Top 10 Islands in China: The Complete 2026 Guide

The ferry lurched sideways and I grabbed the railing, watching a man in a blue cap calmly peel an orange as the South China Sea tossed us around. He offered me a slice. I took it. The juice was sweet and warm, and somewhere ahead, an island I’d only seen on a map was getting closer. That was on a Tuesday in March, off the coast of Hainan. I’d been living in Beijing for four years by then, and I’d learned something: China’s islands are nothing like the postcards. They’re rougher, stranger, and far more interesting.

Most tourists come to China for the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. They leave without ever seeing the coast. That’s a mistake. China has over 14,000 kilometers of coastline and more than 5,000 islands. Some are concrete jungles. Others are barely more than a fishing village with a single noodle shop. A few are genuinely world-class.

I’ve been to 37 of them over seven years. These are the ten that stuck.

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The Short Version

If you only have time for one, go to Weizhou Island in Guangxi. It’s affordable, beautiful, and doesn’t feel like a resort. If you want luxury, Hainan’s Yalong Bay is your spot, but bring your wallet. Skip Gulangyu on weekends unless you enjoy crowds that make Times Square look empty. For something weird and wonderful, Dongtou in Zhejiang has a fish market that smells like the ocean’s basement and I mean that as a compliment.

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How I Picked These

I didn’t use a ranking algorithm. I used my feet, my wallet, and my patience. I ate the street food, missed ferries, overpaid for taxis, and sat on beaches watching Chinese families argue about where to eat lunch. I talked to fishermen, hotel receptionists, and a very drunk Australian expat who told me the best island in China was “the one you leave before you run out of cash.”

I prioritized places that are accessible to foreign tourists (with or without a VPN), have something genuinely worth seeing, and won’t make you want to fly home early. I excluded military-controlled islands, islands that are essentially luxury resorts with no local culture, and places where I genuinely felt unsafe.

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Comparison Table

Rank	Place	Best For	Approx Cost (USD)	Time Needed	When to Go
1	Weizhou Island	Budget travelers, volcanic landscapes	$30-50/day	2-3 days	Apr-Oct
2	Yalong Bay, Hainan	Luxury, clear water	$150-300/day	3-5 days	Nov-Apr
3	Gulangyu Island	Architecture, history	$20-40/day	1-2 days	Weekdays only
4	Zhoushan Islands	Seafood, temples	$40-70/day	3-4 days	May-Oct
5	Liugong Island	History, quiet	$25-45/day	1 day	May-Sep
6	Nanji Islands	Hiking, isolation	$30-50/day	2-3 days	Jun-Sep
7	Dongtou Island	Authentic fishing culture	$25-40/day	2 days	May-Oct
8	Putuoshan Island	Buddhism, pilgrimage	$50-80/day	2 days	Year-round
9	Changdao Islands	Cliffs, birdwatching	$30-50/day	2 days	May-Oct
10	Shuangyue Bay	Surfing, backpackers	$20-35/day	2-3 days	Jun-Sep

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1. Weizhou Island — The One I Keep Going Back To

The first time I went to Weizhou, I got off the ferry and a woman grabbed my arm and tried to sell me a pearl necklace for 200 yuan. I said no. She dropped to 50. I said no again. She sighed, smiled, and pointed me toward the noodle shop. That’s Weizhou in a nutshell: pushy but warm, chaotic but genuine.

This island off the coast of Beihai in Guangxi is a volcanic leftover, and it shows. The beaches are dark sand, not white. The water is clear but not Caribbean-blue. What makes it special is the feel — scooters buzzing past, old women drying squid on bamboo mats, Catholic churches built by French missionaries in the 1800s that still hold Sunday mass in Chinese.

You can rent an electric scooter for about $8 (55 yuan) a day and explore the whole island in three hours. The volcano park at the south end has boardwalks over black lava rock and waves crashing through sea caves. The sunset from Shiluokou Beach is worth the mosquito bites.

