Zhujiajian Scenic Area in Zhoushan

Zhujiajian Island, Zhoushan: A Seaside Escape You Can Drive To
In the southeastern part of the Zhoushan Archipelago lies an island that faces the famous Mount Putuo (普陀山) across the sea—but unlike Mount Putuo, you do not need to take a boat to get there.

Simply drive across the bridge and you are there.

This is Zhujiajian Island (朱家尖), the fifth-largest island in the Zhoushan Archipelago. Covering around 72 square kilometers, it is home to the spectacular 6,300-meter-long “Ten-Mile Golden Sands” as well as Daqingshan, whose scenic coastal road is often regarded by road-trip enthusiasts as one of the best seaside driving routes in the Yangtze River Delta.

Zhujiajian is often overshadowed by the fame of Mount Putuo. But travelers who know Zhoushan understand the difference:

Mount Putuo is for pilgrimage. Zhujiajian is for a holiday by the sea.

Here you will find soft golden beaches, rare black-stone shores, intensely blue East China Sea waters and a spectacular sand-sculpture festival that returns every summer.

There is no need to pay a large entrance fee to enjoy its greatest attractions. The island simply lays out its most precious gifts—sand, sea breeze, sunsets and freshly landed seafood—for visitors to enjoy.

Ten-Mile Golden Sands: A Beach Holiday Without Leaving the Mainland

The defining attraction of Zhujiajian is Ten-Mile Golden Sands (十里金沙), a chain of nine beaches stretching for several kilometers along the coast.

Nansha Beach: Home of the Famous Sand Sculptures

Nansha Beach (南沙) is the largest and liveliest of the beaches.

The sand is remarkably fine and soft, creating an almost powder-like feeling beneath your feet. The Sand Sculpture Art Plaza is located here, making Nansha the center of Zhujiajian’s famous summer sand-sculpture culture.

The China Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Festival has been held here for more than two decades, with the 2025 edition marking its 26th event.

Every year, enormous sculptures transform the beach into a temporary open-air gallery, ranging from fairy-tale castles to ocean-themed legends.

The exhibition area is free to access, and the giant sculptures provide plenty of opportunities for photography.

For a quieter experience, walk toward the right-hand side of the beach, where the crowds thin out and the water is often clearer.

Dongsha Beach: A Quieter Sunrise Spot

Dongsha Beach (东沙) has a more peaceful atmosphere.

The sand is similarly soft, but there are generally fewer people than at Nansha, making it a good place to watch the sunrise.

Early in the morning, the sea glows softly under the first light of day, while only a few people explore the shoreline.

During the peak summer season, having such a wide stretch of beach seemingly to yourself can feel like a real luxury.

Lisha Beach: Zhujiajian’s “Glass Sea”

If you want to escape the crowds, head into Daqingshan Scenic Area and look for Lisha Beach (里沙海滩).

This crescent-shaped beach is surrounded by mountains, creating a secluded coastal landscape.

On clear days, the water takes on an almost transparent blue-green color, making Lisha one of the places in Zhujiajian that comes closest to the dream of a “glass sea.”

Daqingshan: A Coastal Road Trip Through Mountains and Sea

The other major attraction of Zhujiajian is Daqingshan National Park (大青山国家公园).

Daqingshan is more than just a mountain. One of its biggest attractions is the scenic coastal road winding through the mountains and around the island.

After purchasing an entrance ticket, private cars can drive directly into the scenic area.

The road climbs gradually through the hills, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Several viewpoints are positioned along the route, and almost every major bend offers a reason to stop.

Qingshan Peak: The Best Panoramic View

Qingshan Peak (青山峰) is the highest point in the area.

Once you reach the summit, the landscape opens dramatically.

Below are sweeping beaches, rocky coves and deep-blue water. In the distance, you can see the silhouette of Mount Putuo together with numerous small islands scattered across the sea.

On sunny days, the water appears brilliantly blue. Under cloudy skies, it becomes a deeper and more subdued blue-gray.

Zhujiajian almost seems to have a different expression depending on the weather.

There are also broad grassy areas and campsites in the mountains, making it easy to bring a picnic mat, find a spot facing the ocean and spend an entire afternoon doing nothing but enjoying the view.

Wushitang and Baishan: Two of Zhujiajian’s Most Photogenic Corners

Zhujiajian is not all about golden beaches.

Wushitang: A Rare Black-Stone Beach

Wushitang (乌石塘) is a striking beach covered with smooth black pebbles, a landscape rarely seen along China’s coastline.

Thousands of years of waves have polished the stones into rounded, dark surfaces.

When the sun is out and the sea turns blue, the combination of black stones and blue water can resemble Iceland’s famous black beaches.

Under cloudy skies, the landscape becomes more dramatic and atmospheric.

The red-roofed buildings on the hillside provide an excellent contrast against the dark stones and blue sea.

Sit on the black pebbles with the red buildings behind you, and the scene can almost feel like a miniature Qingdao postcard.

Baishan: A Natural Rock Maze

Baishan (白山) offers a completely different experience.

The scenic area is characterized by its unusual combination of peaks, cliffs, rocks, caves and narrow crevices.

Walking through the formations feels like a small-scale geological adventure, with narrow passages and unusual rock shapes appearing around every corner.

The most spectacular feature is the enormous Guanyin cliff painting, a 69-meter-high image of Guanyin painted across a cliff face rising approximately 114.9 meters.

