Recommendations for Zhoushan?

[AshNLD]

I am going to Zhoushan for work the coming weekend and gather there are some nice places to visit around those island. If I like nature/landscapes and history, Can somebody recommend any must-see places? Also - what is a great hotel to stay at - anything with a spa would be nice!

[Bluesea]

Hi, I suggest you can stay at Zhoushan Xilei Seaview hotel (舟山息来海景酒店）,which is located in Dinghai bund, facing the sea, close to downtown and the telephone number is 0580-2066666, the address is No.79 Weihai Road, Dinghai (定海卫海路79号）.

[Bluesea]

If you like history, you can visit the ancient city of Dinghai, such as east,middle & west street; if you like nature, you can visit zhu jiajian (beach), pu tuo shan (island), tao hua island and so on.

[Michael-H]

The Xilei Seaview is a nice and comfortable 3 star hotel. You also have a Sheraton which is 5 star but rates are of course higher. Depends on the budget your company can afford
More details here : Sheraton Zhoushan Hotel
and also here : Sheraton Zhoushan Hotel

[Bluesea]

Sorry, Xilei Seaview Hotel is 4 star. Now Zhoushan has Sheraton hotel? Oh,yes, it is located in Xin cheng, a little far from the center of city.

[Michael-H]

You are totally right Bluesea, my mistake ! Yes Xilei Seaview Hotel is not a 3 but a 4 star hotel.

[AshNLD]

I am always impressed with all the helpful entries and responses one gets on this forum, so thank you very much to all who replied. I will definitely follow your suggestion, but did have a few more specific questions:

1. I have been looking at the Sheraton to stay but I gather it's out of town. Is it easy to get around the island - e.g. from the city centre to the Sheraton?

2. Also what is the best way of getting around to:

- Dinghai
- Putuo Mountain/Island?
- zhu jiajian

Thanks again!!
Ash

[AshNLD]

I forgot to mention:

If anyone is interested in coming along with the same interests (travel, landscape, nature, history), then I am happy to have company! Just drop me a line...

[bobcambodia]

It is a long time I haven't been to Zhoushan.
I like three islands there. they are Zhujiajian island, Putuo island, Taohua island.
Zhujiajian is famous by the long beach. It held many times inter nation sands statue festival there. You can stay in the golden sands hotel, it is faced the long beach. very good seaview.
Putuo island is famous for the Budhist temple, and there is a large Kwan-yin statue (60m high) on the face of the sea. (need entrance ticket)
Taohua island is famous by a Kongfu book (Hero of shot eagle), you can stay in the Bangloo hotel, every room is named by the book. There is a short beach too.
Transportation: we can go Zhujiajian by private car. Go to Baifeng pier, cross the bay by Car ferry to Dinhai and arrive Zhujiajian island via the Zhujiajian brige.
Another two islands we should go by speed boat at Guoju pier. Can't go there by car.
But it is Autumn, it is too cold to visit the seaside in Ningbo. The better season is Summer.

[AshNLD]

Well, in a few hours, I am going there anyway taking the coach - let's hope it doesn't pour as much as it did in Ningbo! I am not staying till summer - so got to go...

[Bluesea]

Hi, welcome to my hometown. Hope you have a good time there. In fact, Zhoushan is the area name, including Ding hai (city), Pu tuo (county), Dai shan and Shen si (county), all are islands, also many small towns and islands, don't know which town and island will you go.

Supposing you will go to Ding hai, ok, you can go to there from Bai feng ferry by boat. Sheraton hotel is outside of Dinghai, you can take taxi, about 20 mins to the center of city.

From Dinghai to Zhu jiajian, you can take taxi, about 30 mins. From Dinghai to Pu tuo island, you can take the taxi to Shen jia men (ban sheng dong ferry), then take the boat to there. From Dinghai to Tao hua island,you can take the taxi to Dun tou ferry(dinghai), then take the boat to there, or you can also go to Ban sheng dong ferry (shen jia men) then take the boat.

[Bluesea]

Hi, AshNLD, how about your trip in Zhoushan? Hope you enjoyed there.

[AshNLD]

Hey Folks & Bluesea,

Visited Zhoushan finally last weekend - and despite the weather being a bit grey - I had a nice time. Ended up staying in a not so nice hotel in Dinhai (so-called Royal Hotel, really not to be recommended!) but did a very nice excursion to Putuoshan - the Buddha Mountain island. I am posting some pictures underneath to give you some impressions, and maybe to inspire you to visit the island.

Visiting Putuoshan especially, allowed me to glimpse into the more cultural aspects of Chinese culture, which these days I find is sadly often hidden behind a bland, western, modernistic facade.

Being Indian, it was also very interesting for me to see the local interpretation of Buddhism. I was born in an ancient Indian city (Varanasi) where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment. Naturally the Buddha is represented outside India in a local style (Thai, Chinese, etc) - much I guess like Jesus is often shown with blue eyes & blond hair in some parts of Europe (not exactly the Middle Eastern look! ) I was particularly interested to note the original use of the Indian sacred fortune symbol (swastika) and the original sanskrit inscription (on mani padme hum - the jewel-in-the-lotus mantra) in several temples. A nice reminder of home at the far end of Asia...

Hope you like the pictures...

[park100]

Hi Ash, your pictures are cool. I heard that the islands farther into the ocean are even better, with beautiful beach but without any residents. Did you have some seafood at Dinghai? The very very fresh crabs are strongly recommended