Top 10 Islands in China: The Complete 2026 Guide

I sat on a plastic stool by the dock on Weizhou Island, watching fishing boats bob in the afternoon heat. A woman next to me was cleaning a pile of squid her husband had just brought in. She didn’t look up when I asked for the ferry schedule—just pointed a knife toward the ticket booth. That’s when I knew this island was the real deal.

China’s islands don’t get the same hype as its mountains or megacities, but they should. Over forty trips across this country, I’ve bounced from the overdeveloped beaches of Hainan to forgotten volcanic stacks in the South China Sea, from piano-key alleys in Xiamen to misty Buddhist peaks rising out of the East China Sea. Each one tells a different story about China—its tourism machine, its quiet corners, its fishermen still hauling nets at 5am.

This guide is for first-time visitors who want more than the brochure. I’ll tell you which islands are worth the journey, which are tourist traps you should skip, and how to actually get there without losing your mind. Prices are in USD with approximate CNY in brackets—2026 estimates, so budget a little extra unless you enjoy running out of cash on a ferry.

The Short Version

Three islands I’d recommend to anyone: Gulangyu (Xiamen) for its shady lanes and colonial architecture, Putuoshan (Zhejiang) for a genuinely spiritual experience with gorgeous mountain temples, and Weizhou Island (Guangxi) for raw volcanic scenery and seafood that’ll ruin you for supermarket fish. Skip Sanya’s resort islands unless you want to eat overpriced buffet breakfasts next to drunk Russians. Dongji and Shengsi in the Zhoushan archipelago are for serious travelers who don’t mind rough seas.

How I Picked These

I’ve been to every island on this list at least once, most of them multiple times. I’ve missed the last ferry (twice), paid too much for a room (three times), and once got stuck in a typhoon on Changdao for three days. I asked taxi drivers, guesthouse owners, and random people eating noodles which islands they’d recommend to a foreign friend. If they couldn’t name a single dish to eat or a bus route to take, I dropped it. The ten here are ones where I could walk you from the ferry to a decent meal without pulling out my phone.

Comparison Table

Rank	Place	Best For	Approx Cost (USD) Per Day	Time Needed	When to Go
1	Gulangyu, Xiamen	Strolling, history, coffee	$40–60 (280–420 CNY)	1–2 days	Oct–Apr (avoid summer heat)
2	Putuoshan, Zhejiang	Mountain temples, pilgrimage	$50–70 (350–490 CNY)	2 days	Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct (avoid Chinese holidays)
3	Weizhou Island, Guangxi	Volcanic beaches, snorkeling	$35–55 (245–385 CNY)	2–3 days	Mar–May, Oct–Nov (typhoon season June–Sep)
4	Shengsi Islands, Zhejiang	Hiking, fishing villages	$40–60 (280–420 CNY)	3–4 days	May–Oct (summer fog can delay ferries)
5	Dongji Islands, Zhejiang	Remote vibes, “The Island” movie fame	$45–65 (315–455 CNY)	2–3 days	Jun–Sep (rough seas rest of year)
6	Changdao, Shandong	Seafood, sea stacks	$40–55 (280–385 CNY)	2 days	May–Oct (get windy in winter)
7	Nan’ao Island, Guangdong	Cycling, fresh oysters	$35–50 (245–350 CNY)	1–2 days	Oct–Apr (subtropical, mild)
8	Hainan (Sanya area)	Resort beaches, duty-free	$80–150+ (560–1050+ CNY)	4–7 days	Nov–Mar (dry season)
9	Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan	Scuba diving, jet skis	$60–100 (420–700 CNY)	1 day trip from Sanya	Nov–Apr (summer too hot)
10	Meizhou Island, Fujian	Mazu temples, quiet coast	$30–45 (210–315 CNY)	1 day	Any time except Chinese New Year

Ten Detailed Entries

1. Gulangyu — The Piano Island Where Time Moves Slowly

I remember standing on a quiet alley in Gulangyu around 7pm, after the day-trippers had fled. Someone was practicing Chopin on a piano behind shuttered windows. A cat stretched on a doorstep. The air smelled like jasmine and fried shrimp from a nearby stall. This is the island that makes you believe in the romance of travel.

