#Sanmen Island Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Islands/Peninsulas
Address:
Daya Bay, Huiyang District, Huizhou
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 days
Camping on Sanmen Island
Sanmen island, with an area of about 5 square kilometers and a coastline of 13 kilometers, is the largest island in Daya Bay of Huizhou.
The sea water here is clear, with visibility of 5-8 meters, which is very suitable for swimming and snorkeling.
Getting there - We went with a group of people. Took a bus and then a speed boat to the island.
Attractions - Hiking trails, beach ,camping ,abandoned hotels and apartments.
Hotels - Only abandoned hotels on the island. We camped out in our tents and made friends with the locals to use their facilities.
Food & Restaurants - Local restaurants available on the island for limited food or you can bring your own meat and bbq. Ask locals to store things for you.
Shopping - You need to come prepared. Bring everything you need. Not many shops , only for cold drinks , snacks and food.
Travelgirrl
Immerse Yourself in the Ocean at Sanmen Island.
Sanmen Island—The 'Little Saipan' of Guangdong
Sanmen Island (also known as Tuoning Island) is located in the Daya Bay District of Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, at the confluence of Dapeng Bay and Daya Bay. It is one of the best-preserved natural ecological islands in China. Sanmen Island covers an area of about 5 square kilometers and has a coastline of 13 kilometers. Sanmen Island is a small island where you can see clear seawater, located in the middle of the sea, with little human pollution, making it purer. Although there are no famous attractions on this small island, the beauty of the sea is everywhere you go.
The seawater is clear and transparent, with a visibility of 5-8 meters. On sunny days, soaking in the cool seawater and watching colorful little fish swim around you, all worries and fatigue instantly disappear, leaving only tranquility, comfort, and the pleasure of being one with nature. You can play beach volleyball to stretch your muscles, catch small crabs washed up by the tide in the sand, or look for sea snails and sea urchins among the volcanic rocks on the shore...
Snorkeling and SUP paddleboarding allow us to fully immerse ourselves in this beautiful ocean.
The joy of snorkeling, experiencing the mysterious feeling of weightlessness underwater, and diving among the reefs. Sanmen Island is the only place where coral reefs grow, and there is abundant marine life. Sea urchins, sea snails, and sea cucumbers are easy to catch. The scenes from childhood TV shows come to life, after all, life is long, and we must constantly try and achieve what we want to do.
The most popular activity in summer is SUP paddleboarding, originating from Hawaii. The paddleboard is very thin, and you can lie down, lie prone, kneel, stand, or sit, feeling like you are on the vast ocean, unlike being on a boat where you always feel distant from the water. You can touch the seawater with your hands or jump into the water to swim at any time. On this beautiful and vast sea, the tranquility in your heart is free from any worries, merging with nature, forgetting the pressure of work and the noise of the city.
If you talk about tents, Sanmen Island is one of the best. The island is very clean, with fine, white, and gentle sand. As an independent small island in the sea, it is a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset. In the tent, under the starry sky, watching the sea, the moist air at night is filled with various strange fragrances; the scent of flowers and plants, and the smell of the ocean, listening to the sound of waves hitting the rocks in the distance... sharing each other's stories, adding a profound journey to each other's lives.
Sanmen Island is a volcanic island formed by volcanic eruptions 140 million years ago. The colorful stone beach on the island is covered with colorful and uniquely shaped volcanic rocks. The giant red volcanic rock walls are awe-inspiring, showcasing the wonders of nature. The sea-eroded cliffs and sea caves formed by billions of years of wave erosion are rare sights elsewhere. Enthusiasts can come to shoot a series of great photos.
珂珂-Katy
Sanmen Island | The closest niche Maldives island to Shenzhen
The closest niche Maldives island to Shenzhen. Sanmen Island is about 5 kilometers away from the Dapeng Peninsula. It takes only about half an hour to reach Sanmen Island pier by speedboat from Dongchong.
The beaches here are calm, with fine and clean sand, and the water is clear and transparent with a visibility of 10-20 meters. The shallow water area is twenty to thirty meters wide. Snorkeling equipment rental is available on the island, and you can also play with paddleboards. When the tide is low, you can go sea foraging and play frisbee on the beach.
It only takes 2 days, and you can stay overnight on the island. There are barracks and hotels to choose from, which are clean and comfortable. You can also choose to camp in tents. At night, you can barbecue, sing karaoke, and play with light and shadow photography, enjoying the pure nature and island life. You can also go sea foraging to catch fish and pick up sea treasures, reaping different surprises.
