Plan at a glance
Ferry and island scale
Naozhou Island lies southeast of Mazhang District, about 3 km from Donghai Island. Board at Dongnan Pier and arrive at Naozhou Island Pier; ferries run 07:00–18:00 at intervals of roughly 30–60 minutes and take 20–30 minutes.
The island is free to enter, while Turtle City costs CNY 5 and includes winter melon to feed the turtles. The island circuit is about 40 km, so use a vehicle to connect Songhuang Well, Naozhou Lighthouse, Turtle City, Nayan rocky shore, Cunliang Bay and the fishing harbour.
Time and route scale
Allow 4–5 hours for the lighthouse, Turtle City and Nayan shore; allow a full day for Songhuang Well, volcanic coast, Cunliang Bay sunset and the harbour. A two-day stay suits shore activities, camping or unhurried village travel.
Naozhou is defined by island movement and coast rather than one compact scenic compound. Confirm the return ferry and island transport before committing to far-end stops.
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Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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4–5 hours: lighthouse, turtles and rocks
Take the ferry from Dongnan Pier, see the lighthouse exterior, visit Turtle City, then go to Nayan rocky shore before returning to the pier. It is a practical first taste of the volcanic island when ferry time is limited.
Do not add Cunliang Bay or distant shore-activity points to this short itinerary. Work backward from the last boat rather than extending photos into the return window.
One day: island highlights circuit
Start at Songhuang Well, continue to the lighthouse, Turtle City and Nayan rocky shore, cycle the volcanic coast, then finish at Cunliang Bay and the fishing harbour. This route gives separate roles to heritage, navigation history, volcanic geology and sunset.
Allow time for e-bike charge and road navigation. Island distances should not be treated as short walking transfers simply because the sights are on the same island.
Two days: cycling, shore activity and village night
Use day one for the island circuit, dragon-fruit gardens, Cunliang Bay sunset and the night market; use day two for low-tide shore activity at Dalang or Yingmingping, a morning market stop and the return ferry. It suits families, campers and slower travel.
Tide, weather and ferry timing matter more than adding another distant coast. Do not enter a far shore area late in the day when you are not staying overnight.
Build your day
Morning: Songhuang Well and lighthouse
Cycle first to Songhuang Well for the old well and Chima Village banyans, then continue to Naozhou Lighthouse. Songhuang Well is a short heritage stop, while the lighthouse is for its red-and-white exterior and volcanic-rock setting.
Ride slowly at junctions and follow the main roads. Do not rush through village roads simply to fit more coastline into the day.
Afternoon: volcanic shore, sunset and harbour
Continue from the lighthouse to Turtle City and Nayan rocky shore, then follow the coast toward Cunliang Bay for sunset. This places the island's black basalt coast and quieter beach in the later part of the day.
For food, buy seafood at the pier morning market or Naozhou Central Market for preparation, or choose a clearly priced harbour meal. Confirm price, weighing and preparation charges before ordering.
Get there
Passenger ferry or car ferry
Drive to Dongnan Pier Passenger Terminal, park for CNY 10–20 per day and take the CNY 16-per-person passenger ferry. Leaving the car at the pier avoids holiday car-ferry queues and is usually best for an e-bike day on the island.
Taking a car requires a roll-on ferry at around CNY 80 per vehicle plus passenger charges. Large ferries carry about 20 cars and holiday waits can reach 1–2 hours, so choose this only when you genuinely need your own vehicle.
Bus, rentals and parking
Bus 500K runs from Xiashan branches and Gongnong Road to Dongnan Pier for CNY 12–15. Confirm your return boat before boarding and arrange island transport after arrival.
Two-wheel e-bikes cost CNY 20–30 per day and open three-wheelers cost CNY 35 per day. Check charge and brakes, preferably rent through accommodation, and do not ride into unfamiliar rough shore lanes with low battery.
Know before you go
Return boats, toilets and roads
The final return boat is usually at 18:00; return to the pier around 15:00 to queue on holidays. Free toilets are limited and some scenic-area toilets charge, so carry small change and handle supplies before a long ride.
Roads have many junctions and few traffic lights. Slow down on e-bikes and cars, and keep ordinary cars off the stone-pier and yellow-mud lanes toward shell-collecting areas.
Coast safety and spending
Basalt and reefs are sharp, so use grippy, durable shoes for shore visits and shore activities. Bring sun protection, a hat and water, and do not trade safe footing for a closer photograph.
Seafood is easiest to buy at the 06:00–10:00 pier market or Naozhou Central Market. Cunliang Bay and Nayan Village suit sea-view stays, while Naozhou Town near the pier suits visitors prioritising ferry access.
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