>
Independent China travel guide & tour portal · tourschinatravel.comEmail [email protected] · WhatsApp +86 138 0000 0000
The fishing boats of the Shenjiamen harbour at Zhoushan, Zhejiang
Home › Travel Guides › Zhoushan

Zhoushan Travel Guide — the thousand-island city, Shenjiamen harbour, Zhujiajian and the sea harvest

Zhoushan - the 'city of a thousand islands' - spreads 1,390 islands across the mouth of Hangzhou Bay, one fifth of China's total, with the great port of Shenjiamen, the sand beaches of Zhujiajian, the sea shrine of Putuoshan and the historic town of Dinghai on the main island. The seafood of the Shenjiamen night stalls, the 6 million annual visitors and the ferries to Shanghai, Ningbo and the islands make it the maritime gateway of Zhejiang. This guide carries the islands, the seafood restaurants with their phones, the hotels, the ferries and the practical numbers from the field guide.

ZhoushanShenjiamenZhujiajianPutuoshanDinghaiseafoodislandsNingbo
2-3 DaysTwo days cover Dinghai, Zhujiajian and the seafood; a third adds the outer islands
From RMB 2Dinghai old town free, the Opium War park RMB 2, Sanmao home RMB 10, the Zhujiajian beaches from the season ticket
July-Oct BestThe seafood festival July-October; the sand sculpture July-November; the mild winters for the islands
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Zhoushan Bucket Listthe harbour, the beaches and the old town

01

Eat at the Shenjiamen night stalls

The great seafood stalls of Bin Gang Road - the night market of the port at about RMB 126 per head; the 'seafood capital' of China.

02

Run the Zhujiajian sands

Nansha and Dongsha - the golden beaches of the island across the bridge; the international sand sculpture festival runs July-November.

03

Walk the Dinghai old town

The free old town of the main island - the 'Haidai Hemudu' site, the Opium War battlefields and the old lanes of the city.

04

See the Sanmao home

The childhood home of the writer Sanmao at Xiaosha town - RMB 10, 08:10-17:10; the study and the letters of the wanderer.

05

Climb Huangyangjian

The highest peak of the Zhoushan island at 503.6 m - free; the Daoist legend of Ge Xuan and the island panorama.

06

Sail the outer islands

The ferries reach the Daishan, Shengsi and the Dongji islands - the fishing villages and the reefs of the outer sea.

Top Highlightsthe harbour, the beaches and the shrine

No.1The Shenjiamen harbour

The Shenjiamen harbour

The fishing fleet of the great port.

No.2The port city

The port city

The harbour and the towers of Shenjiamen.

No.3The Zhujiajian shore

The Zhujiajian shore

The sands and the hills of the island.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Zhoushan

How many days do I need in Zhoushan?

Two days cover the main island, Zhujiajian and the seafood; a third adds the outer islands or the Putuoshan shrine; a week would not empty the archipelago.

How do I get there?

From Ningbo, the Bai Feng-Yadan Shan ferry runs 43 sailings a day (1:30-23:20) at RMB 15 per person (about 50 minutes); the Zhujiajian bridge costs RMB 30 by car; the Putuoshan airport on Zhujiajian serves Beijing, Xiamen, Shanghai, Nanjing and Qingdao.

Where is the best seafood?

The Shenjiamen night stalls on Bin Gang Road at about RMB 126 per head, the Gaogao Zhuang seafood market at 107 Donghe Road at about RMB 124 (+86 580 3025 777) and the Haizhongzhou food city at about RMB 199.

What about Zhujiajian?

The island across the bridge holds the Nansha and Dongsha beaches, the Wushi pond of black pebbles and the Dafo Rock; the international sand sculpture festival runs July-November; the hostels and the guesthouses of the beach road start at RMB 60 a bed.

Is Putuoshan part of Zhoushan?

Yes - the sea shrine is the island of Putuo district, reached by the Shenjiamen ferry (RMB 22) or the Zhujiajian ferry (RMB 22-24); see the separate Putuoshan guide.

When is the best season?

July-October brings the seafood festival and the sand sculpture; the autumn (September-November) is the clearest; the winters are mild and the ferry cabins scarce in the typhoon weeks of August-September.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Zhoushan trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the ferries, the Zhujiajian hotels, the seafood reservations and the Putuoshan tickets, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe harbour day and the island circuit

The Seafood Day - One Day

Dinghai, the harbour and the great seafood night. View the plan →

Day 1

09:00 the Dinghai old town and the Opium War park; 12:00 the seafood lunch at Gaogao Zhuang; 14:00 the Sanmao home or the Huangyangjian climb; 18:00 the Shenjiamen night stalls; 20:00 the harbour walk.

The Island Circuit - Two Days

The beaches of Zhujiajian and the old town of the main island. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning the bridge to Zhujiajian - the Nansha and Dongsha beaches; afternoon the Wushi pond and the Dafo Rock; night the beach-road guesthouse.

