Nanji Island

Nanji Island

The Nanji Mountain Islands are located in the southeastern sea off Pingyang County, Zhejiang Province, consisting of 52 islands. With stunning marine scenery and well-preserved ecology, they are China’s only national-level marine nature reserve and one of the UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserves. The Nanji Islands are a prime spot for tourism, summer escapes, vacations, convalescence, seafood tasting, and enjoying the sea. There is an 800-meter-wide, 600-meter-long shell-sand beach where the seawater is crystal clear with visibility exceeding 5 meters; there's Guoxing'ao where Zheng Chenggong trained his navy; Qifengju, where Soong Mei-ling once rested; Daffodil Island and Seagull Island; the Sanpanwei tourist area which features over 100 scenic spots in one location; abalone, ranked first among the "Eight Treasures of the Sea"; and precious species such as grouper. With 368 fish species, 180 shrimp and crab varieties, along with hundreds of other terrestrial animals, golden sands, blue seas, peculiar reefs, exotic caves, and natural meadows, the island captivates and enchants all who visit, earning its reputation as the “Fairyland on the Azure Sea.”

Location: Nanji Island, Pingyang County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Nanji Island is a small island with relatively few attractions, but it is precisely this preserved simplicity and secluded tranquility that make it unique. This distinctiveness contributes to its endless charm. The Nanji Islands comprise five major scenic areas: Dashaba’ao, Guoxing’ao, Sanpanwei, Dalèi Mountain, and Zhuyu. The island boasts beautiful mountains, unique rocks, stunning beaches, lush grass, blue seas, and vast skies. It has a unique ecological environment, diverse species, and abundant shellfish and algae resources, earning titles such as the “Blue Pasture,” “Fairyland on the Azure Sea,” and “Kingdom of Shells and Algae.” Nanji was also a training ground for Zheng Chenggong when he reclaimed Taiwan, and today it still retains many historical relics, including cliff inscriptions.

Two places on the island should not be missed:

1. The Beach — This beach is said to have the finest sand in China. In reality, the sand consists of powdered seashells, making it incredibly comfortable to walk on. Aside from the usual beach activities like playing in the sand and swimming, the most unique experience here is digging for sand clams yourself. These clams can only be harvested by visitors, not by local residents — possibly as a measure for ecological protection.

2. Sanpanwei — This is the island’s main attraction. Use the ticket you purchased earlier; the ticket includes a phone number. Before heading out, call the driver to arrange your pickup location.