Departing from Shanghai, a 5-day Self-drive Tour in 2012 to Xiapu, Fuzhou, Lianjiang, and Wenling (Dajing Beach, Yongquan Temple, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Shitang Ancient Town)

From March 30 to April 3, 2012. During the 2012 Qingming Festival short holiday plus annual leave, our family first went to Shengzhou, Zhejiang to sweep tombs, then took a self-drive tour in Fujian, and on the way back visited Shitang Town in Wenling, Zhejiang. This was my first time in Fujian. This self-drive tour mainly followed the coast, visiting many fishing ports nestled between mountains and sea, and we enjoyed seafood along the way. Of course, the roads to those fishing ports over the mountains were not smooth; we often drove on winding mountain roads with continuous bends, even on poorly built or narrow roads under construction, some sections being very bumpy. The biggest regret of this trip was that I saw the beautiful mudflats of Xiapu online, but due to insufficient preparation and lack of a guide, I failed to get good photos. What satisfied me most was driving along the Huangqi Peninsula, with endless sea views all the way. The total fuel and highway tolls for the entire trip amounted to about 2,000 yuan, while scenic spot entrance fees only involved one payment of 40 yuan. The picture below shows Dajing Village in Xiapu and Bijia Mountain Island in the sea.

March 30, 2012 (Shengzhou weather: light to moderate rain, 8 to 18 degrees)

Set off from home in Pudong at 11:00, driving in the rain via Luoshan Road, Outer Ring Expressway, Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, Hangzhou Ring Expressway, Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway, and Shangyu-Sanmen Expressway, heading first to Shengzhou, Zhejiang for tomb sweeping.

11:43, arrived at Xinqiao Toll Station on Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, cumulative mileage 42 km.

12:08, arrived at Fengjing Toll Station on Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, cumulative mileage 77 km, toll 30 yuan.

12:17, arrived at Dayun Toll Station on Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, cumulative mileage 90 km.

12:54, arrived at Chang'an Service Area on Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 150 km.

14:30, arrived at Shengzhou Service Area on Shangyu-Sanmen Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 263 km.

14:43, arrived at Shengzhou Toll Station on Shangyu-Sanmen Expressway, cumulative mileage 280 km, toll 95 yuan.

17:50, arrived at Shengzhou Toll Station on Shangyu-Sanmen Expressway, cumulative mileage 309 km.

20:00, arrived at Qingjiang Service Area on Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 490 km. Filled up with 270 yuan, 93-octane gasoline at 7.94 yuan/liter.

21:28, arrived at Cangnan Service Area on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 612 km.

21:35, arrived at Zhejiang-Fujian Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 620 km, toll 175 yuan.

21:51, arrived at Fujian-Zhejiang Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 629 km.

22:00, arrived at Fuding Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 646 km, toll 10 yuan.

22:15, checked into Jinjiang Inn Fuding Taimu Avenue branch, member discount 161 yuan, total mileage for the day 650 km.

Next to the Jinjiang Inn Fuding Taimu Avenue branch is a food street, still bustling at nearly 11 p.m. The seafood noodles made with these ingredients cost 8 yuan per serving.

March 31, 2012 (Xiapu weather: cloudy, 9 to 18 degrees)

The picture below shows the street view of Fuding city. The Jinjiang Inn is on the main road, Taimu Avenue.

9:50, arrived at Fuding Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 652 km.

The expressways in Fujian are more mountainous than those in Zhejiang, with more tunnels.

Driving on this section of expressway, you can see sea views many times.

10:35, arrived at Xiapu Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 718 km, toll 40 yuan.

Street view of Xiapu County.

At noon, ordered a few simple dishes and had some home-style seafood.

From Xiapu county town to Dajing Village. Many mountain roads with many bends. At that time, without using a mobile phone for navigation, we relied on a paper map.

The last stretch of mountain road into Dajing Village was a single-lane road with severe bends and steep slopes.

Dajing Ancient City, built to resist Japanese pirates, now mainly remains as a section of city wall.

Dajing Beach faces Bijia Mountain Island.

Looking at Bijia Mountain Island and the sea from the winding mountain road feels like a fairyland on earth.

The winding mountain road taken when returning to Xiapu county town.

Many road sections are built along the sea.

16:22, arrived at Xiapu Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 838 km.

16:40, arrived at Fu'an Service Area on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 863 km.

Passed by a car accident scene.

17:56, arrived at Lianjiang Service Area on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway for a break, cumulative mileage 956 km. Filled up with 245 yuan, 93-octane gasoline at 7.84 yuan/liter.

18:35, arrived at Fuzhou East Toll Station on Fuzhou Airport Expressway Connector, cumulative mileage 990 km, toll 95 yuan.

19:00, checked into Jinjiang Inn Fuzhou Wuliting branch, member discount 152 yuan, total mileage for the day 1006 km.

April 1, 2012 (Fuzhou weather: cloudy, 13 to 22 degrees)

The picture below shows Jinjiang Inn Fuzhou Wuliting branch.

Jinjiang Inn Fuzhou Wuliting branch is located on Lianjiang Middle Road, near Yuanyang Road, making it convenient to access the expressway exit.

A winding mountain road over 5 km long leads directly to Yongquan Temple.

Overlooking Fuzhou at the foot of the mountain.

Yongquan Temple, entrance fee 40 yuan.

Gushan Cliff Inscriptions, the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units announced by the State Council on June 25, 2001, category of cave temples and stone carvings, dating from the Song Dynasty to modern times.

Yongquan Temple parking lot.

The picture below was taken on Fuma Road from downtown Fuzhou to Gushan, with elevated structures for expressway and railway.

The statue of Mao Zedong on Fuzhou Wuyi Square, located at the southern foot of Yushan in the city center.

Banyan trees can be seen everywhere on the streets.

It's hard to find parking near West Lake Park; parking is available in front of the residential area on Beimengshan Road, costing 5 yuan per visit.

West Lake Park, a free open park.

Lin Zexu Memorial Hall, located on the south side of Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, can be visited for free.

Subway construction underway in many parts of the city.

A banyan tree stands in the center of a cross street, with traffic circling around it.

Seafood vendors on the streets of Fuzhou.

Going west from Jinjiang Inn Fuzhou Wuliting branch through an alley leads to Changfu Road, which is a night market street from evening until early morning.

Stayed again at Jinjiang Inn Fuzhou Wuliting branch that night, cumulative mileage 1059 km.

April 2, 2012 (Fuzhou weather: cloudy, 14 to 27 degrees)

The building complex of Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and Zhuzi Lane, the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units announced by the State Council on May 25, 2006, category of ancient buildings, dating from the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China. We visited Three Lanes and Seven Alleys. Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is also among the first batch of China's historical and cultural streets.

Walking on the streets does not require a ticket; if you want to visit the ancient buildings, you need to buy a ticket. Among them, several are national key cultural relics protection units.

12:17, arrived at Fuzhou East Toll Station on Fuzhou Airport Expressway Connector, cumulative mileage 1089 km.

12:40, arrived at Lianjiang Toll Station on Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, cumulative mileage 1122 km, toll 25 yuan.