Day 2

Morning the international sand sculpture park; afternoon the ferry to the main island and the Dinghai old town; evening the seafood stalls.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Zhoushan itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Shenjiamen Harbour

Shenjiamen Harbour

The great fishing port of the 'seafood capital of China' - the night stalls of Bin Gang Road, the fishing fleet and the towers of the harbour; free to walk.

Free · All day · Harbour · Seafood
View details →
Zhujiajian

Zhujiajian

The island across the bridge - the Nansha and Dongsha beaches, the Wushi pond of black pebbles, the Dafo Rock and the international sand sculpture festival (July-November); the Zhujiajian bridge toll RMB 30.

Season ticket · All day · Beach · Island
View details →
Dinghai Old Town

Dinghai Old Town

The free old town of the main island - the 'Haidai Hemudu' site of Baisi, the Opium War battlefields, the Sancizhong temple and the old lanes; buses 29 and 37.

Free · All day · Old Town · History
View details →
The Opium War Battlefield Park

The Opium War Battlefield Park

The park on Xiaofeng Hill where the Qing fought the British in 1840-1842 - RMB 2, 08:10-17:10, bus 31.

RMB 2 · 08:10-17:10 · Battlefield · History
View details →
The Sanmao Home

The Sanmao Home

The childhood home of the writer Sanmao at Chenjia, Xiaosha town - RMB 10, 08:10-17:10, buses 51 and 56; the study and the letters of the wanderer.

RMB 10 · 08:10-17:10 · Historic House · Writer
View details →
Huangyangjian

Huangyangjian

The highest peak of the Zhoushan island at 503.6 m - free; the Daoist legend of Ge Xuan and the panorama of the archipelago; in the Lincheng sub-district.

Free · All day · Peak · Viewpoint
View details →
The International Sand Sculpture Park

The International Sand Sculpture Park

The festival park of Zhujiajian (July-November) - the great sand castles and the beach stages; the sculptures remain through the autumn.

Season ticket · Festival hours · Sand Sculpture · Festival
View details →
The Outer Islands

The Outer Islands

The ferries reach Daishan, Shengsi and the Dongji islands - the fishing villages, the reefs and the lighthouse of the outer sea; the Dongji fishing village guesthouse at the Miaozihu harbour.

Ferry fares · By ferry · Islands · Ferry
View details →

More in the region on the Zhejiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe festivals and the sea life

The Zhoushan Seafood Festival

July-October at the Shenjiamen harbour - the cooking contests, the tastings and the night market of the 'seafood capital'.

The International Sand Sculpture Festival

July-November at Zhujiajian - the sculptors from the world build the castles of the beach.

The Nanhai Guanyin Culture Festival

The November festival of the Putuoshan shrine - the sutras and the ceremonies of the neighbouring island.

The Putuo Buddha Tea Festival

The April tea festival of the region - the temple teas and the spring picking.

Where to Staythe hostels of the beach and the hotels of the port

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Zhejiang hotels directory.

Putuo Mudi International Youth Hostel

The hostel at 320 Jinsha Road, Zhujiajian, near Nansha - from RMB 60 a bed; +86 580 6632 000.

Phone: +86 580 6632 000 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Zhoushan Chanyi Ju

The guesthouse at 320 Jinsha Road, Zhujiajian - from RMB 195; +86 580 6632 000.

Phone: +86 580 6632 000 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Dongji Zhongshan Yuzhuang

The fishing-village guesthouse at Miaozihu, Dongji island - from RMB 140; +86 400 7996 655.

Phone: +86 400 7996 655 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Haizhongzhou International Hotel

The port hotel of Putuo Donggang - from RMB 360; +86 400 7996 655.

Phone: +86 400 7996 655 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe seafood capital of China

The Shenjiamen Night Stalls

The great seafood stalls of Bin Gang Road - the crabs, the shrimp and the fish of the day at about RMB 126 per head.

Gaogao Zhuang Seafood Market

The self-service seafood hall at 107 Donghe Road, Shenjiamen - about RMB 124 per head; +86 580 3025 777.

Phone: +86 580 3025 777

Haizhongzhou Food City

The grand seafood restaurant of the port - about RMB 199 per head; +86 580 3027 777.

Phone: +86 580 3027 777

The Zhongxin Putuo Hotel Chinese Restaurant

The hotel restaurant at 22 Jinsha Road, Zhujiajian - about RMB 92 per head; +86 580 6698 222.

Phone: +86 580 6698 222

The West Lake Spring

The Cantonese-Zhejiang restaurant of the Sheraton at 111 Qiandao Road, Dinghai - about RMB 120 per head; +86 580 2187 999.

Phone: +86 580 2187 999

The Zhoushan classics

The salted cabbage yellow croaker, the dried yellow croaker with pork, the Zhoushan hairtail (the first geographic-indication seafood of China), the wind-dried eel and the swimming crab.

