Visitors to Xiangshan have plenty of choices

Part of the old town at Shipu.[Photo by Yang Zhonghua/China Daily]

How to go

High-speed trains are not available in Xiangshan county. But tourists can take these trains or fly to Ningbo and then take an intercity bus from Ningbo South Bus Station to Xiangshan. The bus trip takes about an hour. Driving from Shanghai to Xiangshan takes three and half hours.

Where to stay

Guesthouses are popular in Xiangshan county. For tourists arriving by public transportation, Shipu is the best place to stay. Prices at guesthouses differ on weekdays, weekends and public holidays. On weekdays, a standard double-bed room costs about 150 yuan ($24). On weekends and public holidays, the price rises to more than 400 yuan. The quality of guesthouses also varies. Tourists are advised to choose those with a good reputation online.

There are four five-star hotels in Xiangshan, with the Shipu Peninsula having the best location. Express inns are also available and tourists can book rooms by using their official websites.

Backpackers can also choose to camp on the beach at the China Fishery Village in Shipu.

What to eat

Xiangshan specializes in seafood.

Sixteen dishes comprise a set meal with the longest history in Xiangshan. It consists of four cold dishes and 12 hot ones, with seafood as the main ingredient.

Each dish has a poem to describe it and a legendary story relating to it. These 16 dishes can only be experienced in Xiangshan, where rice buns and fried glutinous rice balls are also well known.

What to do

Tourists staying outside Ningbo will need at least two days to visit Xiangshan.

On the first day, they can arrive in Xiangshan before noon, visit the fishing market at Shipu port and dine in a restaurant near the port. The afternoon can be spent in the old town of Shipu and the evening at China Fishery Village.

On the second day, they can go sailing or visit Songlan Mountain Beach Resort to swim.

If they have more time, tourists can take a boat and spend two days on Yushan Island, 45 km from Shipu port.

The island is ideal for backpackers. It is not fully developed and hotels are not available, so most visitors camp out at night. Away from the mainland's pollution, the island is known for its natural resources and views of the stars in the sky at night. Visitors can also go diving for mussels that are larger than a man's hand.