Gulangyu is a car-free island five minutes by ferry from Xiamen. Its narrow streets are lined with early 20th-century colonial villas, many housing small galleries and cafés. The famous Sunlight Rock is overrated—climb it for the view of skyline, not the rock itself. What matters is wandering the back lanes, finding the beach at dusk, and eating Pan Fried Oyster Omelette from a street cart near the Dragon Head Market.

📍 Location: Gulangyu District, Xiamen, Fujian
🎫 Entry fee: Free to enter the island. Some attractions cost extra, e.g., Sunlight Rock $7 (50 CNY). Ferry round trip ~$5 (35 CNY) for locals; tourists pay a separate fee of ~$7 (50 CNY) for the dedicated ferry from Xiada Wharf.
🕐 Opening hours: The island is always open. Ferry runs 5:30am–12:30am (last return 12:30am). Book tickets on WeChat mini-program “厦鼓渡轮” at least a day in advance.
🚆 How to get there: From Xiamen Airpo, take Metro Line 1 to Zhenhaixi Road Station (Exit 1), then walk 10 minutes to Zhongshan Road ferry terminal (tourist ferry) or take a taxi to Dongdu Terminal for the local ferry. Take ferry to Gulangyu Sanqiutian Port.
⏰ When to visit: Weekdays only. Weekend crowds are suffocating. Arrive before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the worst of it.
💡 Insider tips:

• Don’t follow the main crowd from the ferry. Turn left and walk 100 meters, then turn into any small alley.
• The best views aren’t from Sunlight Rock but from the Riguangyan Park (also $7) which is less crowded.
• Buy a ferry ticket online 48 hours early in peak season or risk waiting two hours.
• Bring cash—some food stalls don’t take Alipay.
• If you play an instrument, the Gulangyu Piano Museum is worth an hour—entry $3 (20 CNY), closed Mondays.

A man selling Luanzaocai (a seaweed jelly dessert) told me I was the first foreigner he’d talked to all month. He made me try three different types before accepting my money.

2. Putuoshan — Smoke, Sea, and Stone Steps

The smell of incense hits you before you even dock. Putuoshan is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, except it’s an island—a mountain rising out of the East China Sea. Monks in gray robes shuffle past selfie sticks. Pilgrims holding joss sticks bow at every temple gate. It shouldn’t work as a tourist destination, but it does.

The island’s main draw is the Huiji Temple at the top of the mountain, reachable by a long flight of stone steps or a shuttle bus. Go on foot if your knees can take it—you’ll pass groves of ancient trees and hidden shrines. At the summit, the fog rolls in and out, revealing the sea between the temple roofs. The Southern Sea Guanyin statue on the southern tip is worth the walk, particularly at sunset when the statue glows gold.

📍 Location: Putuo District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province
🎫 Entry fee: Island entry $25 (180 CNY). Temples mostly free or $1–2 (5–10 CNY). Shuttle bus $1 (6 CNY) per ride.
🕐 Opening hours: Island gates open 6:30am–6:00pm in summer, 7:00am–5:30pm in winter.
🚆 How to get there: Fly to Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport (very small, direct from Beijing/Shanghai). Then take a bus to Dabajiao Pier (20 minutes), then ferry to Putuoshan (15 minutes, $4 or 30 CNY). Alternative: high-speed ferry from Shanghai Wusongke Terminal (2.5 hours, $40 or 280 CNY).
⏰ When to visit: Avoid Chinese New Year and October 1–7 (National Holiday)—you’ll be walking shoulder-to-shoulder. April–June has mild weather and fewer pilgrims.
💡 Insider tips:

• Stay overnight at one of the temple guesthouses (yes, you can sleep in a monastery). Book through Ctrip or ask at the visitor center. Basic but unforgettable.
• Eat vegetarian at temple canteens—the putuoshan vegetable rice (素斋) is simple and cheap ($2 per meal).
• The ferry from Shanghai gets cancelled in heavy wind. Always have a Plan B bus route.
• Carry a translation app—almost no English signs outside main attractions.
• Don’t take photos of monks without asking.

I split a bowl of noodles with a Taiwanese pilgrim who told me she had been coming here every year for twenty years. “The island owes me nothing,” she said. “I come to owe it peace.”

3. Weizhou Island — Volcano, Coral, and Squid

Back to that woman cleaning squid. Weizhou Island is a volcanic island off the coast of Beihai in Guangxi. It’s a geological oddity—black lava rocks, white sand beaches, and coral reefs you can actually snorkel (in season). The island is small enough to explore in two days but big enough to get lost on.

