Lianyungang
Home of Huaguo Mountain from Journey to the West, Lianyungang offers Lian Island, Yuwan gorge and fresh seafood where mountains meet the sea — Jiangsu's only coastal mountain city.
Lianyungang sits on the Yellow Sea coast in northeastern Jiangsu, bordering Rizhao in Shandong to the north. It is the eastern starting point of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and Jiangsu's only "mountain-and-sea city": the Yuntai Mountains stretch from the city center all the way to the coast, and their highest point, Yunü Peak (624.4 m), is the highest peak in Jiangsu. The city is considered the real-life model for Huaguo Mountain (Mountain of Flowers and Fruit) in Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, and this "Journey to the West culture" is its calling card; there are also Donghai crystal, the ancient town of Haizhou, and prehistoric sites such as Mount Kongwang and the Jiangjunya petroglyphs. A visit falls into four parts: first, Huaguo Mountain southeast of downtown (Water Curtain Cave, Sanyuan Palace, Yunü Peak), half a day to a full day; second, Lian Island in the eastern Lianyun District (Dashawan and Sumawan beaches), plus the Haishang Yuntai Mountain and Lianyun Old Street; third, Yuwan (a gorge of waterfalls and pools, great for wading in summer); fourth, the ancient town of Haizhou, the Mount Kongwang cliff carvings and the Jiangjunya petroglyphs in western Haizhou District. The climate is warm-temperate monsoon: Jun–Sep is beach season, with Lian Island busiest in Jul–Aug; in spring Huaguo Mountain is covered in blossoms, Oct–Nov brings autumn colors ideal for hiking, and winters are cold with strong sea winds. Getting there: Lianyungang Station and Lianyungang East Station have high-speed trains to Shanghai (about 3.5–4 hours), Nanjing (about 2 hours), Xuzhou, Qingdao and more; Lianyungang Huaguoshan International Airport is in Guanyun County; Lian Island is about 40 minutes by car from downtown and Huaguo Mountain about 30 minutes, both reachable by BRT and bus. Allow 2–3 days: one day for Huaguo Mountain, one for Lian Island's beaches, beachcombing and seafood, and half a day for Haizhou and Mount Kongwang. Admission: Huaguo Mountain about ¥100 (round-trip shuttle about ¥40, cable car extra); Lian Island charges separately for its shuttle and beaches; some attractions offer free entry or discounts at certain times — check official sources. Tips: Huaguo Mountain has lots of steps, and the monkeys snatch food — don't feed them and keep an eye on your bag; in summer, swim only in designated beach areas and check the tide times; at seafood food stalls, ask the price before you order. Local specialties include Donghai crystal, Banpu jelly noodles, Guanyun doudan (soybean caterpillars) and Haizhou Bay seafood.
Top sights
- Huaguo Mountain – The prototype of the Monkey King's home in Journey to the West. Water Curtain Cave, Sanyuan Taoist Temple and Jade Maiden Peak, Jiangsu's h…
- Liandao Island – Jiangsu's largest island, connected to the mainland by a sea-blocking embankment. Dashawan Beach, Sumawan Bay and seafood at the fishing ha…
- Kongwang Mountain – Said to be where Confucius climbed to gaze at the sea, with Eastern Han cliff carvings known as the “Number One Buddha of Jiuzhou,” about t…
- Haizhou Ancient City – Seat of Haizhou prefecture for a thousand years, home to Chuyang Gate, the Drum Tower, Shuanglong Well and White Tiger Mountain; the old la…
- Jiangjunya Petroglyphs – Neolithic rock carvings on the south slope of Maer Peak in Jinping Mountain, with sun motifs, star charts and human faces, known as the “He…
- Lianyun Old Street – A century-old port-town street beside the eastern start of the Longhai Railway, where Republican-era buildings, the old station and port cr…
- Yuwan Scenic Area – A gorge scenic area in South Yuntai Mountain, where Lao Longtan, Er Longtan and San Longtan form a chain of waterfalls and deep pools; a po…
- Haishang Yuntai Mountain – A national forest park on the seaward north section of Yuntai Mountain, with trails that run through forest on one side and beside the Yell…
- Qinshan Island – A small island in Haizhou Bay where, legend says, the First Emperor of Qin came on his eastern tour; at low tide a long gravel path emerges…
- Sucheng Scenic Area – A valley deep in Yuntai Mountain, enclosed by mountains on three sides and open to the sea on one, with Chuanshan Waterfall and the ancient…
- Donglei Scenic Area – A mountain scenic area on the east side of Huaguo Mountain, with centuries-old magnolia trees in front of the Yanfu Taoist Temple and many…
- Taohuajian Valley – A stream gorge in Jinping Mountain where peach blossoms bloom along the water in spring; it has waterfalls, pools and cliff inscriptions, a…
- Lianyungang Museum – A comprehensive museum showing Lianyungang's history from prehistoric times to the modern era; highlights include bamboo and wooden slips f…
- China Donghai Crystal Museum – Donghai County is a well-known crystal producing area; the museum displays natural crystals, mineral specimens and crystal carvings, and a…
- Kangrishan Martyrs' Cemetery – An anti-Japanese martyrs' cemetery in western Ganyu; Kangrishan (Anti-Japanese Mountain) is one of the few mountains in China named for res…
- Banpu Ancient Town – An ancient salt-trade town in northern Huaibei where Li Ruzhen completed “Flowers in the Mirror” in the Qing dynasty; it has a Li Ruzhen Me…
Itineraries
- Lianyungang: Mountains, Sea & Mount Huaguo – A 3-day trip in Lianyungang covering Mount Huaguo, Mount Maritime Yuntai, and Liandao Island, along with Haizhou Ancien…