Shopping & Souvenirsthe aquatic market and the island gifts

Zhoushan International Aquatic Market

The 15,000-square-metre seafood market at the Shenjiamen fishing-street - nearly a thousand stalls of the dried and fresh sea harvest; +86 580 3663 355.

Dried seafood

The dried hairtail, the jellyfish and the shrimp of the market - boxed for the road.

Putuo Buddha tea

The temple tea of the region - the spring-picked leaves of the island groves.

Full local-product guides live on the Zhejiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, ferry, bridge and bus

By airBy air

By air

The Putuoshan airport on the north of Zhujiajian serves Beijing, Jinjiang, Xiamen, Shantou, Shanghai, Nanjing and Qingdao; the enquiry line +86 580 6260 716.

By ferry from NingboThe Yadan Shan ferry from Bai Feng runs 43 sailings a day (1:30-23:20) at RMB 15 per person (about 50 minutes); the cars cross from RMB 55.

The Yadan Shan ferry from Bai Feng runs 43 sailings a day (1:30-23:20) at RMB 15 per person (about 50 minutes); the cars cross from RMB 55.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

By ferry from ShanghaiThe Dinghai port night boat 'Zizhu' leaves at 18:30 (12 hours); the 'Feixiang' at 7:30 (16 hours).

The Dinghai port night boat 'Zizhu' leaves at 18:30 (12 hours); the 'Feixiang' at 7:30 (16 hours).

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

By carBy car

By car

The Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo expressway, the North Ring and the Beilun-Daxie road, then the Daxie fast ferry (RMB 58, 1 hour 15 minutes) or the Bai Feng ferry; the Zhujiajian bridge toll RMB 30.

Local buses & taxisLocal buses & taxis

Local buses & taxis

Taxis start at RMB 8 for 2.5 km, then RMB 1.8 per km; the Dinghai-Shenjiamen bus runs about 40 minutes.

The island ferriesThe island ferries

The island ferries

The intra-archipelago ferries link the main island, Zhujiajian, Daishan, Shengsi and the Dongji islands.

Day Trips From Zhoushanthe beaches, the shrine and the old town

Zhujiajian Beach Day Trip

Zhujiajian Beach Day Trip

The sands, the Wushi pond and the sculpture park.

Putuoshan Day Trip

Putuoshan Day Trip

The morning ferry to the sea shrine and the temples.

Dinghai Old Town Day Trip

Dinghai Old Town Day Trip

The Opium War sites and the Sanmao home.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Eat at the night stalls

The Shenjiamen night market is the seafood capital of China - go hungry and order the day's catch; the prices are per jin.

Book the ferry ahead

The Yadan Shan and the island ferries fill in the summer - reserve the tickets the day before, especially on the weekends.

Mind the typhoon weeks

August-September brings the typhoons - the ferries cancel without notice; check the port boards before the crossing.

The fishermen’s words

The islanders avoid the words for 'capsize', 'go down' and 'mould' on the boats, and never tap the rice bowl with the chopsticks - the old sea manners.

The outer islands need a day

Daishan, Shengsi and the Dongji islands are a ferry-and-a-day each - plan the outer sea as a separate trip.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Zhoushan tourism bureau

The tourism information of the city at 681 Haitian Avenue.

Phone: +86 580 2280 735

Putuo district tourism

The tourism information of the Putuo district at 68 Donghai East Road.

Phone: +86 580 3013 666

Zhoushan Hospital

The hospital at 238 Renmin North Road.

Phone: +86 580 2064 699

Putuo People’s Hospital

The hospital at 90 Shengjiamen Gongxia Road.

Phone: +86 580 3030 880

The Yadan Shan ferry enquiry

The ferry enquiry line of the Bai Feng crossing.

Phone: Not published

The official tourism site

The official site of Zhoushan tourism: zstour.gov.cn.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe thousand-island city of the sea

The thousand islands

The 1,390 islands, one fifth of China's total, earned the city its name - the largest, Zhoushan island, is shaped like a boat.

The sea shrine since the Han

The Guanyin shrine of Putuoshan has drawn the pilgrims since the Han dynasty - the 'Buddhist sea and sky' of the archipelago.

The Condor Heroes island

The Peach Blossom island of Jin Yong's 'Condor Heroes' - the writer visited in April 1994 and set the island in the tale.

The city of 1987

Zhoushan became a prefecture-level city in 1987 - the fishing towns and the ferry ports of the archipelago govern the east sea.

Plan Your Zhoushan Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Zhoushan trip lives on the site.

Zhejiang Attractions

Zhejiang Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Zhejiang attraction.

Browse Zhejiang sights
Zhoushan Hotels

Zhoushan Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Zhejiang — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Zhejiang hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Zhoushan.

See China flights
Zhejiang Specialties

Zhejiang Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Zhejiang — where to find each one.

Browse Zhejiang specialties
Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Zhejiang agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

More city and region guides across China, including the Zhejiang guide.

Browse all guides