The main village is a dusty grid of guesthouses and seafood restaurants. Every meal is a negotiation. The beaches—Shiluokou Beach for snorkeling, Dripping Drip Beach for sunset—are decent. But the real show is the South Sea Volcano Park, a coastal walkway carved into black lava. At low tide, you can walk to the Cigarette Butt Pavilion (yes, that’s the name) and watch fishing boats shrink into the horizon.

📍 Location: Weizhou Town, Beihai, Guangxi
🎫 Entry fee: Island entry $20 (140 CNY) includes Volcano Park. Snorkeling gear rental $5–10 (35–70 CNY) on the beach.
🕐 Opening hours: Volcano Park 8am–6pm (last entry 5pm). Beaches open always.
🚆 How to get there: Take a high-speed train (or fly) to Beihai. From Beihai International Ferry Terminal, buy a ticket to Weizhou (~$25 or 170 CNY round trip, 90 minutes). Book online via 来游吧官网 mini-program on WeChat.
⏰ When to visit: March to May and October to November. June to September is typhoon season—ferries cancel often, and the sea turns brown.
💡 Insider tips:

• Don’t eat at the tourist strip near the dock. Walk into the village alleys—look for places with no English menu and plastic stools outside. Point at what other customers are eating.
• Rent an electric scooter for $5 (35 CNY) per day to get around. You’ll need an international driving permit theoretically, but no one checks.
• The best snorkeling is at Shiluokou at early morning, before the waves pick up. Bring a waterproof phone pouch.
• Stay at a guesthouse west of the main village for quieter nights.
• Avoid Chinese public holidays—the island can’t handle big crowds and restaurants run out of food.

I nearly lost my phone on the Volcano Park cliffside. A local girl grabbed my arm and laughed. “You fall, you become fish food,” she said in English. She sold me a cold coconut for $1.

4. Shengsi Islands — Hiking Through Fishing Villages

Shengsi is an archipelago off the coast of Shanghai, a two-hour ferry ride from Zhoushan. It’s raw and undeveloped in the best way—think green hills that drop straight into turquoise water, abandoned fishing villages being swallowed by ivy, and seafood markets that smell like the ocean should.

The main island, Sihai, has a small town with guesthouses. The highlight is Shengshan Island connected by a bridge, where you can hike the Dongya Wall, a coastal cliff path that feels like a Chinese version of Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher. The Huanglong Island is a short ferry away—it’s mainly fish farms and a single noodle shop that does impossible things with prawns.

📍 Location: Shengsi County, Zhoushan, Zhejiang
🎫 Entry fee: No island entry fee. Ferries between islands are $3–6 (20–40 CNY).
🕐 Opening hours: Ferries run roughly 6am–4pm; schedule depends on weather.
🚆 How to get there: From Shanghai, take a bus to Shengsi Ferry Terminal in Luchaogang (2 hours, $10 or 70 CNY), then ferry to Sihai Island (2–3 hours, $25 or 180 CNY). Alternatively, high-speed ferry from Zhoushan Banzhou Terminal (1.5 hours).
⏰ When to visit: May to October is best. June and July are foggy—ferries can be delayed. August is hot but clear.
💡 Insider tips:

• Bring hiking shoes. The Dongya Wall path is well-maintained but steep and slippery after rain.
• Stay in a fishing village homestay on Shengshan, not the main town—far more atmosphere.
• The seafood is cheapest if you buy from the morning market at 6am and ask your guesthouse to cook it for $2–3 (15–20 CNY) per dish.
• Mobile signal is weak on the trails—download offline maps.
• There’s no ATM on the outer islands—bring enough cash.

I walked the Dongya Wall alone for three hours, seeing only a single farmer and a goat. At the end, a woman selling shengsi fish balls from a thermos charged me $0.50 and smiled like she had won the lottery.

5. Dongji Islands — Where the Movie Ended

The Dongji Islands gained fame as the filming location of the Chinese film The Island (2011). Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist thing now, but the place has real grit. The main island, Putuo Island (not to be confused with Putuoshan), is a cluster of stone houses on a steep slope. Fishing nets hang from every window. The only paved road runs about 200 meters.