Often nicknamed the “Mogao Caves by the Sea,” it creates an impressive combination of Buddhist imagery, dramatic cliffs and ocean scenery.

From the upper viewpoints, visitors can enjoy wide views over the blue sea.

Guanyin Dharma Realm and Wugongzhi Wharf

Zhujiajian also offers cultural attractions beyond its beaches and mountains.

Guanyin Dharma Realm

Located at the foot of Baishan, Guanyin Dharma Realm (观音法界) is a large architectural complex dedicated to Guanyin culture.

Its monumental architecture and elaborate interior exhibitions create a powerful visual experience.

Even visitors who are not Buddhist may appreciate the solemn atmosphere and impressive scale of the complex.

Wugongzhi Wharf: The Gateway to Mount Putuo

Wugongzhi Wharf (蜈蚣峙码头) is the main gateway for visitors traveling from Zhujiajian to Mount Putuo.

But the wharf itself has become a photo attraction.

Its distinctive architecture resembles the Potala Palace, earning it the nickname “Potala Palace on the Sea.”

The square in front of the terminal offers an easy opportunity to take recognizable Zhoushan photos before boarding the ferry.

Zhujiajian Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

• May–June: Pleasant temperatures, refreshing sea breezes and relatively comfortable conditions before the peak summer crowds.
• July–August: Best for swimming and beach activities, but also the busiest period, with accommodation prices rising significantly.
• September–October: Fewer tourists, pleasant autumn weather and some of the year’s best seafood. For many travelers, this is the most comfortable period overall.
• Winter: Stronger coastal winds make swimming less appealing, but the season can be excellent for scenic drives along the coastal roads.

Opening Hours

During the high season, from approximately May to October, some attractions may remain open until around 20:00, while opening hours are generally shorter in the low season.

Daqingshan Scenic Area generally operates around 7:30–17:30, although schedules may vary seasonally.

How to Get to Zhujiajian

One of Zhujiajian’s biggest advantages is simple:

You do not need to take a boat to get there.

Zhujiajian is connected to mainland Zhoushan by bridges and can be reached directly by road.

From Ningbo Railway Station, take a direct bus from Ningbo South Bus Station toward Zhujiajian.

Alternatively, you can travel by high-speed train to Zhoushan Railway Station and then take a taxi.

For road trips, simply cross the Zhoushan Cross-Sea Bridge and drive directly onto the island.

Once there, the island’s roads are generally convenient, and the Daqingshan coastal loop is one of the highlights of a self-driving trip.

Visitors without a car can use buses or ride-hailing services, but the roads inside Daqingshan Scenic Area are long and walking the entire route can be tiring.

Self-driving or hiring a private car is the best way to experience Daqingshan.

Where to Stay

If your priority is beach access, the Nansha area has the largest selection of sea-view guesthouses.

Many offer balconies or terraces overlooking the coast, and some are within walking distance of the beach.

For travelers on a budget, hotels around Zhujiajian Town offer good value and have supermarkets, markets and other everyday facilities nearby.

Staying in town can also be convenient if you plan to buy fresh seafood and prepare your own meals.

What to Eat in Zhujiajian

Fresh seafood is the heart of Zhujiajian’s food culture.

Popular local dishes include:

• Scallion-oil steamed swimming crab
• Salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp
• Steamed yellow croaker
• Stir-fried seafood rice noodles
• Fresh local shellfish and seasonal fish

For breakfast, try a bowl of seafood noodles or a crispy radish-and-shrimp pancake, a simple way to experience the everyday flavors of Zhoushan.

When ordering seafood, always confirm the current market price before ordering, especially during the summer high season.

Explore More Around Zhujiajian

Zhujiajian forms one of the three key destinations of the “Putuo Golden Triangle” together with Mount Putuo and nearby areas.

Mount Putuo

Mount Putuo lies directly across the water.

From Wugongzhi Wharf, the ferry takes approximately 15 minutes to reach Mount Putuo.

One of the smartest ways to combine the two destinations is to stay on Zhujiajian, visit Mount Putuo during the day, then return to Zhujiajian in the evening for a seafood dinner and sunset by the sea.

This gives you the best of both worlds: a day of Buddhist pilgrimage and an evening of relaxed seaside living.

Dongsha and Zhangzhou Bay

If you have more time, return to Dongsha Beach for sunrise or take a scenic drive along the fishing-village route around Zhangzhou Bay (樟州湾).

The latter offers a quieter side of Zhujiajian, where traditional fishing-port life still feels close to the everyday rhythm of the island.

Zhujiajian: A Seaside Holiday Without the Ferry

From the lively atmosphere of the 26-year-old sand sculpture festival at Nansha to the rugged black-stone beach at Wushitang; from the freedom of driving around Daqingshan to the almost transparent blue-green waters of Lisha Beach, Zhujiajian brings together golden sands, black stones, coastal roads and fishing-village life on a single 72-square-kilometer island.

And perhaps its greatest advantage is its accessibility.

You do not need to board a ferry. You simply drive across the bridge and the sea is already waiting.

Zhujiajian does not demand a grand entrance ticket to enjoy its most beautiful moments. Instead, it generously puts its best scenery in front of every traveler who arrives: blue water, open beaches, sea breeze, sunsets and seafood fresh from the boats.

If you are looking for a place in the Yangtze River Delta that genuinely feels like an island holiday, come to Zhujiajian Island in Zhoushan.

Here, the sea is blue, the road follows the coastline, and you can drive with mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and a golden beach waiting somewhere around the next bend.