In-Depth Tour of Xiapu: Part 2 – Taimu Mountain, Yacheng, Sansha, and Yushan Island

I had long heard that Xiao Hao Beach in Sansha, Xiapu, is colorful, and had seen many photographs of it. I had even been there before, but never saw the colors—could it be the result of photographers' retouching?

On Sunday, May 24, 2020, which was the second day of the fourth lunar month, there was a spring tide. China Tide website showed the low tide time for Sansha, Fujian, was 4:58 PM.

I decided to visit again and also stop by "Le Jian Garden" on the way.

At 2:30 PM, just as I was about to head to the bus station, the small car arranged by the owner of Le Jian Garden had already arrived at my doorstep to pick me up. I asked about the price: chartering the car cost 60 yuan, or sharing it cost 15 yuan per person. Twenty minutes later, I was at the entrance of Le Jian Garden.

Visiting Le Jian Garden:

First Encounter with Le Jian Garden

Very, very close to the sea

There is a village called Xiao Hao

Famous for its gorgeous colorful mudflats

Here is a guesthouse named “Le Jian Garden”

In early summer at Le Jian Garden

Flowers and trees are lush, the grass is green

Strolling idly in the garden

Roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums… a riot of purple and red, too many to take in

When looking at flowers, I often forget many things

Perhaps that's why I love being with flowers

Sowing, cultivating, pruning, weeding – the busy figure of the gardener

Grass is seeding

Wind is shaking the leaves

By the bright window, slender bamboos sway, their green shadows falling on the zither

Soft, gentle music flows through the air, slowly seeping into the heart

As the strings are plucked, I ask myself: what day is this?

Not a single flower is gray

Life becomes beautiful with the support of fresh flowers

A single red rose on the dining table

Fragrances the time and warms my heart

Under the mulberry tree, the brother and sister are busy and happy

The fruit is red with a hint of black, truly tempting

A fondness for fragrance is human nature.

Fragrance, amid its pleasantness, stirs the spirit's agility, connecting the tangible and intangible, harmonizing body and mind.

Let go of one thought, release

Only in the curling incense smoke

At this moment, there should be no self

Inside the room, the air is thick with tea

Outside the window, birds sing and flowers fall

In the aged white tea lies the story of time

Sipped slowly, savored gently

The warmth of human life comforts ordinary hearts best

After wine and a full meal, I wander upstairs to digest

Quiet and comfortable, with an excellent view of the sea

Sitting on the third-floor terrace at dusk

Watch the sunset stir the sea's memories

Remember Haizi's "Facing the sea, with spring flowers blossoming"?

May the gentle sea breeze bring us soft hope

Beautiful scenery, pleasant things

Appreciating flowers, tasting tea, burning incense, playing the zither…

The serene and good life at Le Jian Garden is truly worth having

Looking forward to seeing “Le Jian Garden” again

Please enjoy the video “Xiao Hao – First Encounter with Le Jian Garden”

Day 2: Taimu Mountain – Yacheng Yangjia Creek (or Meihua) (Note: This travelogue is not from a single day and was completed over time; it is a summary of my multiple in-depth visits.) Or Yangjia Creek – Meihua.

The visitor center of Taimu Mountain Scenic Area (5A level) is right at the highway exit of Qinyu Town, and shuttle buses take visitors up the scenic area. Qinyu Town is directly accessible by high-speed train, but the train station is some distance from Qinyu.

Xiapu (or Sansha and Xiao Hao) to Qinyu is very convenient. There are both shared cars and scheduled buses. Starting around 7 AM, the tour ends around noon (scenic spots are concentrated on the mid-mountain, no summit climb).

After returning to Qinyu, if you want to visit Yacheng Yangjia Creek (or Meihua), you need to charter a car or drive yourself. If you take a bus to Yacheng and then go to Yangjia Creek (or Meihua), the back-and-forth transfers would likely leave you no time to enjoy.

Under normal circumstances, a one-day charter within the Xiapu (including Taimu Mountain) area costs around 500 yuan. No matter where you want to go, the driver will take you and pick you up. This is the most hassle-free way to handle transportation, but for solo travelers, the cost is a bit high.

Please enjoy the video “Taimu Mountain” (my earlier work)

Photos of Taimu Mountain:

Hiking route at Taimu Mountain (not recommended for ordinary tourists): hike the White Tea Ancient Path. Please enjoy the video “Fairy City on the Sea”

For half a day in Yacheng, many people choose Yangjia Creek, but I prefer Meihua Village. For transportation, self-driving or charter is recommended.

Yangjia Creek: Longting Waterfall – Qian Emperor Ancient Path – Qinglong Temple – Longman Cave – Rongfeng Park

Please enjoy the video “Yangjia Creek” (the spots covered in this film cannot be completed in half a day; visitors should make choices)

Photos of Yangjia Creek:

Half-day tour of Meihua Yiceng Mountain (free scenic spot, highly recommended): Transportation: self-driving or charter. Yacheng – Lower Meihua – Old Meihua Pier (Xiangbitou) – Yiceng Mountain

Please enjoy the video “A Bud Is Also Spring”

Photo of Xiangbitou: (There were so many video materials to shoot that I had no time to take photos; only this one, which is precious.)

Day 3: Huazhu (CCTV's sunrise over the East filming spot) – Yushan Island – Liuyun Temple – Dongbi (Transportation: self-driving or charter recommended)

Please enjoy the video “Full Moon and Sunrise at Huazhu”. The first part of this video is Niulangang, Xiapu; the second part is Yushan Island.

Photos of Huazhu (Huazhu without sun is gray and hazy, but I chose these so you can understand it more realistically):

After watching the sunrise at Huazhu, a 20-minute drive takes you to Sansha Ancient Town Pier. There are boats to Yushan Island at 9 AM and 11 AM, and return boats from Yushan to Sansha Ancient Town at 12 PM and 3 PM.

Please enjoy the video “Yushan Island”. Yushan Island is most beautiful in the mist, but if the fog is too thick, you can't see anything—this is the two sides of the coin. To make this film, I specifically stayed overnight on the island.

On the way back from Yushan, we pass Liuyun Temple. A short stop here for a sea view is a good choice. (For a video of Liuyun Temple, you can watch it in the Changchun route “Sunset at Xiawei Island.”)

Finally, watch the sunset at Dongbi.