Chasing the Sun in Xiapu, Fujian (Including Detailed Guide to Accommodation, Food, and Transport on Yushan Island)

Chasing the Sun in Xiapu, Fujian (Including Detailed Guide to Accommodation, Food, and Transport on Yushan Island)

Second Stop: Yushan Island, one of the top ten most beautiful islands in China. Administratively under Fuding City, but closer to Sansha Town in Xiapu.

1. The lodge we stayed on the island didn't serve lunch or dinner. We had to walk about ten minutes to Fuding Tianhu Lake Lodge for meals. For a group of four adults and one child, it cost over 300 yuan—the most expensive meal we had.

2. For island tours, we ate at a small stir-fry eatery in Dongjiao Village at the foot of the mountain. The shop was right at the dock where freshly caught wild seafood came ashore. A whole table of food cost 200 yuan. Remember: do not eat at tourist spots; ask the driver to take you to village eateries for authentic and affordable food.

3. Breakfast: Provided by the lodge.

4. Due to scarce freshwater resources, vegetables were the most expensive item on the island.

1. Location: Fuding Yulü Summer Resort is located in Nanfenghu Natural Village, Zao'aocun, Yushan Town. It's about 4 km on foot from Tianhu Scenic Area.

(1) Facing the Taiwan Strait and backed by Tianhu Scenic Area, you can see beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the lodge entrance, and at night, a sky full of stars.

(2) Away from the commercial street—quiet; close to Tianhu Scenic Area, allowing a second visit to Tianhu.

(3) On rainy days, sit in the hall, brew tea, and listen to the wind and rain—an indescribable atmosphere.

(4) There's a washing trough for laundry and a place to hang clothes.

(5) The owner is very warm and lovely, making breakfast and coffee for us personally, and it was free!

(1) Newly opened, short-staffed, cleanliness average.

(2) Far from commercial areas—only one place to eat, two places to stay, and prices higher than at the foot of the mountain.

(1) Itinerary (continuing from previous post)

Day 3 Morning: Watch sunrise at Huazhu — take the 9:30 am ferry to Yushan Island — check into the lodge.

Day 3 Afternoon: Enter Tianhu at 3 pm for sightseeing; sunny, capture sunset.

Day 4 Morning: Capture sunrise at the lodge; after breakfast, start island tour at 8 am (Yangguwei Military Base ruins, Zao'aocun, Dongjiao Village, Mangdang Village, Moon Bay, etc.). Got a bit tired, didn't finish the full tour. Ended up eating at a small stir-fry shop in Dongjiao Village, right at the dock where local fishing boats land. That's how a 200-yuan wild seafood feast happened! Yushan Island isn't just about Tianhu—the essence lies in the island tour.

Day 4 Afternoon: After lunch nap, rode a motorcycle up the mountain at 4 pm. Dinner: the lodge owner specially went down to buy seafood from fishermen, and we cooked together with the owner.

Day 5 Morning: Capture sunrise at the lodge — take the scenic area shuttle to the dock for the 7:00 am early ferry.

Tip: If weather is good, consider chartering a boat for a fishing trip!

(2) How to Get to and from Yushan Island

1. Entering from Shangumagang Pier, Xiapu.

(1) Cost & Time: Ferry ticket from Guma Pier to Yushan Island: 50 yuan/person, 30 minutes. For groups over 5, the lodge owner said they can help apply for a 10% discount—we didn't use it. Parking fee at the pier: about 80–90 yuan/day; we parked two nights and bargained with the attendant, saving a bit.

(2) Ferry Schedule: Departure: 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm; Return: 7:00 am, 1:30 pm or 3:00 pm. After booking the room, the lodge owner sent me the exact times the night before departure.

(3) Notes: The above times are subject to confirmation on site, as actual departure times depend on weather and passenger numbers. If there are many people, it's best to arrive at the pier before 8:00 am and head straight to the passenger center to arrange the ferry, because the ferry from Da Yushan arrives at the dock before 8:00 am. For return times, confirm with the hotel about the exact ferry schedule.

(4) Guma Pier is located in the northeast corner of Sansha Town. After exiting the expressway, take County Road 981 to the pier, passing Xiaohao Village and Dongbi Village. It's also close to Huazhu Village—if you plan to photograph sunrise and sunset there, you should enter the island from here. Village roads are narrow, drive slowly.

2. Entering from Yujing Pier, Fuding.

(1) Cost: Ferry ticket from Yujing Pier: 50 yuan. The owner of our lodging said parking is free and close to the expressway.

(2) Ferry Schedule: According to my knowledge, departure times from Yujing Pier: 9:00 am, 2:00 pm; Return from Yushan: 7:00 am, 1:00 pm or 3:00 pm (return times need advance confirmation).

(3) If you plan to visit Taimu Mountain before heading to Yushan Island, you should enter from Yujing Pier.

(3) Island Transportation

1. How to Get to the Accommodation

(1) After getting off the ferry, walk about 100 meters to the Tianhu Scenic Area ticket office. Buy a ticket (includes round-trip fare from the pier to Tianhu). Important: Do not lose the ticket—you'll need it for the return trip.

(2) Take the scenic area shuttle to the lodge. Tell the driver you're going to Nanfenghu. But make sure to ask the driver to drop you inside Nanfenghu Village, not at the intersection—otherwise you'll have to walk about ten minutes.

2. How to Get to and from Tianhu

(1) By Scenic Area Shuttle: Round trips require an extra 10 yuan/person fare. The lodge owner can help arrange the shuttle. After getting off at Tianhu, communicate with the driver about the return time and contact method.

(2) By Borrowed Motorcycle: You can borrow a motorcycle from the lodge owner to ride up to Tianhu Scenic Area. But you need to know how to ride and have a driver's license.

(3) On Foot: From our lodge to Tianhu, about 4 km of winding uphill road, probably takes nearly an hour. Suitable for fit people.

3. Island Tour: The lodge owner arranges a private car—200 yuan per day, full-day hire.

1. On Tianhu: Sunny days, capture beautiful sunsets at Tianhu; cloudy days, capture the rolling sea mist, the dark clouds over Tianhu, and the swirling clouds at your feet—it's unique. We were lucky—we visited Tianhu twice, once sunny, once cloudy.

2. On the Way Back from Tianhu: At 6:00 pm, capture sunset along the road.

3. Our lodge itself is a scenic spot and a photography spot. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the left hill offers sunrise; the front gate offers sunset. At night, enjoy beer, sea breeze, and a sky full of stars.

V. Notes

1. Protect yourself from the sun; bring a thin long-sleeved layer, as it gets cold when it rains.

2. When entering the island, only bring a change of clothes. Leave large luggage in the car or find a place to store it, otherwise it's inconvenient to carry bags around the island.

3. For island tours, ask the driver to take you to village stir-fry eateries for fresh and cheap seafood. Do not eat at tourist spots or places frequented by non-locals.

The biggest regret of this trip was not completing the full island tour—we'll have to save it for next time.