Diaoyu Island Seal Reef

Diaoyu Island Seal Reef

The Seal Reef is located in the waters near the Seal Reef and Warship Reef clusters within the scenic area. It can be reached by boat in 10 minutes from Changdao Port. Every year, a large number of wild spotted seals gather here.

Around November each year, the seals set off from the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea in Russia, traveling via the Sea of Japan and the northern Yellow Sea to the Bohai Sea in China. They arrive at Changdao punctually in March, where they spend their time resting, vacationing, courting, and raising their young. After getting ample rest and nourishment, they head east and north to begin new journeys, not returning to Changdao until the following spring. According to local fishermen, these seals always come ashore onto the reefs during high tide to enjoy a comfortable “sunbath,” occasionally popping their heads up to check their surroundings. The sunnier it is, the more seals climb onto the rocks—sometimes even piling on top of one another, chubby, lazy, and utterly adorable. They are also highly vigilant; once they sense any danger, they immediately roll off the rocks into the water and flee.

The best season to watch spotted seals is from April to June. If you miss this period, you can still see artificially raised seals within the scenic area, which can be quite exciting for children too.

Time Needed

2–3 hours

Transportation

You can rent a speedboat or fishing boat at the fishing harbor on the north side of the Changdao Port seawall, or join a maritime tour route to get there.

Opening Hours

April to June

Location

Within the waters south of the Changshan Channel, Miaodao Archipelago, Changdao County, Yantai, Shandong Province