• 📍 Location: Weizhou Town, Beihai, Guangxi
• 🎫 Entry fee: $12 (85 yuan) for the island, includes volcano park
• 🕐 Hours: Ferry runs 8:00-17:00, last return at 15:00
• 🚆 How to get there: Fly or train to Beihai. From Beihai Ferry Terminal, take the 90-minute ferry ($15/100 yuan one way). Book ahead in summer.
• ⏰ When to visit: April to October. July is peak — hot, crowded, but the water is warm. Go in May or September for fewer people.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • Rent a scooter BEFORE you check into your hotel — the owner can usually arrange it cheaper than the street rental shops
  • The Catholic church opens at 8am, but the gate guard will let you in at 7 if you ask nicely
  • Don’t eat at restaurants on the main strip near the ferry. Walk 10 minutes inland to find the family-run places
  • Bring cash — many small shops don’t take WeChat Pay
  • The southern beaches are rockier but less crowded than the north
• One thing: I met a fisherman named Chen who spoke no English but spent 20 minutes showing me how to eat sea urchin with chopsticks. It was terrible. I ate all of it.

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2. Yalong Bay, Hainan — The One Where You Spend Money

I sat on a lounge chair at the Ritz-Carlton and watched a Russian man argue with a Chinese waiter about the temperature of his beer. The water was 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The sand was white. The palm trees were perfectly spaced. It felt less like China and more like a screensaver.

Yalong Bay is the most developed beach area on Hainan Island, and it shows in the prices. A basic room at a four-star hotel will run you $100 (700 yuan) a night. The Ritz or the St. Regis? $350+ (2500 yuan). But the water is genuinely clear — visibility of 10 meters on a good day — and the beach is public, so you don’t have to stay at a fancy hotel to use it.

The snorkeling is decent but not world-class. The real draw is doing nothing. Sit on the sand, eat a coconut, watch the parasailers scream. The boardwalk has restaurants serving everything from Hainan chicken rice to questionable pizza.

• 📍 Location: Yalong Bay National Resort District, Sanya, Hainan
• 🎫 Entry fee: Free for the beach. Hotels are separate.
• 🕐 Hours: Beach is 24/7, but lifeguards leave at 6pm
• 🚆 How to get there: Fly to Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Take a taxi ($15/100 yuan, 40 minutes) or bus Line 27 ($1/7 yuan, 1 hour).
• ⏰ When to visit: November to April. Summer is brutally hot and humid. Chinese New Year is peak season — rooms triple in price.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • The beach vendors selling fruit will charge you triple if you look foreign. Walk to the supermarket near the Marriott instead
  • Buy snorkeling gear in Sanya city, not on the beach — it’s half the price
  • The “underwater walk” activity is a scam. You just walk on the ocean floor in a heavy helmet. Skip it.
  • Download Alipay before you come — almost no one takes cash or cards here
  • The bus from the airport stops at every hotel. It’s slow but saves you $12
• One thing: A hotel staff member told me the sand was imported from the Philippines. I don’t know if that’s true, but it made me feel better about the room rate.

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3. Gulangyu Island — The One Everyone Visits

I made the mistake of going to Gulangyu on a Saturday in October. The ferry terminal in Xiamen looked like a rock concert crowd. People were pushing. A child was crying. An elderly woman elbowed me in the ribs. When I finally got off the ferry on the island, I was surrounded by 40,000 other people.

Gulangyu is beautiful. It has colonial-era villas, narrow lanes, a piano museum, and a beach that’s actually nice. But the crowds are absurd. On weekdays, it’s manageable. On weekends, it’s a human river. The Chinese government has started limiting daily visitors, but it’s still packed.

The architecture is the main draw — European-style buildings from the 19th century when foreign consulates set up shop here. The Sunlight Rock viewpoint gives you a 360-degree view of Xiamen’s skyline. The food is overpriced and mediocre, except for the egg waffles from a tiny stall near the piano museum.