Sanmen Island is one of the best-preserved natural ecological islands in China, which can satisfy all your fantasies about the seaside. It is not only the closest and most beautiful seaside resort to Shenzhen but also offers exciting paddleboard surfing and memorable snorkeling. In addition, there is a natural botanical garden on the island, with 485 species of plants covering the entire island.
Route Guide:
- Address: Sanmen Island, Daya Bay District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province.
- Self-driving: About 3 hours from Guangzhou, about 1 hour from Shenzhen, and then take a speedboat to the island from the pier.
- Public transportation: Go to Shenzhen and transfer to a bus to Longgang, then transfer to a bus to Dapeng, and from Dapeng take a bus to the beach or pier opposite Sanmen Island.
- Admission: Free.
Best season to visit: December to April of the following year.
Attractions Guide:
- There are five peaks over 200 meters above sea level, which are the highest viewing platforms in the Daya Bay area.
- Moon Bay and Baisha Bay beaches are known as "Little Saipan" in Guangdong.
- The internet-famous seaside cliff walkway offers breathtaking views.
Travel Tips:
- Snorkeling and paddleboard surfing, exciting and unforgettable.
- Walk along the waves and watch the sunset, the evening glow.
- Off-road vehicles & yachts for land and water island tours.
- Follow the fishermen to experience fishing.
Equipment Suggestions:
- A backpack of around 20L.
- About 1L of drinking water.
- Two sets of spare clothes, swimwear.
- Personal items, mosquito repellent, etc.
- Sun protection items, such as skin clothing, hats, etc.
- ID card, mobile phone waterproof bag.
- Beach shoes.
- Rain gear.
- Thin blankets and other warm items.
On the island, there is a fee for showering, 10 yuan for cold water, 15 yuan for hot water. Come to Sanmen Island and enjoy a unique vacation time!
NELLIE SMITH
One of China's most perfectly preserved natural ecological islands: Sanmen Island
🏝 One of the most perfectly preserved natural ecological islands in China, Sanmen Island combines snorkeling, paddle surfing, and beautiful scenery, fulfilling all your beach dreams.
📍Address: Sanmen Island, Daya Bay District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province
🚗Driving: 3 hours from Guangzhou, 1 hour from Shenzhen, with a speedboat transfer required to reach the island.
🚌Public Transport: From Shenzhen to Dapeng, then take a bus to the beach or pier.
🚢To the Island: A 15-minute speedboat ride is needed from Shenzhen Dongchong Pier. Tickets for a boat that can carry six people are available at the ticket office. Forming a group can save money on the speedboat, which is thrilling, and you can enjoy the cloud scenery of Qiniang Mountain in the middle of the sea.
🏠Accommodation: Camping on the beach is possible (not recommended in hot weather) and the accommodation is basic. Those with high accommodation standards are discouraged. Guesthouses have four/six-person rooms, and exclusive hotels are overpriced. Electricity is available from 6 pm to 6 am.
🦞Dining: There are several farmhouses run by locals with slightly high prices, but the seafood is very fresh as it is caught at sea. In the evening, you can have a barbecue next to the farmhouse, which is not allowed on the beach.
🏖Attractions Guide:
1️⃣ Peaks over 200 meters high, excellent viewing platforms.
2️⃣ Moon Bay and White Sand Bay, known as 'Little Saipan'.
3️⃣ Coastal cliff paths to take in the breathtaking scenery.
🏄♀️Activities Guide:
1️⃣ Snorkeling and paddle surfing, thrilling and memorable.
2️⃣ Enjoying the sunset, walking on the beach.
3️⃣ Island tour, off-road on land and water.
4️⃣ Sea foraging experience, follow the leader for a feast about the sea.
JACE PIERCE
Exploring Sanmen Island
Sanmen Island
This small island of less than five square kilometers is less than two hours' drive from Shenzhen. On one holiday, I spent ten hours without getting in. The long dragon stretched for tens of kilometers and finally had to look back at the island.
Finally, I set foot on Sanmen Island again one day not long after. Sanmen Island set up a customs in the Qing Dynasty. New China once designated Sanmen Island as a military restricted area, successively building various offensive and defensive fortifications, and stationed until the mid-1990s. A century of closure has preserved the perfect natural ecology of Sanmen Island.
