Dongfushan Island, located at the easternmost point of the Zhoushan Archipelago, offers a more enchanting mountain and sea scenery and a purer traditional fishing village charm compared to the bustling Miaozihu Island. It is also an excellent spot for watching the sunrise. Though Dongfushan Island is not large, due to limited ferry schedules, at least one night’s stay on the island is necessary. Typically, visitors arrive at Dongfushan Island at noon, settle into their accommodations, have lunch, and then begin their light-packed exploration.
The next morning, they rise early to witness the sunrise from the easternmost part of their homeland and, after a brief rest, continue their journey to Miaozihu Island via ferry before returning. The journey to Dongfushan Island is somewhat winding but well worth the trip. You must embark from Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf to Miaozihu Island and then transfer to a smaller boat to Dongfushan Island (the small boat ride takes about half an hour and costs 30 yuan per person). Along the way, the scenery changes noticeably; the sea water transitions from turbid to blue, and it is fascinating to observe the distinct boundary line of the sea water color. Upon disembarking, many shops at the wharf greet and solicit customers. Most guesthouses on the island are within a 5-15 minute walk from the wharf. It is recommended to stay in a guesthouse close to the sea and on higher ground for better views; from the room, one can see the sea. Near the wharf, the Sunshine Observation Deck is an excellent place to watch the sunrise. The sunrise over Dongfushan Island, accompanied by the lighthouse on the reef, with Xifushan (the Buddha lying at sea) in the distance, and Qingbang Island and Miaozihu Island illuminated by lights nearby, presents a spectacular view. There is a camping area near the observation point where you can bring your own tent for an overnight stay. Currently, there is no public transportation on the island. Apart from a winding cement road leading to the mountaintop military base, most paths are stone steps, so exploring Dongfushan Island is primarily on foot. Of course, you can indulge in seafood, stroll through fishing villages, and watch the waves crash against the shore, but Dongfushan Island is indeed an excellent place for a hiking tour around the island. It is a ‘stone island,’ with a plethora of abandoned stone houses visible everywhere, forming a unique scenery besides the sea views. Hiking can be roughly divided into two routes. One route is to climb along the cement road uphill, passing a small pavilion in about 40 minutes, and then continuing upwards for about 5 minutes until you reach the Baiyun Stone Cave. Choose the stone path next to it and descend for about 5 minutes to Baiyun Palace. Continue along the stone path for half an hour, and you will arrive at the eastern end of the island, Xiangbifeng, where the view is spectacular. The entire route takes about 4 hours round trip. The other route is more relaxed, going north along the sea from the small path in front of Yunwu Villa, which takes about half an hour to reach the Datuwan Stone House Group. Continue walking for about 15 minutes, and you will arrive at Baodao Cave, locally known as ‘Hiding Soldier Cave,’ with beautiful scenery nearby. This route takes about 2 hours round trip. Sea fishing is also one of the pleasures of visiting Dongfushan Island, with most amateur fishermen renting fishing rods to fish from the wharf and on the reef.For fishing enthusiasts, they charter a boat and go to sea. Hiring a small boat to the Four Sisters Islands costs two to three thousand yuan. However, catching seafood is not as easy as imagined. If anglers without relevant knowledge, it’s better to just eat seafood at fishermen’s homes. If there are some catches, you can pay some processing fees and ask stores to help process. If you can’t fish at all, you can go to the seaside to pick up snails and catch crabs when the sea ebbs in the evening, which is also quite interesting.
Opening hours: Open all year round and all day.
Must-see tips:
1. There are two beaches on Dongfushan Island. One is at the entrance of Yunwu Mountain Villa, and the other is in Dashuwan. But they are both gravel beaches and not suitable for swimming.
