Peach Blossom Island

Peach Blossom Island

Peach Blossom Island is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Peach Blossom Island, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, is located to the south of Shenjiamen Fishing Port on Zhoushan Main Island, covering an area of 43 square kilometers, making it the seventh largest island in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The southern DuiZhi Mountain is the highest peak in the archipelago, with mountain ranges extending in all directions, creating undulating peaks and layered mountain-and-sea scenery.

Zhejiang provincial scenic area Peach Blossom Island is situated between longitude 122°13′~122°19′ and latitude 29°46′~29°52′, located in the southeastern part of the Zhoushan Archipelago in Zhejiang Province, and is the seventh largest island in the archipelago. The island lies 7.8 nautical miles north of Shenjiamen, the seat of Putuo District Government in Zhoushan City. It faces the "Land of Buddhism on the Sea" Putuo Mountain and the "Seaside Yandang" Zhujiajian across the bay, stands 12 kilometers west of Ningbo City, borders the Peach Blossom Port International Deepwater Channel to the south, and faces the renowned East China Sea fishing grounds to the east. The entire island covers an area of 41.7 square kilometers, with a total population of 11,500. The legendary "Eastern Heretic" Huang Yaoshi from Jin Yong’s famous novels “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” and “The Return of the Condor Heroes” resided on this island.

Peach Blossom Island was anciently known as "Baiyun Mountain." During the Qin Dynasty, the immortal An Qisheng defied an imperial order, fled south, and took refuge on Peach Blossom Island, where he practiced Taoism and alchemy. One day, while drunk, he spilled ink on the mountain rocks, which stained them with patterns resembling peach blossoms. The dotted marks gave the rocks the name "Peach Blossom Stones," the mountain the name "Peach Blossom Mountain," and the island the name "Peach Blossom Island." From the Song Dynasty to the 19th year of the Hongwu era in the Ming Dynasty, the island belonged to Anqixiang County of Changguo. In the early years of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty, Anqixiang Peach Blossom Village was established; during the Guangxu era, it became Dinghai Anqixiang; in the Republican period, it was renamed Peach Blossom Township. After several rounds of district and township mergers and splits, it eventually became today’s Peach Blossom Town.

Peach Blossom Island is the magical and wondrous East China Sea isle depicted in Jin Yong’s novels “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” and its sequel “The Return of the Condor Heroes.” The island boasts a rich and diverse array of tourism resources, comprehensive in variety and high in quality, encompassing sea, mountains, rocks, reefs, cliffs, caves, temples, monasteries, nunneries, flowers, forests, birds, military relics, historical sites, cliff inscriptions, and myths and legends. With both natural and cultural landscapes in abundance, it was designated as a provincial scenic area in 1993.

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Peach Blossom Island is home to the highest peak in the Zhoushan Archipelago—Anqi Peak; the deepest port in Zhoushan—Peach Blossom Port; the largest...

Zhejiang Peach Blossom Island Scenery (6 photos) ...largest rock in southeastern coastal China—Dafo Rock. It is one of the main production areas for Putuo Narcissus, one of China's three top varieties of daffodils, and Putuo Buddha Tea, a famous tea in Zhejiang. It is also the island with the most diverse tree species along Zhejiang’s coast, earning the reputation of a "seaside botanical garden." Its abundant natural landscapes, cultural sights, and mythological tales are organically integrated, forming the six major scenic zones of the Peach Blossom Island Scenic Area: Peach Blossom Valley, Tawan Golden Beach, Anqi Peak, Dafo Rock, Xuangu Gu Island, and Peach Blossom Port Scenic Belt. These are grouped into three themed tour routes: martial arts, Buddhism, and Taoism culture. There are twelve major attractions including Golden Sand Sunrise, Golden Dragon Spitting Pearls, Anqi Clouds, High Mountain Bells, Hundred Families Pilgrimage, Mountain Stone Peach Blossoms, Mysterious Cave Exploration, Peach Port Majesty, Gravel Beach Tides, Forest Belt Misty Trees, Dragon Pool Curtain Pearls, and Dafo Sunset. There are also over 30 major sites such as Dafo Rock, Snap Finger Peak, East Sea Divine Pearl, Qingyin Cave, Baique Temple, Immortal Bridge, Shy Goddess of Mercy, Dragon Fang Piercing the Sky, Dinghai Ancient City, and Anqi Alchemy Cave.

