Seafood binge on Zhoushan Island

The seafood restaurant in Shenjiamen harbor is packed full of diners. [Photo/travel.sina.com.cn]

In the coastal cities across China, autumn is the best season for seafood when the fish, shrimp and most importantly the crabs are meaty and most succulent. On the long stretching list of such gourmet destinations, Zhoushan may be overshadowed by popular names such as Sanya city in Hainan province or Qingdao city in Shandong province, but what this bustling port city in Zhejiang province has to offer in terms of seafood delights has never disappointed visitors.

Shenjiamen, the marine product distribution center of Zhoushan city has been dubbed "little Shanghai" as it is China's largest fishery harbor and aquatic products trading post. It is one of the world's three major fishing harbors along with the Port of Callao in Peru and Port of Bergen in Norway.

The scenery in Shenjiamen differs from those in other coastal tourist cities which usually boast sandy beaches and clear sea water. Shenjiamen harbor is a world of fishing boats. Each year during the fishing season, thousands of boats assemble in the harbor, lining up along the seacoast, creating a powerful image.

Tourists prefer to eat the fresh catch from the sea in the spacious restaurant facing the harbor. Besides the diversified choices of marine products cooked in various flavors, tourists can also choose to dine on the boats that have been converted into temporary restaurants.

The island city holds a seafood festival every year between July and October with Shenjiamen harbor as the main venue for the event.

Zhoushan is located at the intersection of China's southeast coastal regions and the Yangtze River mouth. It's connected by a comprehensive waterway network. The Putuoshan Airport in Zhoushan has opened regular flights to major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Qingdao.