• 📍 Location: Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, Fujian
• 🎫 Entry fee: Free. Individual attractions: $3-8 (20-55 yuan)
• 🕐 Hours: Ferry runs 24 hours, but frequency drops after 10pm
• 🚆 How to get there: Take Xiamen Metro Line 1 to Zhenhai Road Station, Exit 3. Walk 10 minutes to the ferry terminal. Buy tickets online via WeChat — the line at the counter is 30 minutes minimum.
• ⏰ When to visit: Tuesday-Thursday, 8am-11am. Avoid weekends and Chinese holidays entirely.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • The “round-the-island” ferry ticket ($8/55 yuan) includes a 40-minute boat ride. Skip it — you can walk the island in 2 hours
  • Stay overnight if you can. The island empties after 6pm and becomes magical
  • The piano museum is small but free. Go early before the tour groups arrive
  • Don’t buy the “local snacks” from vendors near the ferry. They’re factory-made and marked up 400%
  • Bring a physical map. Phone signal is unreliable with all the tourists
• One thing: I got lost in the back alleys and found a courtyard where an old man was playing erhu (Chinese violin) for no one. He didn’t stop when I sat down. I stayed for 20 minutes.

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4. Zhoushan Islands — The One for Seafood

The fish market in Zhoushan at 5am is not for the faint of heart. Tanks of crabs clicking their claws. Eels sliding over each other. A woman hacking a tuna with a cleaver the size of my forearm. The smell is salt, diesel, and something I can’t identify but don’t want to. I bought a fish I’d never seen before for $2 and asked a restaurant to cook it. They looked at me like I was insane.

Zhoushan is an archipelago of over 1,300 islands off the coast of Zhejiang, east of Shanghai. Most are uninhabited. The main island — also called Zhoushan — is connected to the mainland by a series of bridges, so you don’t even need a ferry. It’s China’s largest fishing port, and the seafood is spectacular.

The best part is the lack of foreign tourists. I saw exactly three other Westerners during my four days there. The downside is that English is almost non-existent. You’ll need a translation app and a lot of patience.

• 📍 Location: Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province
• 🎫 Entry fee: Free for the main island. Ferry to outer islands: $3-10 (20-70 yuan)
• 🕐 Hours: Markets open 4am-8am for wholesale, 8am-6pm for retail
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train from Shanghai to Ningbo (2 hours, $25/175 yuan), then bus to Zhoushan (2 hours, $10/70 yuan). Or fly direct to Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport from Shanghai or Beijing.
• ⏰ When to visit: May to October. September is the best month for seafood — the fishing ban ends on September 16.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • Go to the Donghe Market at 6am for the freshest fish. Bring a bag and cash
  • Restaurants will cook your purchased seafood for a $3-5 (20-35 yuan) service fee
  • The bridge to the mainland has a toll of about $5 (35 yuan) — factor this into taxi costs
  • Visit Taohua (Peach Blossom) Island for hiking — ferry is $4 (28 yuan), 30 minutes
  • If you don’t eat seafood, you will struggle. There’s some pork and chicken but not much else
• One thing: A restaurant owner named Auntie Wang saw me struggling with the menu, brought out a plate of steamed crab, pointed at it, and said “Good.” She was right.

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5. Liugong Island — The One with the Warships

I stood on a hillside on Liugong Island and watched a Chinese naval destroyer glide past, quiet and gray. No one else seemed to notice. They were busy taking selfies with the old British colonial buildings. I stared at the warship until it disappeared behind the headland.

Liugong Island, off the coast of Weihai in Shandong, is China’s most historically significant island. It was the headquarters of the Beiyang Fleet, the Qing dynasty’s navy, and was occupied by the British for 32 years after the First Sino-Japanese War. The island is a museum now, with old cannons, barracks, and a naval museum that tells a story of defeat and humiliation that China doesn’t usually highlight.

It’s quiet here. No nightlife, no beach parties, no souvenir shops selling plastic swords. Just hills, history, and the occasional warship.