The beauty of Peach Blossom Island was not widely known to tourists in the past. The island features rolling high mountains, uniquely shaped reefs and rocks, azure seas and golden sands, secluded streams and caves, blooming wildflowers, dense hills, undulating terrain, and lush forests, offering picturesque scenery with vegetation coverage exceeding 75%, hence the nickname "seaside botanical garden." The island is rich in tree and flower species, often referred to as a "floating garden." There are 73 types and 356 varieties of trees, including dozens of rare species under national protection such as Mao Hongchun, Putuo Camphor, and Evergreen Holly, as well as precious flowers like narcissus, azaleas, boxwood, and orchids. The narcissus and orchids of Peach Blossom Island are local specialties, especially the narcissus, which ranks among China’s top three and is exported to regions such as Hong Kong and Japan.

The entire island consists of six major scenic areas: Tawan Golden Beach, Anqi Peak, Dafo Rock, Peach Blossom Port, Buge Gate, and Wushi Gravel Beach. There are over 60 attractions including Dragon Girl Peak, East Sea Pearl, Baique Temple, Shengyan Temple, Shy Goddess of Mercy, Immortal Bridge, Huang Yaoshi’s Residence, and Qingyin Cave. Peach Blossom Island also attracts visitors with its uniquely shaped rocks. Some massive boulders resemble lions descending a mountain, others look like seals balancing balls, and some appear as fairies worshiping Buddha. The "Buddha Head" rock formation atop DuiZhi Mountain stands like a giant sculpture, shrouded in mist, majestic and spectacular. Especially noteworthy is a large rock at the mountaintop shaped like a Buddha’s head, which appears the same size from any angle, whether viewed from as far as a hundred li away or up close. Legend says that a celestial being descended to earth, toured the region, and became enchanted by Peach Blossom Island’s enchanting scenery. Unwilling to return to heaven, the deity transformed into stone and has remained there ever since.

Peach Blossom Island is located 11.6 kilometers south of Shenjiamen Town, situated between Dengbu Island and Xiashi Island. Covering an area of 40.37 square kilometers, the island’s central-southern DuiZhi Mountain is covered in flowers and trees, with an elevation of 544.4 meters, making it the highest peak in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The mountain range extends in all directions from DuiZhi Mountain as the main peak. Development of the island is said to date back to the Qin and Han dynasties. According to the Song Dynasty’s Qian Dao “Siming Map Scripture”: “Peach Blossom Mountain… is said to be where An Qisheng studied Taoism and practiced alchemy. He once spilled his drunken ink on the mountain rocks, leaving peach blossom patterns in strange shapes, as if naturally formed. People often took these as treasures, hence the mountain came to be called Peach Blossom.” However, after that, records went silent, and existing ancient relics date only to the Qing Dynasty.

The island has a population of about 20,000, most of whom are descendants of migrants from Ningbo, Zhenhai, Xiangshan, Zhoushan, and Jintang Island who settled here after the island’s reopening during the Kangxi era (1662–1722). Originally, there were Peach Blossom Town and DuiZhi Township; the central and southeastern parts of the island belonged to DuiZhi Township, focusing on fishing, while the northwest belonged to Peach Blossom Town, focusing on farming. The town government was located in Gongqian Village. Later, DuiZhi Township was merged into Peach Blossom Town. In recent years, the island has developed a marine-specialty economy, establishing a “Putuo Buddha Tea” production base. Shallow sea aquaculture and aquatic product processing industries have grown rapidly, and tourism has flourished. During the annual tourist high season, the island is bustling with visitors.

Visitors who climb to higher ground can take in the poetic beauty of nearby mountains and distant seas, often marveling as if entering a fairyland. The beauty and mystery of Peach Blossom Island have attracted many literati and poets throughout history to explore, seek wonders, and research ancient sites. Since An Qisheng, the first person recorded to have visited the island in pre-Qin times, figures such as Han Dynasty official Li Shaochun, Song Dynasty literary figure Su Shi, Yuan Dynasty writer Wu Lai, Ming Dynasty military strategist Zhu Wan, Qing Dynasty poets Zhu Xu and Miu Sui, modern martial arts master Jin Yong, and poet Fang Mu have all left popular works, continuously enriching and deepening the island’s cultural and maritime legacy. Among them, Zhu Xu’s poetry most comprehensively praises the island’s natural scenery, reading: “Ink stains, cast in drunken delight, splash peach blooms; spots on stones bloom bright as rosy clouds. They say Wuling is fine, but none have floated here in a fairy boat.”

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of tourism facilities, the maritime paradise—Peach Blossom Island—has become increasingly revered by domestic and international tourists.

Address: 400m west of Tingyuju, Peach Blossom Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan City

Type: Geological Landscape / Island / Peninsula / Film Studio

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 days

Phone: 0580-6062111

Official Website: http://www.shediaocheng.com/cn/

Opening Hours:

Open all day. Tawan Beach: 7:00–18:00

Ticket Information:

Free entry. Access to the island is free, but some attractions on the island charge admission.