The next morning, I saw blooming lotus flowers by the Acacia Lake (it seems rare to see this light pink color)
Sanmen Island is a volcanic island formed by volcanic eruption. The sea erosion formed by the volcanic rock wall on the beach is particularly spectacular. Under the scorching sun, I sat with my old friend under the sea erosion cliff, watching the waves splashing at my feet and the strong wind blowing.
Through a row of dilapidated houses along the winding path to the Moon Bay beach, the beach about three hundred meters wide is like a new moon, the sand is soft, the foot is like cotton, the sea water is blue, clear and transparent, Changqing brother enters the sea like a dragon, sea urchin abalone dives to take, the little guy holding the bucket jumping up and down forgets himself.
The time on the island is slow, the fishing boat is stranded on the beach, the dried fish has become a fossil of memory, occasionally a man smoking a cigarette slowly walks past in slippers..
We finally found the Color Stone Beach, we stayed here for several hours, and there was no second wave of people coming, only saw the big wheel slowly driving past in the distance
The sea water in the evening becomes dark blue and mysterious, with a bit of ferocious face covering the colorful stone beach. The whirlpool formed by the raging waves is like a rope pulling the small snails and crabs on the stone into the black valley. We retreated to the shore, no longer seeing the jumping sunlight on the colored stones, no longer seeing the small fish swimming in the shallow sea, the rumbling wave sound was dull like the breath of a monster hitting the stone shore.
The Acacia Lake is calm, watching the sunset quietly... The water lilies on the shore have already fallen asleep
It is said that there is a total length of 5 kilometers of underground works and crisscross trenches on the island. So a group of three people took a stick as a cane, opened the weeds and spider webs in the forest, and saw the hidden camp in the forest, the cement-covered military supply warehouse, the gun position hidden by the mountain stone, and the trench covered by the wild grass and vines along the way.
Open the long-sealed iron door, we entered the pitch-black tunnel, feeling a strong wind blowing in the dark. With the faint flashlight, we saw small rooms with numbers written on both sides. The iron door is rusty. We used a long tree trunk to explore the way. We stepped on the exposed cables from time to time. It was quiet except for the wind and breathing. I didn't expect that breathing at this moment was so clear and heavy. I don't know how long I walked. Finally, I found a light at a corner, followed the light, and fortunately, the heavy iron door and cement door were half open, the exit was opened at a corner, we used a tree stick to poke some bricks, and the salty taste of the sea breeze and the smell of mountain wood and wild grass came oncoming.
We crawled out of the dark tunnel and put the tree trunk used for exploration next to it as a memorial. Next to this tunnel is the then combat command post, which is completely covered by weeds. The red characters of 1956 are clearly visible
🏖Location: Daya Bay, Huiyang, Huizhou
🛥Transportation: Drive to Dongchong or Xichong, then transfer to a speedboat or ferry to the island, about twenty minutes. The ferry takes about thirty-five minutes.
👣Tour: Sea Oath Mountain Alliance Peak, located in Acacia Lake Resort, you can see the sea when you climb
Moon Bay Beach: The sand is soft, the foot is like cotton, the sea water is blue, clear and transparent
Color Stone Beach: The water is clear and the sand is young. There are many colored reefs, a quiet and quiet place
Dongchong Beach: The sandstone is slightly coarse, a good place to play in the water.
🧸Note: In addition to the resort and homestay on the island, the beach can camp and go into the sea, and the shower is charged
In addition, a fee of ten yuan will be charged for Moon Bay Beach, and a fee of fifty yuan will be charged for guests outside Acacia Lake Resort
aurelia_nightingale_95
Shenzhen Xiaosaimen Island | Full Guide to Glass Sea Camping and Snorkeling
🉑Camping🉑Snorkeling🉑Stargazing🉑Cliff Descending🉑Fishing🎣
Currently, it can only be reached by boat, so gather near Dongyong Pier first.
📍Self-driving location: Shenzhen Xinhaofang Dongyong Seaside Hotel Parking Lot🅿️, parking fee is 20 yuan per day. Get off and walk into Dongyong Pier to take a boat🚤 to Xiaosaimen Island Beach. The round-trip charter boat price is between 450-600 yuan in off-peak and peak seasons, and can seat 6 people. Charter boat phone numbers can be seen everywhere in Dongyong, and if there are few people, you can also find a boat to share at the pier.
