Travel in Hebei: Two Trips to Yuetuo Island, Leting – Beijing’s Eastern Island Getaway (Photos)

Yuetuo Island in Leting, Tangshan, Hebei is the island scenic area closest to Beijing. The journalist visited this island 280 kilometres from the capital twice. The first trip came about after the journalist accepted an invitation from the island’s developer, Yin’an Group, to join a familiarisation tour.

Tangshan North Port Pier (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

It was the morning of 20 June 2008, and a small team of Beijing press reporters set off from the capital. The minibus headed southeast along the Jing-Shen Expressway. Laughter filled the vehicle. Leading the group was the business manager of Yuetuo Island and Jinsha Island Scenic Area at the time, a warm and enthusiastic young woman named Wang Hongxia. On the way she vividly described the island’s development in recent years.

Fishing boats during the off-season (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Wang Hongxia’s affectionate portrayal of Yuetuo Island had the reporters full of anticipation. Xu Hong, a journalist with the Life Style newspaper, said, “I think Yuetuo Island should be called ‘the number one island east of Beijing’.” Her suggestion was greeted with applause inside the minibus.

First landing on Yuetuo Island (Photo: Ji Congzhou)

After more than three hours of driving on the Jing-Shen, Tangjin and Tanggang expressways, the group arrived at Tangshan North Port Pier around midday. This is the gateway to three islands – Yuetuo, Jinsha and Puti. From the pier, the reporters boarded a yacht and after about half an hour on the water, set foot on Yuetuo Island.

Group photo at Yuetuo Island Pier (Photo: Wang Hongxia)

Even before landing, a catchy foreign pop song reached their ears. The magnetic male voice was rich, deep and rounded, with a penetrating charm that made you think of a black soul singer. Once on the island, they realised it was the music playing at the Western restaurant on the pier. The European-style green archway and long wooden boardwalk led visitors into the island.

Seafood stalls (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Sun, sand and sea have always bred romance. Nestled in the Bohai Bay to the southwest of Leting County, Tangshan, Yuetuo Island, with its unique festivals, signature tourism brands and specially designed scenic spots, has gradually become one of northern China’s most celebrated ecological tourist resorts and a top romantic getaway.

Dutch-style cabins (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The distinctive Dutch-style architecture is especially alluring. A cluster of 500 red-roofed cabins, a European-style villa area rising beside the canal, and green-field windmills combine with the sea and sky to paint a romantic picture of exotic charm.

Aerial view of Yuetuo Island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

According to sources, Yuetuo Island covers a land area of 0.43 square kilometres and is named after its crescent-moon-like shape. Together with Jinsha Island and others, it forms a long coastal tourism chain stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east, past Beidaihe and Gold Coast, to Caofeidian in the west. The island chain consists of seven narrow islets, including Yuetuo, Yaotuo, Shetuo and Xituo.

Seaside bathing beach (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Surrounded by sea, Yuetuo Island retains its primitive ecology. The scenery is known for its seclusion, wildness, novelty, leisurely pace and exoticism. Lush vegetation covers the island, the environment is tranquil, and wild birds and small animals abound. The almost enclosed natural environment has never been disturbed or damaged by humans, giving it a wonderfully wild and atmospheric feel.

Deer park on Yuetuo Island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The waters around Yuetuo Island are a famous fishing ground in Bohai Bay, teeming with all kinds of fish, shrimps, crabs and shellfish – an ideal place for fishing, beachcombing and angling. The island is a paradise for birds. Hundreds of species, including seagulls, wild ducks and white-shouldered eagles, call it home; among them are black storks and white storks, rare birds under national first-class protection.

Eight-li outer beach (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The outer beach, stretching a full eight li, and the beaches that ring the island have clean sand and clear, shallow water, forming an excellent natural bathing area. In high summer, sand baths, seawater baths, sunbathing, eco-baths and open-air baths are especially attractive, drawing large numbers of tourists every year.

Going out to sea with fishermen (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After a short rest on the island, the reporters set off on their first activity: going out to sea with local fishermen. At the pier they boarded a fishing boat and headed towards the waters off Jinsha Island. The four-man working vessel had been in service for four years. Perhaps from years of exposure to sea and waves, its blue paint was peeling and patchy, and the boat looked quite old. But the excitement of experiencing fishermen’s life at sea for the first time drowned out everything else.

