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Exceptional Islands Near Shanghai For Your Next Weekend Escape

ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-11-29



When we think about islands to travel to for our next holiday trip, several well-known destinations usually come to mind: Phuket, Bali, Saipan, the Maldives, etc., but their popularity comes at a rather hefty cost. Luckily, we found a few other islands that are much closer to Shanghai and won’t require you to book an expensive flight.



Gouqi Island

Mini Greece/ The abandoned village of Houtouwan

Huaniao Island

Lighthouse/Beach that glows in the dark

Yushan Island

Sea fishing/Blue tear/Camping

Nanji Island

Shell sand/Cave hotel

Shitang Town of Wenling

Colorful village/Sunrise/Seafood


Gouqi Island, Zhoushan



Getting there: Buy one ticket at the Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Passenger Transport Center which will give you access to their coach and boat. Travel time is about 4 hours long.

Cost: High

Worth visiting for: The abandoned village of Houtouwan / nicknamed “Mini Greece”.


Gouqi Island is a photo haven and is composed of two separate islands: the Shengshan Island and the original Gouqi Island, both of which are connected by a bridge. Gouqi Island is the second largest island among the Shengsi Islands, which are part of the Zhoushan Archipelago and comprise 394 islands in total.



It’s a very romantic destination that offers beautiful natural sights - perfect for a relaxing stroll around with your loved one. Gouqi Island is also home to various monuments like the Shanhaiqiguan, the Mazu Temple, and the “dragon out of the water.” Needless to say, you won’t get bored!


Recommended accommodation #1: Wusuo Seaview Inn



Wusuo Seaview Inn is a beautiful white guesthouse that just recently opened on July 1st this year and that provides a clear view out onto Dawang Beach. Wusuo means “No need to search” in Chinese, which certainly fits its location: you can basically see it from anywhere around!



This guesthouse has been designed with Mediterranean inspiration. The white walls pair well with the plants set up around the inn and give way to a gorgeous view of the nearby sea on the south-facing terrace. Close your eyes and picture yourself breathing the fresh air deep into your lungs while listening to the soothing sound of the waves. You can also enjoy the delicious and fresh seafood served here to add to your particularly happy summer!



Wusuo Seaview Inn offers 12 rooms, all of which come with a seaside view and are equipped with BOSE sound systems and a projector for you to relax while watching a movie from the comfort of your warm bed. Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful time?


Address: No. 16 Wanghai Alley, Dawang Village, Gouqi, Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, near Dawang beach

Tel: 13732538301 (WeChat number is the same)

Reference price: Over RMB 688 per night


Recommended accommodation #2: Shansheng Xiaoshu Seaview Inn



This guesthouse is located near Dayuwan Bay and shows a color scheme that is so white, you could almost pretend that you’re somewhere near the Aegean Sea in Greece when sharing your photos on your WeChat Moments.



The decor and furniture of the rooms are also white, including their curtains and the bed which contrast well against the blue skies and the ocean. Oh, and there’s also a swimming pool at your disposal if you don’t feel like walking the extra mile to get to the nearby beach.



Address: No. 16 Wannian Alley, Shengshan Town, Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiqang Province

Tel: 18072662965 (WeChat number the same)

Reference price: Over RMB 488 per night


Huaniao Island, Zhoushan



Getting there: There are two ways you can go about it: (1) Take the subway from the Dishuihu Station on Line 16, then take the Yangshan special line bus to Shanjiawan Dock and get on a boat to Huaniao Island (you should book through the inn in advance), or (2) Buy one ticket at the Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Passenger Transport Center which will give you access to their coach and boat. Be sure to check the specific flight timetable available on their WeChat account “Shengsi Travelling” (嵊泗旅游)

Cost: Low

Worth visiting for: The lighthouse/ the beach that glows in the dark.



Huaniao Island has gained a lot of fame as the dating site of Guan Guan and Xie Tong, two lovebirds from the trending Chinese TV show “Ode to Joy”. After the show began to air, an increasing amount of couples chose to spend their romantic getaway on this small island.



It’s located on the northernmost part of the Shengsi Archipelago and is shaped like a seagull which fits well within the environment that it's surrounded by. The island is covered with beautiful flowers all around, thus earning the name Huaniao (“hua” means flower in Chinese). You may easily find yourself transported to the island of Santorini in Greece as many of the buildings on Huaniao Island are white with blue edges, similar to the Greek island.



What stands out most among the buildings in the region, however, is the beautiful lighthouse that also made an appearance in “Ode to Joy”. Other notable places to visit around the island include South Beach, a Buddhist finger stone, and an ancient village. And if you’re lucky enough, you might end up walking on a beach that glows as soon as dusk falls.


Recommended accommodation: Wuma Inn



Wuma can be translated to 5 km/h - a very slow-walking speed that conveys the innkeeper’s aspiration of creating a guest experience around the enjoyment of life and relaxation. 



The whole space is really well-furnished and counts 15 guest rooms, each of which comes with its own memorable scenery of drifting fishing boats and clean skies when looking out your window.


