Little Yangshan

Little Yangshan

In 2005, the Yangshan Deep-Water Port of the Shanghai International Shipping Center was established in the Yangshan scenic area. The former activities of beachcombing and experiencing the fishing lifestyle on Little Yangshan Island have now been replaced by the spectacular sight of tens of thousands of cargo ships shuttling to and from the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, forming another beautiful attraction on Little Yangshan. Intro

duction

Little Yangshan is located at the mouth of Hangzhou Bay. It was formerly known as Yangshan, a name said to originate from the abundance of goats on the island. Later, it was renamed Little Yangshan due to its relatively small size.

Little Yangshan is flanked by steep cliffs and dotted with peculiar rocks, offering a unique view at every step. Winding through its landscapes, visitors will find narrow paths and dense forests, and can hop across various sized rocks while admiring rare rock formations such as the Magical Stone Dragon, Sister Rocks, Dragon-Suppressing Stone, Watermill Ball Stone, and Twin Dragons Watching the Tides. The Stone Dragon Rock and Turtle Rock are among the most striking.

Turtle Rock, visible right at the start of the trail, weighs several tons and is attached to the cliff top, leaning upward. It is also known as Stone Rooster Gazing at the Sky.

The island also features the notable Little Guanyin Mountain Cliff Carvings site. Little Guanyin Mountain boasts eight ancient cliff inscriptions. Though the mountain itself is small, massive rocks are stacked together as if assembled by a master craftsman, resembling a natural mountain of stone steles. The inscription “Boundless Sea and Sky” is carved on a stone plaque at the mountaintop, written in 1608 (the 36th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era) by Zhang Wen-zhi, a military officer, making it the earliest inscription on the island.

The two characters “Yi Jian” (meaning “Leaning Sword”), hailed as the “King of Large Characters,” are engraved on a huge western cliff face. Each character is 3.8 meters tall and 3.5 meters wide, inscribed in 1613 (the 41st year of the Wanli era) by Li Kai, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and magistrate of Qingtian County. The strokes are powerful and bold, radiating an awe-inspiring spirit, and represent the largest cliff carving on any island in Zhejiang.

Other inscriptions such as “Where the Kunpeng Transforms,” “Pillar in the Midst of the Current,” “Where Sky and Water Stretch Wide,” and “Calm Sea and Peaceful Waves” are all grand and majestic, making them popular spots for visitors to take photos.

Address: Little Yangshan, Shengsi County, Zhoushan City

Type: Seaside/Beach

Recommended visiting time: 3–4 hours

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

Free admission.

Transportation

Tickets can be purchased at Nanpu Bridge to reach Little Yangshan Port via the Donghai Bridge; boats to Little Yangshan also depart from Dayangshan Pier.