Free to board the island. Joint scenic ticket: 140 RMB (includes Peach Blossom Fort, Condor Heroes Tourist City, Anqi Peak, Dafo Rock, Peach Blossom Valley); Dafo Rock Scenic Area (Condor Heroes Film City): 50 RMB; Peach Blossom Valley Scenic Area: 45 RMB; Anqi Peak Scenic Area: 45 RMB

Transportation

Public Transport

Travelers from major cities can first take a bus to larger or medium-sized cities such as Ningbo, Shanghai, or Hangzhou, and then transfer to terminals that offer ferry services to Peach Blossom Island. There are long-distance buses from Shanghai and Hangzhou to Shenjiamen in Zhoushan.

Shanghai direction: There are 16 daily buses from Shanghai to Shenjiamen, with a travel time of about 5 hours and a fare of 138 RMB per person. From Shenjiamen Passenger Transport Center, you can take bus routes 28, 29, 7, or 6 to Duntou Wharf, with each bus ride costing 2 RMB.

Hangzhou direction: Both the South Bus Station and East Bus Station in Hangzhou have buses to Shenjiamen, running 2–3 times every 1–2 hours, with a travel time of about 5 hours and a fare of around 100 RMB.

Ningbo direction: The North Bus Station in Ningbo offers direct long-distance buses (with vehicle transport) to Peach Blossom Island. Buses depart from Ningbo North Station at 6:50 AM, and return from the “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” TV & Film City on Peach Blossom Island at 3:00 PM.

By boat

The main mode of transportation to Peach Blossom Island is by boat. Visitors primarily access the island via the Duntou Wharf or Banshengdong Wharf in Shenjiamen, the Putuo Mountain Wharf, the Ningbo Guojv Wharf, or the Ningbo Daxie Wharf, all of which have speedboats or ferries to Shawai Wharf on Peach Blossom Island. Drivers can drive their vehicles directly onto the boats. There are two circular island roads on Peach Blossom Island. Upon arriving at Shawai Wharf, there are shuttle buses that take visitors to various scenic spots, most of which follow the island's loop route.

1. Shenjiamen Duntou – Peach Blossom Passenger Ferry Route:

Peach Blossom Island Ferry: A regular passenger ferry with a sailing time of 40 minutes, a fare of 15 RMB for regular seats and 20 RMB for upper deck.

Departures from Shenjiamen: 7:20, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 17:00

Departures from Peach Blossom: 6:50, 8:15, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00

Shenlü 3: A high-speed ferry with a sailing time of 20 minutes, a fare of 27 RMB.

Departures from Shenjiamen: 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00

Departures from Peach Blossom: 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30

2. Peach Blossom – Shenjiamen Banshengdong Ro-Ro Ferry Route:

Donghai Shen Zhu 2

Departures from Shenjiamen: 8:00

Departures from Peach Blossom: 16:30

3. Putuo Mountain (Zhujiajian) – Peach Blossom – Liuheng High-Speed Ferry:

Zhujiajian – Peach Blossom – Liuheng: 7:50, 13:30

Putuo Mountain – Peach Blossom – Liuheng: 8:10, 13:50

Peach Blossom – Liuheng: 8:50, 14:40

Peach Blossom – Putuo Mountain (Zhujiajian): 10:15, 16:10

Liuheng – Peach Blossom – Putuo Mountain (Zhujiajian): 9:30, 15:25

4. Peach Blossom – Ningbo Guojv Ro-Ro Ferry Route:

Donghai Shen Zhu

Departures from Ningbo Guojv: 8:30

Departures from Peach Blossom Shawai: 16:00

Address: 400 meters west of Tingyuju, Taohua Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan City

Type: Geological landscape, mountain, island/peninsula, film studio

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days

Phone: 0580-6062111

Official website: http://www.shediaocheng.com/cn/

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

Free entry. Access to the island is free, but some attractions on the island charge admission.

Taohua Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Putuo District, Zhoushan City. It was established as Taohua Township in 1950, underwent three rounds of division and merger, became a commune in 1958, reverted to township status in 1984, and was upgraded to a town in 1987. Located in the southwestern part of the district, it is 13.5 kilometers from the district government. Covering an area of 41.7 square kilometers with a population of 21,000, the town is built on islands, with crisscrossing land roads and passenger ferries connecting to Shenjiamen and other areas. It administers 19 village committees: Gongqian, Maoshan, Sha’ao, Daopeng, Kepu, Dashitou, Yanchang, Lianzhishan, Houshatou, Bugumén, Xuangu, An’gen, Longtoukeng, Miyuyang, Niaoshizi, Longdong, Shuikeng, Mopan, and Xiachangkeng... More details about Taohua Town++