The catch (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After about half an hour at sea, the boat slowed down and the nets were cast near Jinsha Island. The four fishermen busied themselves. They lowered a net with wooden floats attached into the sea from both sides of the stern, the thick ropes at each end fixed to the boat. After a slow trawl, they began hauling the net in.

A big crab (Photo: Ji Congzhou)

Everyone waited excitedly for the harvest, but what came up were mostly small crabs and sea snails. The second haul was much the same, though the occasional larger crab still delighted the reporters. By then, the result mattered less than the experience itself.

Fun on the beach (Photo: Wang Hongxia)

Back on shore, the group began exploring the island. Yuan Jianjun, then vice president of Yin’an Group, personally accompanied them to experience its European charm. A Dutch windmill, a suspension bridge, 500 quaint cabins, over 700 metres of boardwalk, a large central hotel, entertainment hall, a bright and spacious seafood restaurant, and an exotic glass-walled sun house – all these European-style buildings gave the island its distinctive flavour.

Signboards everywhere (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

One standout feature was the bilingual signposts dotted around the island. Not only did they clearly guide visitors to every scenic spot, but the harmonious colour and font combinations were a pleasure to look at, making them a unique sight in their own right.

Charming little villa area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the evening, while chatting with scenic area managers, the reporters were surprised and impressed by the progressive thinking of the island’s developers, introduced by Yin’an Group chairman Yan Guoqiang. As he explained, Yuetuo Island was never meant to be just an ordinary seaside holiday spot.

Solar water heating in use (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The plan was to use the “Global Island Eco-Construction Demonstration Park” on Yuetuo Island to explore and establish a new model of “green island tourism economic development” aligned with national policies, and to set an example for Leting, Tangshan, and similar areas across the country. This approach not only addressed the island’s own energy needs but also promised greater economic benefits through enhanced environmental performance.

A corner of European-style architecture (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In plain terms, the idea was to harness the island’s abundant resources – wind, solar and biomass – to develop wind power, solar power, biomass power, as well as solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies. This would meet the island’s own energy needs while sending surplus electricity to the mainland, easing power shortages in surrounding areas. Solar technology would be fully used for night-time lighting, turning it into a solar island.

Clusters of Dutch cabins (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the journalist’s view, if Yuetuo Island could successfully run on wind, solar, biomass, biogas and other new energy sources, combined with eco-circulation systems like seawater desalination, sewage and waste treatment, and three-dimensional eco-farming, it would become a global model for sustainable, circular-economy island tourism and make an outstanding contribution to world tourism and environmental protection.

Rapeseed flower fields on Yuetuo Island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Chairman Yan Guoqiang told the reporters that the eco-tourism project was already well underway and had made considerable progress. The central air-conditioning in the island’s two large restaurants already used groundwater for cooling. Shower facilities were all solar-powered. And in early July, the fifteen large landscape lamps along the canal would be powered entirely by wind-generated electricity. The giant wind turbines providing the power would then add a striking new sight to the island.

Hundred-melon garden (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The familiarisation trip lasted just two days, but it brought the media group plenty of joy and rewards. Catching crabs barefoot with a torch on the night beach was thrilling. The next day, picking melons in the Hundred-Melon Garden and wandering along the soft, comfortable outer beach after crossing the hundred-metre bridge to dig for sea creatures was simply delightful.

Light aircraft flight (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

And then there was the flight over Yuetuo Island in a light aircraft – a mix of fear, cold and adrenaline. Although short-lived, the memories are vivid: the unique all-fish feast, the barbecues at the seafood stalls. All of this may be past, but it left deep, fond impressions of Yuetuo Island, making it a place hard to leave.

Launch ceremony (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The journalist’s second visit to Yuetuo Island was part of a self-driving trip under the theme “Visit South Lake, Experience the New Tangshan”. Early on 8 August 2009, nearly a hundred cars converged from all over Beijing at the square in front of Chaoyang Park’s east gate for the launch ceremony of the “First Tangshan Leting Yuetuo Island Beer and Fireworks Festival” and the “Beijing Hundred-Car Self-Drive to Tangshan – South Lake & Yuetuo Island” event.

The convoy sets off (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At the ceremony, Li Jianxia, then deputy director of Tangshan Tourism Bureau, Yan Guoqiang, chairman of Yin’an Group, and Cao Qun, president of Beijing Love Car Global Self-Driving Club, all delivered speeches. Finally, on Deputy Director Li Jianxia’s order of “Start off!”, the huge convoy set out towards its destination.