There’s no real beach—just rocky coves and a pier where you watch the fishing boats come in. The real experience is getting there: a ferry from Zhoushan that takes four hours in rough seas. I was queasy the entire time. It was worth it. The island’s raw edge—the wind, the salt, the fixed stares of old fishermen mending nets—feels like the edge of China.

📍 Location: Dongji Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang
🎫 Entry fee: Free island entry. Ferry from Zhoushan to Dongji is $30 (210 CNY) one way, 4 hours.
🕐 Opening hours: Ferries depart from Zhoushan’s Shenjiamen Port daily at 8:45am (May–Oct only). Off-season, ferries are sporadic.
🚆 How to get there: Take high-speed rail to Ningbo, then bus to Zhoushan. From Zhoushan bus station, taxi to Shenjiamen Port (15 min). Then ferry. Book ferry tickets a week in advance on WeChat.
⏰ When to visit: June to September only. The rest of the year, sea is too rough and ferries cancel.
💡 Insider tips:

• Bring motion sickness tablets. Seriously. The water is notoriously rough.
• Stay at least two nights—the ferry schedule makes day trips impossible.
• Eat at the small restaurant near the pier run by Auntie Zhang. No English menu. She makes a squid ink soup that stains your teeth black for hours.
• No ATMs on the island. Bring cash.
• The best sunset view is from the lighthouse on the hill above the village—15 minutes up a rocky path.

I met a Shanghai couple who had come because of the film. “We expected romance,” the woman said. “All we got is wind.” Then she started laughing. So did I.

6. Changdao — Sea Stacks and Seafood Feasts

Changdao, a chain of islands off Shandong’s coast, isn’t on most tourists’ radars. That’s a shame. The northern island of Daheishan Island has some of the most dramatic coastal scenery I’ve seen in China—layered sandstone cliffs, sea arches, and stone pillars that look like giant chess pieces. The main town on Changdao Island is touristy, but the outlying islands are raw.

The seafood here is the best I’ve had in northern China—steamed clams, grilled razor fish, and a local specialty of lucky fish dumplings (鲅鱼水饺) that are plump and earthy. You can also hike the Yueya Bay crescent beach and climb the lighthouse at Linyuan Mountain.

📍 Location: Changdao County, Yantai, Shandong
🎫 Entry fee: Island entry to main scenic area (including Yueya Bay and Linyuan Mountain) $12 (85 CNY).
🕐 Opening hours: Scenic area 7:30am–6:00pm in summer, closes earlier in winter.
🚆 How to get there: Fly to Yantai Penglai International Airport, then taxi to Penglai Ferry Terminal (1 hour, $15). Ferry to Changdao (45 minutes, $8 or 56 CNY round trip). Ferries run hourly 6:30am–7:00pm.
⏰ When to visit: May to October. Summer weekends can be crowded. Avoid September—typhoon remnants can shut down ferries.
💡 Insider tips:

• Rent a bicycle on Changdao Island to explore the quieter bays. Electric bikes are $5 (35 CNY) per hour.
• For the sea stacks, take a taxi to Jiuzhang’ai (Mile Wall). The taxi driver will wait—negotiate a flat rate of $10 (70 CNY) for a tour.
• Book accommodation in advance during Chinese Golden Week (Oct 1–7). Everything fills up.
• Eat at the street market near the port—stir-fried clams with chives is the must-order.
• Bring a windbreaker. Even in summer, the sea breeze can be chilly.

A fisherman on Daheishan Island let me help him pull in a net. We didn’t catch much—three small fish—but he insisted I keep one. I released it back. He slapped my shoulder and said something in Shandong dialect I took as approval.

7. Nan’ao Island — Cycling Through Oyster Farms

Nan’ao Island is connected to the mainland by a long bridge from Shantou, which means you don’t need to worry about ferries. It’s a long, skinny island with a ring road perfect for cycling. The east coast is lined with oyster farms—acres of floating buoys anchored in the sea. The west coast has wind turbines and empty beaches where you can sit for hours watching nothing happen.

The island’s main town, Houzhai, is unremarkable. Skip the tourist traps like the Song Emperor’s Well (it’s a hole in the ground). Instead, ride to the Haitang Bay on the north coast, where the water is clean enough to swim, and the local restaurant serves raw oysters right off the boat. A dozen costs $2.