• 📍 Location: Liugong Island, Weihai, Shandong
• 🎫 Entry fee: $20 (140 yuan) for the ferry + island ticket
• 🕐 Hours: Ferry runs 7:30-16:30, last return at 17:30
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train to Weihai from Beijing (4 hours, $50/350 yuan) or Qingdao (1.5 hours, $20/140 yuan). From Weihai, bus or taxi to the ferry terminal (15 minutes).
• ⏰ When to visit: May to September. Weekdays are nearly empty. Avoid October — it’s foggy and cold.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • The British colonial buildings are in the southeast part of the island. Most tourists miss them
  • Bring your own food. The restaurants on the island are expensive and mediocre
  • The naval museum has English translations for about half the exhibits
  • Wear good shoes — the island is hilly and the paths are uneven
  • Check the ferry schedule the day before — it changes with weather
• One thing: A retired Chinese navy officer saw me looking at a photo of a sunken ship and told me, in broken English, “We lost. But we learned.”

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6. Nanji Islands — The One Where You Hike

The trail along the eastern coast of Nanji Island is not really a trail. It’s a path of loose rocks that runs along a cliff edge with no railing. The wind was strong enough that I had to lean into it. Below me, the sea crashed into caves that looked like open mouths. I thought: if I fall, no one will find me for days.

Nanji is part of a marine reserve in Zhejiang, about an hour by ferry from the mainland. It’s known for hiking, birdwatching, and being completely undeveloped. There are a few guesthouses, a couple of restaurants, and that’s it. No ATMs. No convenience stores. No Wi-Fi outside the guesthouses.

The hiking is spectacular — cliffs, sea arches, and views that go on forever. The main trail takes about 4 hours. The secondary trails are unmarked and sometimes disappear entirely. That’s part of the charm.

• 📍 Location: Nanji Islands, Pingyang County, Zhejiang
• 🎫 Entry fee: $10 (70 yuan) for the island. Ferry: $15 (105 yuan) one way.
• 🕐 Hours: Ferry runs 2-3 times daily, dependent on weather
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train to Wenzhou, then bus to Aojiang Ferry Terminal (1 hour). Ferry to Nanji takes 1.5 hours.
• ⏰ When to visit: June to September. July and August are peak but still not crowded. May and October are cooler but foggy.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • Book your return ferry ticket when you arrive — they sell out
  • Bring cash. There are no ATMs on the island
  • The guesthouses near the ferry dock are basic but fine. The ones on the south side are nicer but a 40-minute walk
  • Don’t hike alone if it’s foggy. The trails are easy to lose
  • September is the best month — the weather is stable and the crowds are gone
• One thing: I got lost on a side trail and ended up at a deserted beach where a fisherman was repairing his net. He offered me tea from a thermos. We sat in silence for 20 minutes. Best tea I’ve had in China.

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7. Dongtou Island — The One That Smells Like the Sea

The air in Dongtou doesn’t just smell like fish. It smells like fish that has been dried, salted, fried, and left in the sun for three days. It’s overwhelming at first. By day two, I stopped noticing.

Dongtou is a small island off the coast of Wenzhou in Zhejiang, connected to the mainland by a bridge. It’s not a tourist destination. It’s a working fishing island where people live, work, and die. The main street is lined with shops selling dried squid, fishing nets, and nothing for tourists. I loved it.

The east side of the island has a coastline of black basalt columns — like a mini Giant’s Causeway. The west side has a temple that’s been here since the Ming dynasty. The middle has a fish market that starts at 3am and ends when everything is sold.

• 📍 Location: Dongtou District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang
• 🎫 Entry fee: Free
• 🕐 Hours: 24/7
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train to Wenzhou, then bus to Dongtou (1.5 hours, $5/35 yuan). Or drive — the bridge toll is $4 (28 yuan).
• ⏰ When to visit: May to October. Weekdays are dead quiet. Weekends see some domestic tourists.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • The fish market at 5am is the real show. Bring a mask if you’re sensitive to smell
  • The basalt columns are best seen at low tide. Check tide tables online
  • There’s one guesthouse that accepts foreigners — Dongtou Seaview Hotel. Book ahead
  • No one speaks English. The translation app “Waygo” works well for menus
  • The sunset view from the lighthouse on the east coast is worth the steep walk
• One thing: A woman selling dried fish tried to give me a discount because she felt bad that I was eating alone. I bought three bags. I still have one in my apartment.