Cruising Tangshan South Lake (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After more than three hours’ drive, the convoy arrived safely in Tangshan. It cruised through South Lake Urban Central Ecological Park, taking in sights such as Big South Lake, Little South Lake, Phoenix Platform, Purple Swan Villa and the golf course. The visitors thoroughly enjoyed the thrills and relaxation of numerous sports and leisure activities, experiencing first-hand the appeal of “Fun South Lake, Ecological South Lake, Amazing South Lake” and the unique charm of this “Water City of North China”, while also deeply feeling the simple, warm hospitality of the Tangshan people.

Heading to Yuetuo Island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Tangshan South Lake route proved a hit with Beijing residents. Many tourists marvelled at South Lake’s ecology and wonder during their visit, praising the huge changes and bright prospects of Tangshan. They were so enchanted they didn’t want to leave.

Second visit to Yuetuo Island (Photo: Wang Libao)

After the Tangshan tour, the hundred-car convoy and hundreds of visitors set off from South Lake for the nearest island to Beijing, known as the “top island east of Beijing” – Yuetuo Island – to join the First Romantic Yuetuo Island Beer and Fireworks Festival. The convoy reached Tangshan North Port Three-Island Pier, and the visitors were ferried to Yuetuo Island in four boats.

Live rock music on the beach (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

For the journalist, the most eye-catching sight on returning to Yuetuo Island was the cluster of red-roofed wooden cabins designed in imitation of Dutch style, also called couples’ cabins. Suspended above the beach, these cabins let lovers immerse themselves in the sound of the tides – a uniquely romantic experience.

The long boardwalk (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Beyond that, Yuetuo Island’s bathing beach is clean and sandy, perfect for a seawater dip. There are also beach football and planned horse-riding grounds, as well as group outdoor activities like seafood barbecues, whole-lamb roasts, campfire parties and seaside fishing trips – great for escaping the heat, taking a holiday, conducting scientific exploration, enjoying a spring outing or birdwatching.

The cabins again (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Yuetuo Island is cloaked in lush greenery, the environment hushed, with wildflowers and fruits giving off a delicate fragrance. Wild birds and small animals proliferate, and the nearly isolated natural environment – never disturbed or damaged by people – is rich in rustic charm. The red-roofed cabins and green-field windmills set against sea and sky compose a romantic picture laden with exotic appeal. The beaches around the island boast clean sand, clear water and ideal depths, making them a natural, high-quality bathing spot.

Weekend visitors thronging the island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Yuetuo Island is nearly five kilometres from the mainland, so hardly anyone disturbs it. Brush flourishes on the island, and wildflowers and fruits release a subtle fragrance. Hundreds of bird species live, breed and thrive here in the thousands. Gulls wheel in the blue sky, wild ducks stroll on the water, white-shouldered eagles soar imperiously, and black and white storks go about their business leisurely. Birdwatching with binoculars on the island is the most refreshing activity of all.

Beach motorbiking (Photo: Wang Libao)

The range of activities on Yuetuo Island is impressively varied. Regular options such as fishing at sea, collecting seashells at the tide line, night-time crab catching, high-speed inflatable boats, hot-air balloon flights and beach motorbikes are all great fun. It’s said that larger-scale themed events – like a “Romance Festival”, “Fish-driving Festival”, “Qixi Valentine’s Day” and “Dutch Wind Festival” – will be introduced in the future.

Island pleasure boats (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

A combination of stunning scenery, fun-filled activities and rare, delicious seafood increasingly makes Yuetuo Island one of the top destinations for romantic getaways.

Beer-drinking contest (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

That evening, on the beach by the sea, a tranquil moon hung high in the sky. The silver moonlit night and the passionate beer-and-fireworks carnival had tourists revelling in the joy and excitement of energetic music and dance performances, beer-drinking competitions and dance contests. The moment when fireworks burst into the night sky, turning it into a tree of silver blossoms, the entire beach erupted, and the car-club members found themselves in a wild, joyful sea of celebration.

Villas along the canal (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The next day, the visitors, still wanting more, soaked up the island’s beautiful natural scenery before their delightful trip came to a satisfying end, and they began the return journey to Beijing on the afternoon of 9 August. The two-day self-drive tour of Tangshan and Yuetuo Island gave hundreds of car-club members a truly unforgettable weekend. (Words & Photos: Feng Ganyong)