📍 Location: Nan’ao County, Shantou, Guangdong
🎫 Entry fee: Free to enter the island. Bridge toll included in bus fare.
🕐 Opening hours: 24/7 access via bridge.
🚆 How to get there: Take a high-speed train to Shantou Station. From Shantou, take bus 105 from the west bus station to Nan’ao Island (1 hour, $1.50 or 10 CNY). The bus crosses the bridge.
⏰ When to visit: October to April is mild. Summer is hot, humid, and the sea is warm but murky.
💡 Insider tips:

• Rent a bicycle in Houzhai for $3 (20 CNY) per day. The ring road is 40 km—doable in a day if you’re fit.
• The best oysters are at the roadside stalls near the bridge entrance. They shuck them in front of you.
• Bring insect repellent—mosquitoes are fierce after sundown.
• No ATM on the island. WeChat Pay works everywhere; Alipay less so.
• Visit the wind turbines at sunset—drive or bike to Windmill Mountain viewpoint.

I ate oysters at a stall run by a teenage girl who spoke perfect English. She told me she learned from YouTube. “I want to be a dolphin trainer,” she said. “But first I must sell 10,000 oysters.” She was halfway there.

8. Hainan (Sanya Area) — The Beach Resort Bubble

Hainan is China’s Hawaii. That’s both a compliment and a warning. The southern part, around Sanya, is wall-to-wall luxury resorts, Russian tourists, and duty-free malls. Yalong Bay has perfect sand. Dadonghai Bay is cheaper but crowded. If your goal is to lie on a beach, eat pizza, and watch the sun go down without ever talking to a local, this is your island.

But the real Hainan is in the interior—the rainforest around Wuzhishan Mountain and the northern city of Haikou. I stumbled onto a fishing village east of Sanya called Houhai, where you can sleep in a homestay for $10 a night and eat grilled fish with locals. It’s not on any brochure. That’s the point.

📍 Location: Sanya, Hainan Province
🎫 Entry fee: No fee for beaches. Resort check-in varies $100–300+ per night.
🕐 Opening hours: N/A
🚆 How to get there: Fly directly to Sanya Phoenix International Airport from many international cities (2026: direct flights from Singapore, Tokyo, London, Moscow). Also, high-speed rail from mainland to Sanya via Haikou.
⏰ When to visit: November to March is dry and warm. Summer is sticky and prone to typhoons.
💡 Insider tips:

• Skip the resort restaurants—walk 10 minutes to the local streets for proper food.
• The Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park isn’t great for hiking but has an excellent glass bridge for photos. Entry $15 (105 CNY).
• Duty-free shopping at Sanya International Duty Free City is genuinely cheaper than elsewhere. But bring your passport and departure flight info.
• Taxi drivers near the airport will try to charge you five times the fare. Use Didi (China’s Uber) instead—install the app before you come.
• For the real island, rent a car and drive the east coast road from Sanya to Qingshui Bay.

At a roadside fruit stall, the vendor handed me a dragon fruit I hadn’t paid for. “For you,” he said. “Because you smiled.” My hotel spa charged $50 for a massage that left me sore. The stall owner’s fruit was the best thing in Sanya.

9. Wuzhizhou Island — Diving and Jet Ski Chaos

Wuzhizhou is a small island off the coast of Sanya, billed as a diving paradise. It’s accessible by a 20-minute ferry and feels like a water park. There are jet skis, parasailing, speedboats, and a small beach with umbrellas. The coral reef is decent—I saw parrot fish and clownfish during a quick snorkel. But the “underwater world” is mostly tour groups in bubble helmets walking on the seabed.

Is it worth the day trip? If you’ve never been snorkeling and want a controlled introduction, yes. If you’ve dived in Thailand or the Philippines, you’ll be disappointed. Still, the water is clear in winter, and the views of Sanya from the water are nice.

📍 Location: Haitang Bay, Sanya, Hainan
🎫 Entry fee: Ferry + island access $25 (180 CNY). Snorkeling package $40 (280 CNY) extra.
🕐 Opening hours: Ferry runs 8:30am–4:30pm (last return 5pm).
🚆 How to get there: Take bus 23 from Sanya city to Haitang Bay Pier (1 hour). Then ferry to Wuzhizhou.
⏰ When to visit: November to April. Summer is hot and the water is murky.
💡 Insider tips:

• Buy ferry tickets online via Ctrip—the queue at the pier can be an hour.
• Bring your own snorkel gear (mask and snorkel). The rental equipment is battered.
• Eat breakfast early—the island has only one overpriced restaurant.
• The best snorkeling is at the far left of the beach, away from the jet skis.
• Swim with a rash guard—jellyfish are common in summer (though less frequent in winter).

