Tourism chiefs in Changdao, an island county in Shandong province, have now devised a number of tours aimed at showcasing the mysterious charm of the area and attracting visitors to experience life in one of its many fishing villages. The following represents a typical itinerary for visitors.

For the first day, take a tour to the Nine-Fathom Cliff, the Crescent Moon Bay, the Amah Reef and the Fairyland Park. In the evening you may then take a walk around the Pearl Square and enjoy local seafood at the nearby sidewalk snack booths.

On the second day, go fishing on the sea and get to know how it feels to be a real fisherman netting fish day after day. After returning to dry land, tour the Forest Park and the Bird Exhibition Hall in Fengshan, the highest point in the county. At night, you can attend a bonfire party on the beach and appreciate the unique flavor of the local songs and dances.

On the last day, sail to Miaodao (or "Temple Island") to visit the thousand-year-old Matsu temple, and feast your eyes on the beautiful scenes of the Pagoda Reef, the "stone forest on the sea" whilst watching flocks of birds chasing after boats.

During the three-day tour, tasting delicious seafood is a can't-miss item on the itinerary. As a key national aquatic product center, Changdao is home to a variety of fish and shellfish, including shrimps, crabs and sea cucumbers.

Locals like to make dumplings filled with aquatic vegetables and Jiaozi stuffed with mackerel. Both are local specialties.

The pleasure of paddling in the sea is another temptation that cannot be resisted, as is sailing to the Bird Island for the sight of flocks of birds spreading their wings, watching seals frolicking in the water, sunning yourself on large rocks or renting a boat to go out fishing in the sea.

If you get tired after so much exertion, it is not a bad idea to chill out at a fisherman's home. Local tourism authorities have franchised the home hotel service named "Yujiale" - meaning "experiencing happy time at a fisherman's home" - to hundreds of locals.

Currently more than 30 daily liners shuttle between Penglai, the nearest city in the Jiaodong Peninsula to Changdao, and the island county.

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