Address: Near Beidai Beach, Huaniao Village, Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province

Tel: 13655809908

Reference price: Over RMB 680 per night


Yushan Island, Ningbo




Getting there: There are two ways you can go about it, but you have to arrive at Shipu first and then take a boat over to the island. Then you can either (1) Take a coach to Shipu which is a 4.5-hour ride, or (2) take a 2-hour long high-speed rail to Ningbo and then take the bus to the South Bus Station. There are two kinds of boats: a fast one (RMB 220 for a 1.5-hour trip) and a slower one (RMB 160 for a 2.5-hour trip)

Cost: Low

Worth visiting for: Fishing/blue tear/camping


The Yushan Archipelago is known as the “first-rate Asian fishing ground” due to its location which intersects the northern and southern currents and serves as a great fishing spot if you’re interested in catching your own fish to eat for dinner later.



The island is located in Xiangshan County in Ningbo and is divided into two main sections: a north side that is only a mere 0.5-square kilometer wide and is usually the point of reference when talking about Yushan Island, and a south side. The seawater is so clear that you can see through more than 10 meters deep which is perfect for watching the different kinds of fish swimming around from the edge of the reef.



Whether you’re crossing the Xianren Bridge or standing on the reef, you will be amazed by the natural beauty of nature and the bright night skies to observe the Milky Way from the comfort of this incredible island. A mix of emotions, guaranteed!


Recommended accommodation: Camping!



Due to the lack of high-quality options for accommodation on the island, many choose to camp out and reconnect with nature which, if we're being honest, is always a solid decision. Camping equipment can also be rented and used on three different sites: (1) a large flat ground behind the fishing village, (2) a hill opposite of the Wuhu reef on the east side of the island, or (3) near the Xianren Bridge in the south.


Nanji Island, Wenzhou



Getting there: Take a 4.5-hour-long high-speed rail to Aojiang, then get on the 203 bus to the terminal station. Walk to the Aojiang dock and take a boat to the island (You need to book the boat ticket one day in advance.)

Cost: Low

Worth visiting for: Their shell sand/Cave hotel


Dashayue is the largest beach on Nanji Island and certainly worth a visit. It is home to soft shell-covered sand with a lovely breeze blowing along the East China Sea and taking you to Sanpanwei, the tipping point of the island from which you can relax while contemplating the blue horizon.



As you might expect, this island is another favorite among couples who come to admire the natural surroundings and an unexpectedly-odd stone that resembles a woman waiting for her husband who will never come back, standing upright on the seashore.


Recommended accommodation: Mitu Houlong Hotel



If you’ve heard of and are fond of the design of the famous Yunak Evleri cave hotel in Turkey, then the Mitu Houlong Hotel will not disappoint. If you haven’t, then look it up and prepare to be amazed by this similarly-designed hotel on Nanji Island.



The hotel offers 23 guest rooms, each of which provides mind-blowing views of the nearby sea that span from 180 to 270 degrees wide. Unwind with a warm bath and enjoy a good night’s sleep in your comfortable bed within this cave environment after a tiring trip.



Address: Houlong village, Nanji Island, Pingyang County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province

Tel: 0577-63688558 or WeChat: 17858039796

Reference price: Over RMB 1744 per night


Shitang Town of Wenling



Getting there: Take a 3.5h high-speed rail to Wenling at Hongqiao Railway Station, turn right at the exit and walk to Wenling Coach Station, then take a 1-hour coach to Shitang Town

Cost: Medium

Worth visiting for: Colorful village/sunrise/seafood


You may find it strange to see the name of a city on a list of islands, but fear not as the Shitang Town of Wenling is both a village AND an island in itself, which adds to the beautiful characteristic of this place.



Nicknamed as the eastern “Cape of Good Hope”, the Shitang Town of Wenling is known for being brightly illuminated by the first rays of sunlight in the twenty-first century on Mainland China.



What differentiates this place from others in the region are the ancient stone buildings that resemble those in Europe from the Middle Ages (think Notre Dame de Paris) as well as colorful buildings similar to the Cinque Terre in Italy. Naturally, it goes without saying that this island is very photogenic.


Recommended accommodation #1: Haishan Shenghuo Resort



The owner of this establishment is a local and has transformed the abandoned ancient stone houses into a fine resort for tourists to unwind while preserving the lovely age-old etched appearance.



Each of the five villas has its own design and bears the name of a marine animal: beluga, dolphin, blue whale, seabird and the great white shark. You can either book a single room or opt to rent an entire villa to yourselves.



More than half of the wood used to design the guest rooms has been taken from abandoned boats docked in the region to further express the owner’s true love and appreciation for the surrounding nature, which you’ll definitely feel when visiting the site.


Address: Wudai Alley, seaside greenway, Shitang Town, Wenling City, Zhejiqang Province

Tel: 0576-86296666

Reference price: Over RMB 880 per night


Recommended accommodation #2: Qiheng Inn



The Qiheng Inn counts three stone houses with walls made of ivy that stand at the top of the Lan mountain on the south side of a golden beach - by far the most beautiful piece of land on this bay and thus creating an unforgettable guest experience.



This establishment comes with a large terrace from which you can watch the ebb and flow of the sunrise (or sunset). This place is so beautiful, rumor has it that proposing to your loved one here has a high success rate - how could one possibly say no with such wonderful sights around!?



More than 30 stone houses have been designed to follow a particular genre, from Mediterranean and Nordic to Southeast Asian and Chinese, there’s quite a lot to look forward to here. You will also find more modern and minimal designs that may cater to your own expectations.


Address: near Jinshatan, Lantou, Cheguan Village, Shitang Town, Wenling City, Zhejiqang Province

Tel: 0576-86780576

Reference price: Over RMB 780 per night


There are many lesser-known but no less beautiful islands near Shanghai. Start planning your next weekend getaway now!




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