I was paired with a dive instructor who wore a “No Bad Days” tattoo on his ankle. He pointed at a school of fusilier and gave me a thumbs up. The dive lasted exactly 18 minutes. It cost $60. Still, I saw Nemo.

10. Meizhou Island — Mazu’s Quiet Shrine

Meizhou Island, off the coast of Fujian near Putian, is the birthplace of Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess. Every year, pilgrims from Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and even the US come to the Mazu Temple complex on the northern hill. The temple is modest by Chinese standards—no gold leaf overload, just stone halls and incense smoke drifting over the sea.

The island itself is calm. There’s a long beach called Flying Lotus Beach where you can walk for miles without seeing anyone. A small fishing village at the south end sells dried seafood and sweet potato noodles. It’s the kind of place you go to reflect, not to Instagram.

📍 Location: Meizhou Town, Putian, Fujian
🎫 Entry fee: Free island entry. Mazu Temple is free.
🕐 Opening hours: Temple open 6am–6pm.
🚆 How to get there: Take a high-speed train to Putian Station. Then bus 363 to Wenjia Dock (40 minutes). Ferry to Meizhou Island (15 minutes, $2 or 15 CNY).
⏰ When to visit: Avoid Mazu’s Birthday (May 6 in 2026 lunar) when the island gets packed. Any other time is fine—quietest mid-week.
💡 Insider tips:

• Walk up the hill behind the Mazu Temple—there’s a stone pavilion with a panoramic view of the island and sea.
• Try the xiacai (seaweed soup) at any small restaurant—it’s a local specialty.
• Don’t expect English signs or menus. Use your translation app for ordering.
• The island has limited accommodation; consider a day trip from Putian unless you want deep solitude.
• Bring an umbrella for sudden rain showers.

I lit incense with an old woman who pressed a small brass amulet into my hand. “For safe travel,” she said in broken Mandarin. I still carry it in my wallet. It feels like luck.

FAQ

1. Do I need a visa to visit these islands?
In 2026, China offers 15-day visa-free travel for citizens of many countries (including USA, UK, Australia, most EU nations, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) if arriving by direct flight. For longer stays or island trips from mainland, you may still need a visa. Check with your local Chinese embassy—the rules change fast.

2. Can I use my credit card on the islands?
Hardly anywhere. You need WeChat Pay or Alipay linked to a foreign credit card. WeChat Pay now supports many foreign cards. Download and set it up before you leave. Cash is still king on smaller islands like Shengsi or Dongji. Bring enough for 2–3 days.

3. Will my phone work? Do I need a VPN?
Your phone will work if you get a local SIM card (available at airports or convenience stores; China Unicom and China Mobile are reliable). As of 2026, VPNs are officially banned, but many travelers use paid ones that still work. Install your VPN apps before you leave China. Free VPNs rarely work once you’re inside.

4. Is it safe to travel alone?
Yes. I’ve traveled alone through all these islands as a woman. The main safety concerns are pickpocketing in crowded areas and getting scammed by taxi drivers. Use common sense. The ferry schedules and weather are the biggest risks—always check the forecast and have a backup plan.

5. Can I find English speakers?
In touristy islands (Gulangyu, Sanya, Putuoshan), some hotel staff and vendors speak basic English. On the smaller islands, expect zero English. A translation app (like Baidu Translate or Google Translate with offline packs) is essential. Learn just five phrases: “hello,” “thank you,” “how much,” “too expensive,” and “where is the ferry.”

6. What about food allergies?
I have a mild shellfish allergy. In China, saying “no seafood” is hard because fish sauce is in everything. Carry a card in Chinese with your allergies written clearly. On islands, seafood is the mainstay—you may struggle with vegetarian or gluten-free diets. Meizhou Island’s temple food is vegetarian. Plan accordingly.

7. How do I book ferries and accommodation?
For ferries, use the WeChat mini-programs or Ctrip (Trip.com app in English). For accommodation, Booking.com works for most islands; Agoda also has good coverage in China. Some islands (Shengsi, Dongji) require booking direct with homestays via phone—your guesthouse owner may not speak English, so use the translation app