Dayu Island Village

Dayu Island Village

Dayu Island Village is situated at the southeastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, surrounded by sea on three sides and backed by mountains on one. With beautiful landscapes and a mild climate, it features a warm temperate monsoon humid climate that ensures warm winters and cool summers, with an average annual temperature of 11.8°C. Owing to its distinctive location and strong local traditions, Dayu Island boasts outstanding tourism assets. The coastline stretches approximately 2,000 meters, and amidst the rocky shores lies a natural seawater bathing beach. Whether it’s beachcombing, fishing, splashing in the water, or swimming, Dayu Island makes for an ideal summer retreat.

Dayu Island Village was established during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of about 200 years. For generations, the villagers have made their living from the sea. Their houses were built using locally sourced materials, featuring seaweed-thatched roofs and stone walls. These dwellings are called “seaweed-roofed houses,” which are among the most representative eco-friendly vernacular architectures in China. The national postal service once issued a stamp featuring a seaweed-roofed house as its theme. These houses have a rustic and robust appearance, exuding strong regional character. They are warm in winter and cool in summer, can last for over a century without decay, and carry a profound maritime cultural heritage. To this day, Dayu Island still preserves over a dozen seaweed-roofed houses that are over a hundred years old, some of which are still inhabited. These houses have been well preserved.

According to tradition, fishermen would pray to the Dragon King before setting out to sea or during major festivals to pray for safety and ensure bountiful catches. Most coastal fishing villages have built a Dragon King Temple. Dayu Island’s Dragon King Temple has a history of over 100 years. Every year during the Guyu Festival, Dayu Island hosts lively and colorful events such as live performances, the Guyu Sea Worship Ceremony, and temple fair banquets, attracting more and more domestic and international visitors. The Guyu celebrations are the most iconic representation of Dayu Island’s maritime culture.

Dayu Island was one of the first places in Rongcheng to develop fisherman-style homestays. Since the 1970s, Dayu Island has hosted foreign guests. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized delegations of ambassadors from over 100 countries to visit Dayu Island twice, where they stayed and dined with the fishermen to experience the transformation of a new socialist fishing village.

Dayu Island enjoys a developed economy, simple and honest folkways, beautiful surroundings, and fresh air. The village is clean and tidy in appearance and has been a provincial-level civilized unit for many years. It has also been awarded the title of “Shandong Province Model Village in Town and Village Construction” by the provincial government. The newer residential area of Dayu Island Village consists of modern apartment buildings, while the older section features traditional blue-brick and red-tile houses. Along the coast, ancient seaweed-roofed houses add a touch of charm, with various architectural styles complementing each other harmoniously. When Hu Sheng, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visited Dayu Island, he inscribed on the spot: “Not a city, yet like a city; a fishing village so fine, surpasses the city,” giving high praise to the village’s economic development and well-planned architectural layout.

Dayu Island is located in Shidao. Overland transportation connects to cities across the country via the Weishi Highway. Maritime transport links to major global ports through Shidao Port, a national first-class open port. In terms of land and air access, Shidao is 45 kilometers from Weihai Airport and 60 kilometers from Weihai Railway Station. The area has an extensive road network, making transportation very convenient. Urban utilities such as water supply, heating, electricity, and gas services are increasingly well-developed, and the postal and telecommunications infrastructure is advanced.

Dayu Island offers comprehensive and well-equipped tourism service facilities. Existing accommodations include Dayu Island Thatched Cottage Restaurant, Dayu Island Hotel, and Dayu Island Yangxin Yuan Holiday Club. Among them, Dayu Island Thatched Cottage Restaurant is a “Three-Star Tourist Restaurant,” Dayu Island Hotel is one of the earliest foreign-related hotels in Rongcheng, and Yangxin Yuan Holiday Club provides high-end tourists with convenient services for dining, accommodation, and leisure activities.

The villagers of Dayu Island have made a living from fishing for generations. The area is rich in seafood, producing a variety of precious products such as sea cucumber, scallops, abalone, sea snails, prawns, and grouper. For a long time, the people of Dayu Island have had a deep connection with seafood cuisine. The restaurants here specialize in preparing seafood dishes, characterized by natural cooking methods, fresh and tender textures, balanced flavors, and health benefits. These have formed a distinctive and influential local cuisine style within the broader Lu cuisine system. Dishes such as “Red Sea Eel Swim,” “Four Seasons Peace,” “Fish Pot Pancakes,” “Vinegar Jellyfish,” and “Smooth Sailing” combine appealing color, aroma, taste, and presentation, along with deep maritime cultural meanings, becoming representative dishes of Weihai cuisine. Dayu Island’s mackerel dumplings are especially notable for being fresh, tender, delicate, white, large, and soft—truly exceptional dumplings that leave a lasting impression on visitors, making them reluctant to leave and constantly reminiscing about the taste.

Address: Dayu Island Village, Shidao Town, Rongcheng City

Business Hours: 24 hours

Recommended Visiting Time: About 8 hours

Price Description: Free Admission

Featured Attractions: Thatched Cottages

Supporting Facilities:

Dining, Accommodation, Entertainment, Fishing