Dongji Island
Located on the easternmost side of the Zhoushan Archipelago, Dongji Island is a fairy-tale paradise where everything feels beautifully carefree. Emerald, crystal-clear seawater, fine soft sand,…
Dongji Island, Mount Putuo · Philoschen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1202. Open in Google Maps
About Dongji Island
Located on the easternmost side of the Zhoushan Archipelago, Dongji Island is a fairy-tale paradise where everything feels beautifully carefree. Emerald, crystal-clear seawater, fine soft sand, and fishing boats dotted here and there make it a place to listen to waves breaking against the reefs and breathe some of the freshest air anywhere. Stroll, run, fish or simply daydream; anything goes. No wonder Xu Fu, who sailed from here during the Qin dynasty in search of the elixir of immortality for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, based himself here and lingered, never wanting to leave.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dongji Island?
Dongji Island is in Mount Putuo, Zhejiang Province, in the East China of China.
More places in Mount Putuo
Mount Putuo
Mount Putuo has famous historic sites, a sunrise over the sea, and the hornbeam (a precious tree species rarely found in China). Who says Putuo isn't a famous mountain? Beside the South Heaven Gate is a cliff inscription, the four characters '海天大观' ('Grand View of Sea and Sky'), written by Lan Li, a Qing dynasty general of the Kangxi era; their bold, vigorous strokes make it another great attraction on Putuo. But Putuo's true appeal lies in its Buddhist tradition.
Main entrance ticket: ¥220 (includes round-trip ferry) · 2–3 days
Zhujiajian Island
Zhujiajian boasts some of the finest sand beaches in the world. It is famous for its lifelike, vivid sand sculptures and is known as the home of China's International Sand Sculpture. The island has beautiful scenery, fresh air and a pleasant climate, and its golden beach stretches nearly 5 kilometres, vast and spectacular. When you visit, don't forget to take a photo beside the famous sand sculptures!
Nansha Beach: ¥20 in low season, ¥25 in peak season; International Sand Sculpture Art Square: ¥30; Daqingshan Scenic Area: ¥60 in low season, ¥100 in peak season · 1–2 days
Qianbu Beach (Thousand-Step Beach)
A wide, gently sloping expanse of soft, fine sand that rivals Silver Beach in Beihai, Guangxi. At the northern end, a huge boulder sits among the sand; when the tide goes out, the rock is revealed, inscribed with the words 'Listening to the Tide', and stone steps lead up from it to Wanghai Pavilion (Sea-Viewing Pavilion). If you happen to visit at high tide, swimming against the incoming waves is exhilarating. Blue sky, white clouds, rolling waves and sand; green mountains, emerald cypresses, Buddhist chanting and wisps of incense.
2–3 hours
Baibu Beach (Hundred-Step Beach)
East of Duobao Pagoda, also known as Ta Qian Sha (Sand in Front of the Pagoda), it stretches 660 metres, with a headland jutting into the sea in its midst, earning it the nickname 'Lion's Tail'. Gentle waves brush the golden sand, and the glow of the sunset reflects over it like spread glass. The shallows and open sea make for a charming scene. Pavilions stand on the rocky slopes at each end, both excellent spots for watching the sunrise. Baibu Beach is one of China's best-known seaside swimming beaches, and the only seaside beach on Mount Putuo with complete facilities.
Summer swimming ticket: ¥20 (includes shower) · 2–3 hours
Luojia Mountain
Legend has it that Guanyin Bodhisattva crossed the Lotus Ocean from here to establish her sacred site on Putuo. Since ancient times there has been a saying: 'Without visiting Luojia Mountain, your pilgrimage to Putuo is incomplete.' Owing to past destruction, everything here today has been rebuilt in later periods.
¥70 (includes round-trip ferry to Luojia Mountain) · 2–4 hours
Guanyin of the South Sea Statue
As you walk through Zizhu Lin (Purple Bamboo Grove), the sound of the tide drifts in from afar, and worldly cares seem to melt away. In the distance stands the 'Standing Statue of Guanyin of the South Sea', a symbol of the Buddhist realm where sea and sky meet. It is a place every Buddhist pilgrim must visit.
¥6 · 1 hour