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8. Putuoshan Island — The One with the Monks

I arrived at Putuoshan at 6pm on a Tuesday in November. The ferry was nearly empty. The island was dark except for the lights of temples scattered across the hills. A monk in gray robes walked past me without looking up. The only sound was the wind and the waves.

Putuoshan is one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism, dedicated to Guanyin, the goddess of mercy. It’s an island of temples, monasteries, and pilgrims. The atmosphere is reverent but not oppressive. You don’t have to be Buddhist to appreciate it.

The main temple, Puji Temple, dates back to the Tang dynasty. The giant statue of Guanyin on the south coast is 33 meters tall and visible from the ferry. The beaches are mediocre, but that’s not why you come here.

• 📍 Location: Putuoshan Island, Zhoushan, Zhejiang
• 🎫 Entry fee: $25 (175 yuan) for the island. Temples are free.
• 🕐 Hours: Temples open 6am-5pm. Ferry runs 6:30-17:30.
• 🚆 How to get there: Same as Zhoushan (above). From Zhoushan, take a ferry to Putuoshan ($5/35 yuan, 30 minutes).
• ⏰ When to visit: Year-round, but avoid Chinese holidays and the birthday of Guanyin (March/April, depending on lunar calendar).
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • Stay overnight at a temple guesthouse. It costs about $20 (140 yuan) and includes vegetarian dinner
  • The vegetarian food at the temples is excellent. Don’t skip it
  • Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered
  • The cable car to the top of the island costs $5 (35 yuan) and saves an hour of hiking
  • November is the best month — cool, quiet, and the autumn colors are beautiful
• One thing: A young monk saw me taking photos of a temple and motioned for me to follow him. He showed me a hidden courtyard with a 500-year-old tree. He didn’t speak English. I didn’t speak Chinese. We just nodded at each other.

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9. Changdao Islands — The One with the Cliffs

The cliffs at Changdao are not like the white cliffs of Dover. They’re darker, older, and more dramatic — layers of rock that look like they’ve been stacked by a giant. The sea has carved caves and arches into them. The water at the base is so clear you can see rocks 20 feet down.

Changdao is an archipelago in the Bohai Strait, off the coast of Yantai in Shandong. It’s a national geological park, and the main attraction is the coastline — cliffs, sea stacks, and a beach made of smooth pebbles instead of sand. The pebble beach is called Moon Bay, and it’s exactly as beautiful as it sounds.

The islands are connected by bridges, so you can drive or take a bus. The main island has hotels and restaurants. The smaller islands are mostly uninhabited.

• 📍 Location: Changdao County, Yantai, Shandong
• 🎫 Entry fee: $10 (70 yuan) for the geological park. Additional attractions: $3-5 (20-35 yuan)
• 🕐 Hours: Park opens 7am-5:30pm. Ferry runs 6:00-17:00.
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train to Yantai, then bus to Penglai Ferry Terminal (1 hour). Ferry to Changdao ($8/55 yuan, 40 minutes).
• ⏰ When to visit: May to October. July and August are crowded with domestic tourists. September is the sweet spot.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • The bird migration in May and October is spectacular — bring binoculars
  • The pebble beach is protected — don’t take any stones home (it’s illegal)
  • Rent a bike on the main island to explore — $5 (35 yuan) for the day
  • The seafood here is cheaper than Zhoushan but not as varied
  • Check weather before booking — the ferry cancels in high winds
• One thing: A local told me that the cliffs were formed by a dragon fighting a god. I don’t believe it, but I like the story better than the geology textbook version.

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10. Shuangyue Bay — The One for Surfing

I’ve never surfed in my life. I tried at Shuangyue Bay and spent most of the time swallowing saltwater and getting hit by my own board. A Chinese teenager paddled past me, stood up on his first wave, and rode it all the way to shore. I cheered for him while floating face-down.

