Plan at a glance
A name for five villages
East China Sea Five Fishing Villages is not one ticketed village. It usually refers to Huicheng, Bianjiao, Huangsha and Tian'ao Villages on Sijiao Island, plus Zhi'ao Village on Huanglong Island. Most visitors actually see the four villages on Sijiao; Zhi'ao requires another boat and cannot be reached by following Sijiao's coast road.
The four Sijiao villages are generally open all day and have no unified scenic-area ticket. Two to three hours works for a quick circuit. Allow half a day to 4–5 hours if you want to cycle or walk the Left Bank Road and stop at beaches and villages.
Each village has a different focus
Huicheng is one end of the Left Bank Road. Bianjiao suits colourful houses and a coastal panorama, Huangsha has a free beach, and Tian'ao has fishermen's paintings and village walls. Zhi'ao is on Huanglong Island and should be treated as a separate option.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The Left Bank Road and Bianjiao
The Left Bank Road links several Sijiao villages along the coast, with bends, viewpoints and sea views. Colourful houses in Bianjiao are easier to see in layers from higher ground and suit village and coastline photography.
This section works for cycling, slow walking and photography. Vehicles still use the road, so stand in a safe place for photographs and never stop in the traffic lane.
Huangsha and Tian'ao
Huangsha has a free beach for a short family stop, sand play or watching the tide. Tian'ao's fishermen's murals and lanes are better for human-interest photography. Beach, wall-art and road access follow the conditions on site.
Visitors who mainly want a quiet sea view can choose one beach or viewpoint and reduce the number of villages. Those interested in the differences between the villages can move slowly from Huicheng toward Tian'ao.
Zhi'ao Village on Huanglong Island
Zhi'ao's stone-house settlement is on Huanglong Island and suits visitors interested in island buildings and village history. It is not the next stop on the Sijiao route. If you want to go, arrange Huanglong's boat, accommodation or return separately.
Build your day
A 2–3-hour quick route
Start in Huicheng, follow the Left Bank Road to Bianjiao, make a short stop at Huangsha and finish in Tian'ao to see the fishermen's paintings and lanes. Move by vehicle or bike according to the conditions. The villages do not require one unified ticket.
This suits visitors who have already fixed the return or only want to compare the four villages. If you plan to swim or let children play at Huangsha, shorten the other village stops and confirm how you will leave Tian'ao.
Half a day: a slow ride or walk along the Left Bank Road
Start in Huicheng and move slowly toward Tian'ao along the Left Bank Road. The highlight section is about 6 kilometres; stop at viewpoints, Bianjiao and Huangsha, and allow 4–5 hours overall. After reaching Tian'ao, decide whether to continue to the nearby beach.
Wind, slopes and photography stops affect the speed. With children or camera equipment, replace part of the route with a vehicle. Do not estimate the 6 kilometres as a flat walk.
Add Huanglong as a separate section
If Zhi'ao is a priority, complete the four Sijiao villages first and then confirm the boat to Huanglong. You can also make Huanglong a separate half-day or overnight section. Its boats do not fit tightly with a same-day return from the four Sijiao villages.
Get there
Reach Sijiao Island
From Shanghai, travel via Shenjiawan Passenger Terminal to Lizhushan Pier on Sijiao Island. There is no metro. After arriving, choose a bus, taxi or rental electric bike according to your accommodation and route.
The villages are connected by roads, but buses may be infrequent. Check the battery and return point before cycling, and confirm the village name and meeting point when taking a taxi.
Moving between villages
Huicheng, Bianjiao, Huangsha and Tian'ao connect through the Left Bank Road, while the village lanes are suitable for walking. Vehicles use the road, so keep to the side and do not stop on bends, at the top of a slope or at a beach entrance.
Zhi'ao is on Huanglong Island and requires a boat around Huanglong Passenger Pier. There is no road or bridge between it and the four Sijiao villages.
Know before you go
Weather, boats and beach safety
Sea colour, distant views and sunset depend on the weather. Villages and murals remain worth visiting in rain, but do not promise a particular sea colour in advance. The Huanglong section also has its own boat risk, so confirm both directions before travelling.
A free beach at Huangsha or Tian'ao is not automatically suitable for swimming all year. Follow the tide, wave and swimming instructions on site, and keep children away from the rising tide and slippery rocks.
Food, supplies and costs
The four Sijiao villages have different food choices and opening times. Carry water and simple food before a long ride or walk. Confirm the price, portion and preparation method before ordering seafood, and do not leave the meal until just before a boat.
The village areas, beaches and Left Bank Road do not share a scenic-area ticket. If you add Liuhe Chaoyang, Jihu Beach or Huanglong Island, calculate their tickets, transport and return separately.
Return planning
Slow-route visitors should confirm how to return from Tian'ao or their accommodation to the pier. Drivers generally leave the car at the departure port and use local transport on the island. When bus service is limited, arrange the return early rather than searching for a vehicle after dark.