Shipu Fishing Port Ancient Town (Shipu Ancient Town)

Shipu Fishing Port Ancient Town (Shipu Ancient Town)

(Photo by Wang Feiqing)

One of China’s four major folk fishing ports, it boasts many unique customs such as “March 3rd on the Sandy Beach” and “Sea Worship.” Among these, “Sea Worship” is a ritual performed by fishermen before heading out to sea to pray for safety and a bountiful catch.

In recent years, the local government has organized these originally spontaneous folk rituals, and holds the “China Fishing Festival” every mid-September. The festival includes a fishermen’s lantern fair, a grand departure ceremony with thousands of boats setting sail, fireworks and cultural evening shows, “Fishermen’s Fun” cultural tourism, local folk lantern dance performances, Sea Worship ceremonies, and colorful float parades.

The Shipu Ancient Town is built along the mountainside, facing the sea — hence the saying “the town is above the port, the mountain is within the town.” Dominating the harbor from a height is a defining feature of the “coastal defense stronghold” that is Shipu Ancient Town.

Zhongjie Street was first built during the Ming Dynasty and was once a bustling commercial street, lined with over 100 shops. Houjie Street has many old houses, some with a history of several hundred years, having weathered the passage of time.

The Guan Di Temple has a history of over 600 years and was established by fishermen to pray for favorable weather and to ward off pirates. The Si Zi Pavilion has an old tale of fishermen valuing knowledge and treasuring written words. The “Da Fu Mansion” is a late Qing Dynasty official residence of a fourth-rank official, showcasing the grandeur of a noble family.

China Fishing Village is located by the Shipu Harbor and is the most distinctive and largest marine culture leisure tourism area in China.

Themed around marine culture, it integrates the culture and lifestyle of fishing villages nationwide. It consists of China Fishing Village Theme Park, Fishing Culture Folk Street, Huangcheng Beach, a European-style resort combining travel and residence, as well as Shipu Fishing Port, Shipu Ancient Street, Sea Amusement Park, Tantou Mountain, Yushan Island, and Fishermen’s Wharf.

From Shipu, Xiangshan, sailing southeast for about 25 nautical miles brings you to the southernmost islands of Xiangshan — the Yushan Archipelago, home to the baseline of China’s territorial waters. The Yushan Archipelago is divided into South Yushan and North Yushan, with the commonly referred Yushan generally meaning North Yushan.

The North Yushan Lighthouse is the symbol of Yushan Island and is known as the “No. 1 Lighthouse in the Far East,” serving as an international navigation aid.

Dining / Accommodation / Shopping:

Entertainment: China Fishing Village has a good beachfront bathing area where visitors can enjoy beach swimming, speedboat cruises, and beachside activities.

Transportation: Shipu Fishing Port is 30 km from Xiangshan city center and 23 km from Shipu. Visitors can take a bus from Xiangshan Passenger Transport Terminal to Shipu, then transfer to China Fishing Village.

Self-driving visitors from Xiangshan can turn left at Binhai Avenue, then turn left at the three-way intersection, go straight until seeing the “China Fishing Village” scenic area sign, then turn left onto Golden Avenue to reach the scenic area — the drive takes about 30 minutes.

Address: No. 4, Jiangxin Street, Shipu Town, Xiangshan County, Ningbo City

Ticket: 60 RMB for the exhibition hall. If you only want to view the street scenery, you may enter without going through the main entrance. Children’s tickets: half price for those between 1.2–1.5 meters tall, free for those under 1.2 meters.

Type: Ancient Town / Ancient Village

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0574-65971999

Opening Hours:

Old Street: Open all day; Exhibition Hall: 8:00–17:00