Shuangyue Bay (Double Moon Bay) is on the coast of Huizhou in Guangdong, about 2 hours from Hong Kong. It’s China’s best surfing beach — consistent waves, warm water, and a laid-back vibe that’s rare in this country. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon, hence the name.

The town is small and scruffy — hostels, surf shops, and restaurants serving cheap seafood. It’s popular with Hong Kong surfers on weekends. During the week, it’s nearly empty.

• 📍 Location: Shuangyue Bay, Huizhou, Guangdong
• 🎫 Entry fee: Free
• 🕐 Hours: 24/7
• 🚆 How to get there: High-speed train from Shenzhen to Huizhou (30 minutes, $8/55 yuan), then taxi ($15/100 yuan, 40 minutes). Or bus from Shenzhen ($5/35 yuan, 2 hours).
• ⏰ When to visit: June to September for surfing. October to May for quiet beaches and hiking.
• 💡 Insider tips:
  • Surfboard rental is $8-15 (55-105 yuan) per day. Lessons are $20 (140 yuan) per hour
  • The waves are best in the morning, 7am-10am
  • The hostels near the beach are basic but clean. Book ahead on weekends
  • There’s a hiking trail along the cliffs east of the beach — 2 hours, stunning views
  • English is limited. Download Google Translate or Pleco before you come
• One thing: The surf instructor was a 22-year-old from Shenzhen who spoke perfect English. He told me he learned it from watching American movies. “I thought surfing would be easier,” he said. “So did I,” I replied.

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FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit these islands? Most of these islands are part of mainland China, so the standard visa rules apply. As of 2026, citizens of 54 countries can transit through Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities visa-free for up to 144 hours. Some cities (like Xiamen for Gulangyu) have their own visa-free transit policies. Check the latest at chinavisaservice.com before booking.

Can I use my phone on these islands? Yes, but you’ll need a Chinese SIM card (available at airports for $10-20/70-140 yuan) and a VPN installed before you leave home. The islands have good 4G/5G coverage except for Nanji and remote parts of Changdao, where signal drops to 3G or nothing.

Is it safe to travel alone as a foreigner? Yes. China’s islands are very safe. The biggest risks are getting lost, food poisoning from street stalls, and overpaying for taxis. I’ve traveled to all of these alone and never felt unsafe. The main issue is language — few people speak English outside of Hainan and Gulangyu.

How do I pay for things? WeChat Pay and Alipay are used everywhere. Set them up before you leave with a foreign credit card (Visa/Mastercard now work on both platforms as of 2024). Bring cash as backup — about $50 (350 yuan) — for small stalls and markets that don’t take digital payments.

What’s the best way to get around? High-speed trains between cities, then ferries or buses to the islands. Download the app “China Train” for train schedules. For ferries, buy tickets at the terminal or via WeChat. Taxis are cheap but often try to overcharge foreigners — use Didi (China’s Uber) instead.

Do I need to speak Chinese? For Hainan and Gulangyu, basic English will get you by. For the other islands, you’ll need a translation app. I recommend Pleco (for Chinese characters) and Google Translate (for voice translation). Learn these phrases: “duōshao qián” (how much), “xièxiè” (thank you), and “cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ” (where is the bathroom).

When is the best time to visit? April-May and September-October are ideal. Summer (June-August) is hot, humid, and crowded with domestic tourists. Winter (November-February) is cold and many ferries cancel due to weather, but prices are lower and crowds are gone.

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The Honest Wrap-up

I wrote this list for the traveler who wants more than a resort. If you want to lie on a beach with a piña colada and never speak to a local, go to Hainan. It’s fine. But if you want to eat fish that was caught that morning, get lost on a hiking trail, and sit in silence with a monk under a 500-year-old tree, go to any of the other nine.

China’s islands are not polished. They’re rough, loud, smelly, and confusing. The ferry schedules change. The food will sometimes make you sick. The locals will stare at you like you’re an alien. And then someone will offer you a slice of orange on a rocking ferry, and you’ll realize that’s the whole point.

Book the flight. Bring a VPN. Download a translation app. And when you get to the island, walk away from the main street. That’s where the real China is.