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December 16, 2015

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

For relaxation, sandy islands within reach

By Wu Huixin | December 16, 2015, Wednesday | Print Edition

TO escape Shanghai’s chilly winter temperatures, tropical islands are one of the most popular destinations for travelers. But the sandy beaches and hot climate of places like Southeast Asia are far away, and a long-distance flight with accommodation quickly add up to a pricey getaway.

But if you’re trying to find an escape on a budget, look no further than to the islands off the coast of Zhejiang Province. Weekend trips provide a good chance to explore scenic spots far away from big tourist crowds, and come without a jet lag or high expenses — fewer worries that will make your getaway all the more enjoyable and relaxing.

Shanghai Daily delved into the islands and reefs and compiled Zhejiang’s best destinations for a two-day trip away from the city, all inclusive of plenty of sandy beaches, or take a romantic walk toward the sunset.

Nanji Island, Pingyang

As the largest island of Nanji Archipelago, Nanji Island is 50 kilometers away from the coast and counts just a little more than 2,000 residents. Thanks to its long history and the abundance of places perfect for tourists, it was listed as a national natural oceanic protection area in the mid 1990s.

Early during the Ming Dynasty (1638-1644), the royal court established a military defense unit on the island. Famous patriot and statesman Zheng Chenggong fought off enemies on the island during the late Ming Dynasty, which led locals to erect a temple on a mountaintop in order to commemorate his bravery.

However, the island was soon abandoned and residents were expelled during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when the imperial court forbade marine trade and fishing to isolate the anti-Qing military power in Taiwan Island.

Later, during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), Japanese invaders occupied the island until the Chinese army liberated it in the early 1950s. Afterwards, the island was inhabited again by fishermen and their families.

Today, the island is popular with tourists thanks to its long beaches featuring fine sand and rich fish resources. Two ocean currents meet in this area, which results in a large number of seaweed and other aquatic creatures that has earned the island a World Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO.

The local government has tried to develop the island’s tourism industry and built restaurants, guesthouses and other infrastructure.

 

How to get there: Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway — Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Zhuji-Yongjia Expressway — Shenyang-Haikou Expressway — ferryboat

Yushan Archipelago, Ningbo

A total of 13 islands and 41 reefs form this beautiful archipelago with more than 20 kilometers of coast line. Its varied fishery resources attract fishing enthusiasts from across the country, particularly between October and December.

The highlight of the archipelago is a lighthouse built during the late Qing Dynasty. Historical records show that, before the lighthouse was built, two large ships capsized nearby, ending in high casualties. At the time, the royal court decided to spend 2,500 kilograms of silver to build the lighthouse in cooperation with a French company.

However, the lighthouse was destroyed during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The present-day lighthouse was built on the original site but is powered by solar energy. Naturally, it guides ships and boats, but for tourists, the lighthouse is also the perfect platform to watch the sunrise.

Another highlight on the archipelago is a natural stone bridge, which was formed by thousands of years of sea water erosion. It is 20 meters high and 30 meters wide and hides a spectacular 200-square-meter cave underneath.

Besides the lighthouse and the stone bridge, an array of reefs is also popular with tourists. Since all of the five reefs’ name include the Chinese character “虎” (which means tiger), they are commonly referred to as Five Tiger Reefs. These reefs resemble a dorsal fin when the tide ebbs, but appear to look more like scattered pearls when the tide rises.

 

How to get there: Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway — Shenyang-Haikou Expressway — Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou Expressway — 215 Provincial Road — 216 Provincial Road — ferryboat

Dachen Island, Taizhou

Today’s Dachen is a prosperous fishery town in southern Zhejiang Province. But just 60 years ago, it was the scene of historic turmoil when more than 17,000 island residents went to Taiwan along with the Kuomintang. Today, some of these old military relics are still retained on the island and accessible for tourists.

After the original residents abandoned the island, the new government reclaimed it and deployed hundreds of volunteers to open up large tracts of wasteland. Some of them decided to stay and settled on the island.

Today, Dachen is a national top-level fishery harbor with good infrastructure for tourists. It is dubbed “oceanic forest park” due to its forest cover.

 

How to get there: Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway — Changzhou-Taizhou Expressway — Shenyang-Haikou Expressway — Taizhou-Jinhua Expressway— 225 Provincial Road — Songhang Road — ferryboat

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