Fresh sea air, seafood and saxophones
By Yang Jian |
June 18, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Shenjiamen area of Zhoushan has long been a popular destination for foodies.
The small fishing town near Putuo Mountain is located near the mouth of the Yangtze River and boasts 360 different types of fish, 60 types of shrimp and 100 crustacean species among its aquatic resources.
The fresh sea air stirs the appetite for seafood, and the sight of small fishing boats docked among bobbing waves in port lends a scenic atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.
The harbor is especially tantalizing at night, when some 68 seafood vendors cook the fruits of the sea in orange-tented stalls until the early morning hours. Fully licensed, the vendors served daily catches of sea fish, crab, shrimp and shellfish. Among the local specialties is the long red, an eel-like, duck-billed fish.
"The stalls were renovated by the end of 2010, with new tents and ventilation systems, and unified electronic screens to show prices to visitors," said Ni Ligang, a press official with the Putuo District government, which administrates Shenjiamen.
"We have received fewer complaints from customers now because the environment has been improved a lot," said Yang Yue, 48, the owner of a stall that has been operating for 11 years.
Yang's stall specializes in braised pomfret. He said he earns about 8,000 yuan (US$1,256) most nights. His annual rent for the stall space is 100,000 yuan.
Shenjiamen's seafood is cooked Ningbo-style, a saltier, less oily method than Shanghai-style cuisine. Locals prefer to wash their seafood down with a local plum spirit or beer.
Guitarists and other musicians, including one man playing an antique saxophone, stroll along the food area to entertain diners. The musicians have to perform at an annual competition to obtain their licenses.
Shang Zhijun, 62, is among them. A retired music teacher from a local school, he organized a little band that plays every night. He charges 20 yuan for a song, though the band sometimes performs for free.
"I like the atmosphere more than the money," he said.
Stomachs full, visitors can also drive to nearby Mount Daqing, which is the highest place on the island at 378.6 meters. In clear weather, it offers a panoramic sea view. But cloud and mist often prevail as you drive to the summit lookout.
Last year, Zhoushan hosted 24.6 million visitors, who spent an estimated 23.5 billion yuan, said Yang Hongbo, director of planning and development for the Zhoushan Tourism Committee. By 2015, the city is expecting tourist numbers to increase to 35 million. Q&A:
Shanghai Daily: What have you achieved during the past decade?
Zhou Yunliang: My biggest pride is certainly the new remote monitoring and analysis system I developed that has increased the efficiency of Customs. I have worked at Customs for 24 years and have witnessed the transformation of Zhoushan from a traditional fishing town to an international logistics island.
SD: What's the biggest mistake most businesses in your area make in looking at the future?
Zhou: For decades, aquatic products have always been the major export of Zhoushan. The islanders needed to diversify and take advantage of the city's natural harbors for international trade earlier.
SD: What would you most like to see in China's development planning?
Zhou: Zhoushan has been lucky enough to be selected as the fourth "new area" following Shanghai's Pudong, Tianjin's Binhai and Chongqing's Liangjiang. What we should do now is to develop quickly.
SD: What's your biggest concern?
Zhou: Export and import volumes are expected to keep rising in Zhoushan. I am afraid the existing number of Customs officials might be inadequate to handle the load.
Zhoushan is the only city in China that consists entirely of islands – 1,390 to be precise. It is about a six-hour drive from Shanghai, though water transport will get you there faster.
The city grew up as a fishing port, but now its deep natural harbor is being transformed into a modern transport center for cargo ships.
The city is a favorite of tourists. The annual Seafood Festival from July to October attracts visitors from China and abroad.
The area was first inhabited during the Neolithic period some 6,000 years ago. In more modern times, it was once a haven for pirates.
1,440
square kilometers of land
20,800
Square kilometers of water
1 million
registered population
How to get Shenjiamen:
Long distance bus from Shanghai to Shenjiamen is available at Shanghai's Nanpu Bridge Transport Hub. The drive takes about 5 hours. A drive along the A2 Expressway takes about 3 hours.
