet, bring your own snacks.
2. Nanmen Bay: The “Blue Romance” of the movie "The Left Ear"
Highlights: Half is deep blue sea, half is colorful houses, known as the “Minnan version of Santorini”;
Core activities: Walk along the sea dike, take photos of the colorful houses, watch the sunset on the beach, eat seafood at the night market.
Activities: Wear a white dress and walk along the sea dike for fresh photos;
Explore the colorful alleys to find filming spots from "The Left Ear," chat with local grandmas;
Arrive at the beach before 6:00 PM to watch the sunset dye the sky red.
Tips: Free entry, beach chairs require a fee (20-30 RMB/hour);
Night market recommendation: “Little Wife Sweet Soup” (8 RMB/bowl, a great summer cooler).
3. Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road: Ride an electric scooter to see “Mountains and Sea Embrace”
Highlights: Fujian’s most beautiful island loop road, with lush green mountains on one side and blue sea on the other, known as the “Fujian version of Highway 1”;
Core activities: Rent an electric scooter, shoot “mountain-sea road” photos, climb Sufeng Mountain for panoramic views.
Activities: Rent an electric scooter (50 RMB/day), stop at the “blue railing section” for photos;
Ride to the top of the mountain to see the full view of Dongshan Island and shoot “mountains and sea in one frame” videos.
Tips: Free to enter, electric scooters can be rented at Nanmen Bay or Tongling Town;
The road has many bends and steep slopes, control your speed, bring sunscreen and water.
2. In-depth Experience: Dongshan Island’s “Art and Everyday Life”
1. Early Morning: Jinluan Bay’s “Mirror Beach and Sunrise”
Highlights: At low tide, the beach looks like a mirror reflecting the sky, known as the “Mirror of the Sky.”
Activities: Arrive before 5:30 AM to watch the sun rise above the sea, dyeing the mirror-like beach red;
Bring a tripod to shoot low-angle reflections overlapping with the sky.
Tips: Free entry, beach chairs require a fee;
Sunrise is around 5:40 AM in summer and 6:30 AM in winter, check the time in advance.
2. Afternoon: Dingjie’s “Minnan Ancient Houses and Artistic Shops”
Highlights: A 600-year-old historic district preserving many Minnan red brick ancient houses, known as the “Living Minnan Architecture Museum.”
Activities: Explore alleys to see red brick walls and swallowtail ridges, take vintage-style photos;
Visit “Island Language” (filming location of “We Are Here”) for coffee and reading;
Try the mango shaved ice at “Shanhe Yue” (25 RMB/serving).
Tips: Free entry, some shops require purchase to enter;
Do not touch artifacts inside ancient houses, no flash photography.
3. Evening: Maluan Bay’s “Sunset and Sailboats”
Highlights: Fine sandy beach, clear water, summer water sports like sailing and jet skiing.
Activities: Arrive before 6:00 PM to watch the sunset dye the sailboats red;
Try sailing (80 RMB/person for 15 minutes) to feel the sea breeze and waves;
Eat at seafood stalls, recommended “Wanglai Seafood Stall” (60-80 RMB per person, the mantis shrimp and crabs are the plumpest).
Tips: Free entry, sailing requires an extra fee;
You can bargain at seafood stalls, ask prices before ordering.
3. Dongshan Island Cuisine: The “Taste of Mountains and Sea”
1. Must-try Classics
Small squid (68-98 RMB/serving): Blanched and dipped in soy sauce, fresh, sweet, and tender;
Cat Congee (15-20 RMB/bowl): Seafood, pork, and rice cooked into a rich and fragrant porridge;
Xiao Mi (2-3 RMB/each): Glutinous rice, pork, and shrimp wrapped and steamed, dipped in sweet chili sauce.
2. Hidden Snacks
Lotus Flower Bun (3-5 RMB/each): Flour buns filled with red bean paste or winter melon sugar, shaped like lotus flowers, sweet but not greasy;
Grilled Pork Tendon Skewers (10-15 RMB/skewer): Pork marinated with fish sauce and charcoal-grilled, crispy outside and tender inside;
Wheat Pancake (8-10 RMB/serving): Wheat flour and eggs cooked into a pancake, stuffed with red bean paste or pork floss.
4. Accommodation Recommendations
Seaside Resort: A luxury tent camp in Dongshan Island (1500-3000 RMB/night), stay in a tent with sea views;
Artistic and Fresh Style: Dongshan Island Island Language Apartment (300-600 RMB/night), near Nanmen Bay, with strong design sense;
Cost-effective: Tongling Town homestays (150-300 RMB/night), near Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area and Dingjie;
Hostel: Dongshan Island International Youth Hostel (50-100 RMB/bed), near Nanmen Bay, suitable for backpackers.
5. Classic 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary
Day 1: The Interweaving of Mountains, Sea, and Ancient Houses
Morning: Arrive at Dongshan Island, check in at a Nanmen Bay guesthouse;
Afternoon: Ride the Sufeng Mountain Island Loop Road, shoot “mountain-sea road” photos;
Evening: Eat seafood and drink sweet soup at Nanmen Bay night market, enjoy the sea dike night view.
Day 2: Farewell to Culture and Cuisine
Morning: Push the rock at Wind-moving Rock Scenic Area, climb Tongshan Ancient City, take a boat to Dongmen Islet;
Afternoon: Explore ancient houses in Dingjie, have coffee at “Island Language,” buy Xiao Mi and Lotus Flower Buns as souvenirs;
Evening: Return trip.
The wind of Dongshan Island is the gentleness of Nanmen Bay;
The water of Dongshan Island is the mirror of Jinluan Bay;
Here, there’s no need to rush, just sit on the sea dike,
Watch the waves, listen to the fishermen’s songs, and let the legend of the Wind-moving Rock
Become the most healing footnote in your memory.