Shengsi’s All-Round Tourism Activates the Island’s “Star Effect”
On the coast of the East China Sea, the blue waves are surging. When the morning light gilds the century-old lighthouse, when dusk turns the “Blue Tears” beach into a starry river, when the fishermen’s songs and laughter dance in the offshore mussel farming area–This long scroll of island customs is a vivid footnote to the booming development of tourism in the Shengsi Archipelago.From January to May this year, Shengsi’s tourism market delivered impressive results: the county received a total of 1.336 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 35.1%, the fastest growth rate in the province; Among them, overnight tours performed particularly well, with 756,000 visitors received, a year-on-year increase of 50.7%. This also demonstrated the strong appeal of Shengsi tourism with the fastest growth rate in the province.
Based on the vision of “Beautiful Shengsi, Wonderful Shengsi”, Shengsi has long surpassed the scope of traditional tourism. Relying on two national 4A-level and three 3A-level tourist attractions, Shengsi has achieved full coverage of urban and rural scenic spots. The construction of island parks leads the province, and it has been awarded the provincial-level all-round tourism demonstration county, one of the top ten provincial-level counties for high-quality development of cultural and tourism integration, and has been named the “dazzling pearl” of Zhejiang Province’s grand garden.
As summer arrives, sightseeing buses loaded with tourists are constantly shuttling back and forth on Flower and Bird Island. From the dawn glow of the century-old lighthouse to the dreamy nightscape of the “Blue Tears” beach, from the art workshop in the stone house of the fishing village to the oath of love on the cliff, this love-themed island delivered an impressive performance with its homestays remaining fully booked during the May Day holiday.
Looking across the region, each island in Shengsi shines with its own unique brilliance: On Sijiao Island, Buddhist melodies from the sea and sky blend with the lively life of the fishing village to create a Zen atmosphere; Shengshan Island is home to centuries-old fishing and farming memories, revealing the profound cultural heritage of the island; Goji Island uses mussels to play the sea pastoral song, laying out a vivid picture of rural revitalization; The rugged rocks of Huanglong Island outline the freehand village, engraved with the sea cliff character tempered by time; On Yangshan Island, giant steel arms and the blue sea and clear sky form a symphony, demonstrating the combination of rigidity and flexibility of industrial aesthetics.
In recent years, Shengsi has skillfully implemented the strategy of “one island, one product, one island, one policy” to connect the islands into a chain. In the grand chess game of all-for-one tourism, they are accelerating the construction of an organic ecosystem with complementary functions and shared passenger flow. The integrated development pattern between “Sijiao Island + Huanglong Island” and the eastern Ma’an Islands is rapidly taking shape, propelling the island-wide tourism sector from “single-island hits” toward “cluster symbiosis.”
In Shengsi, the traditional “see and taste the sea” tourism model is evolving into an immersive “play and enjoy the sea” experience. Cultural festivals, sports events, and artistic activities are surging like tides, infusing island tourism with diverse energy. On Flower and Bird Island, the “Love Just Right” themed carnival saw 25 couples from across the country celebrate a collective wedding—a “tourism + emotion” romantic feast where happiness fermented in the sea breeze. Meanwhile, Sijiao Island’s “FU Art Festival · Shengsi Wild Retreat” lifestyle festival uses “tourism + art” as a key to guide urbanites into exploring mountain-sea secrets.
“Tourism + sports” injects vitality into the islands. The “East China Sea Cup” Shengsi Islands Sailing Race drew 20 global teams competing in a unique “island-hopping” format, allowing participants to admire the archipelago’s beauty while braving the waves. At Jihu Beach’s water sports base, over 20 aquatic activities attract more than 2,000 daily visitors. The “helicopter island tour” unlocks a bird’s-eye perspective, elevating Shengsi tourism into a three-dimensional land-sea-air experience.
How does Shengsi become a place that captures hearts? Shengsi understands: rooted uniqueness is its soul, diversified innovation its path—and what makes visitors yearn to return is the warmth in the details. Thoughtful service at ferry terminals delivers the first surprise; seamless “island-hopping” transport networks make exploration effortless; free rental amenities at scenic spots silently ease travel hassles…
Cuisine is Shengsi’s most resonant emotional bond. Building its “Century-Old Fishing Ground” brand matrix, state-run seafood noodle shops expand at a pace of “6 stores in 3 cities over 2 years.” Seasonal delicacies like “Eight Treasures of the Sea” and “Eight Hook-Caught Delicacies” entice far and wide, making Shengsi’s flavors a culinary icon—and a vivid showcase of high-quality tourism development.
By amplifying strengths, seizing opportunities, and creating uniqueness, Shengsi’s island-wide tourism continues to ignite a “constellation effect” among its islands, steering a new wave of island tourism toward an ever-more captivating future.