The small fishing town near Putuo Mountain is located near the mouth of the Yangtze River and boasts 360 different types of fish, 60 types of shrimp and 100 crustacean species among its aquatic resources.
The fresh sea air stirs the appetite for seafood, and the sight of small fishing boats docked among bobbing waves in port lends a scenic atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.
The harbor is especially tantalizing at night, when some 68 seafood vendors cook the fruits of the sea in orange-tented stalls until the early morning hours. Fully licensed, the vendors served daily catches of sea fish, crab, shrimp and shellfish. Among the local specialties is the long red, an eel-like, duck-billed fish.
"The stalls were renovated by the end of 2010, with new tents and ventilation systems, and unified electronic screens to show prices to visitors," said Ni Ligang, a press official with the Putuo District government, which administrates Shenjiamen.
"We have received fewer complaints from customers now because the environment has been improved a lot," said Yang Yue, 48, the owner of a stall that has been operating for 11 years.
Yang's stall specializes in braised pomfret. He said he earns about 8,000 yuan (US$1,256) most nights. His annual rent for the stall space is 100,000 yuan.
Shenjiamen's seafood is cooked Ningbo-style, a saltier, less oily method than Shanghai-style cuisine. Locals prefer to wash their seafood down with a local plum spirit or beer.
Guitarists and other musicians, including one man playing an antique saxophone, stroll along the food area to entertain diners. The musicians have to perform at an annual competition to obtain their licenses.
Shang Zhijun, 62, is among them. A retired music teacher from a local school, he organized a little band that plays every night. He charges 20 yuan for a song, though the band sometimes performs for free.
"I like the atmosphere more than the money," he said.
Stomachs full, visitors can also drive to nearby Mount Daqing, which is the highest place on the island at 378.6 meters. In clear weather, it offers a panoramic sea view. But cloud and mist often prevail as you drive to the summit lookout.
Last year, Zhoushan hosted 24.6 million visitors, who spent an estimated 23.5 billion yuan, said Yang Hongbo, director of planning and development for the Zhoushan Tourism Committee. By 2015, the city is expecting tourist numbers to increase to 35 million. Q&A:
Shanghai Daily: What have you achieved during the past decade?
Zhou Yunliang: My biggest pride is certainly the new remote monitoring and analysis system I developed that has increased the efficiency of Customs. I have worked at Customs for 24 years and have witnessed the transformation of Zhoushan from a traditional fishing town to an international logistics island.
SD: What's the biggest mistake most businesses in your area make in looking at the future?
Zhou: For decades, aquatic products have always been the major export of Zhoushan. The islanders needed to diversify and take advantage of the city's natural harbors for international trade earlier.
SD: What would you most like to see in China's development planning?
Zhou: Zhoushan has been lucky enough to be selected as the fourth "new area" following Shanghai's Pudong, Tianjin's Binhai and Chongqing's Liangjiang. What we should do now is to develop quickly.
SD: What's your biggest concern?
Zhou: Export and import volumes are expected to keep rising in Zhoushan. I am afraid the existing number of Customs officials might be inadequate to handle the load.
Zhoushan is the only city in China that consists entirely of islands – 1,390 to be precise. It is about a six-hour drive from Shanghai, though water transport will get you there faster.
The city grew up as a fishing port, but now its deep natural harbor is being transformed into a modern transport center for cargo ships.
The city is a favorite of tourists. The annual Seafood Festival from July to October attracts visitors from China and abroad.
The area was first inhabited during the Neolithic period some 6,000 years ago. In more modern times, it was once a haven for pirates.
1,440
square kilometers of land
20,800
Square kilometers of water
1 million
registered population
How to get Shenjiamen:
Long distance bus from Shanghai to Shenjiamen is available at Shanghai's Nanpu Bridge Transport Hub. The drive takes about 5 hours. A drive along the A2 Expressway takes about 3 hours.
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