Tips:
1. It's best to arrange for the boat to depart from Dongyong Pier at 9 am
2. To avoid traffic jams, it's best to return after 4 pm or 10 pm
3. Bring enough power banks, charging cables, and sunscreen, as they are not sold on the island.
🚤Tell the boatman to go to Xiaosaimen Beach, the beach is really a glass sea, even the bottom of the boat is a glass sea with small fish swimming around, you can directly see sea urchins, the sunlight is extremely clear. The beach is not crowded, so you can play freely. If you have children, you can catch sea creatures and swim next to the beach (adults remember to take care), the sand is very fine and there are no reefs around!!!
About accommodation
🏖️Beach camping: You can directly set up camp and catch sea creatures when you arrive at Xiaosaimen Beach, suitable for families with children.
🚿🚿🚿Bathing at the snack bar costs 10 yuan for cold water and 20 yuan for hot water🏖️
⛰️Mountain top camping: From the starting point of the snack bar and restaurant behind Xiaosaimen Pier, there is a sign 'to the mountain top', walk up the mountain, the journey takes about 15 minutes, the road is very flat and easy, you can see excellent views from all angles. Those who like to play cliff descending also take this road to the cliff on the mountain top. Suitable for young people who love photography.
🏨Book a homestay: Book online in advance, about 300 yuan in the off-peak season, with air conditioning and hot water.
About meals🍽️
1⃣️For a two-day weekend trip, prepare four meals, and return after lunch on Sunday (remember to arrange a time with the boatman)
2⃣️There is a snack bar on the island selling water, the price is slightly higher than outside by one or two yuan
3⃣️There is a restaurant behind the pier, the price of ordering dishes is similar to Dongyong.
In general, 🏝️Xiaosaimen Island has many ways to play, pick a good weather and set off🔅💫
✔️Outdoor traceless camping, remember to take away💯💯 garbage❤️
LEXI MONTGOMERY
One of the most beautiful islands in Guangdong, "Sanmen Island" in Huizhou.
One of the most beautiful islands in Guangdong, a great place for "oaths of eternal love by the sea and mountains".
✅
Sanmen Island is actually located in Huizhou City, but the best pier for island access is Dongchong Pier in Shenzhen (navigation: Shenzhen Dongchong Pier, relatively close and cheap).
This is currently one of the best protected and most natural islands in China. There are no particularly famous attractions on the island, but there are beautiful views everywhere.
✅
Home/car guide directly to Dongchong Village on the island.
You can take a speedboat to Sammen Island from Dongchong, Xichong (expensive), Yangmeikeng (even more expensive), and Autou Port (most expensive). Taking a speedboat from Dongchong will be 20-30 minutes faster.
How to play:
🌟"Shanhai Yise": an ecological island known as the "Little Saipan of Guangdong". The water is clear and the sand is fine. The colorful volcanic rock beach on the island is covered with colorful and unique shaped volcanic rocks. After reaching the summit of the highest peak, Haiseshan Peak, you can enjoy the stunning scenery of Daya Bay.
🌟"Ocean Paddleboarding": Experience the globally popular water sport - freestyle paddleboarding, and effortlessly dance on the sea.
🌟[Diving Paradise]Let you have the closest contact with the ocean, and have the opportunity to observe the gorgeous underwater creatures, corals, sea urchins, and various colorful small fish.
🌟[Seafood Galore] Best spot for clamming, abundant in needle-less cuttlefish, blue crabs, sea urchins, groupers, lobsters, abalones, etc. It is one of the best-preserved natural ecological islands in southern China, with plenty of seafood.
🌟[Beach Party]Karaoke, light painting photography, werewolf killing, add color to your island trip.
🌟"Haijiao Mountains": Travel along the most beautiful coastline, check in at the romantic filming location of "The Mermaid" - Luzui Villa.
Camping ⛺️ overnight essentials:
1️⃣Tent (sturdy, windproof and waterproof)
2️⃣ Moisture-proof mat
3️⃣ Sleeping bag
4️⃣ Mosquito repellent spray
5️⃣ Camping lighting lamp
6️⃣️ Mineral water
7️⃣ Energy bar
8️⃣Power bank
❓Here are some FAQs:
1️⃣Is there a restroom?
There are public toilets on the island.
2️⃣️Is there a place to eat?
Near the pier, there are street vendors where you can eat for 50-70 💰 per person.
3️⃣️Is there a shower room?
10-20 yuan/person, can use hot water for bathing multiple times.