Pingtan Island

Pingtan Island, in Pingtan County, Fuzhou, about 80 km southeast of the city in Fujian, China, is the largest island in the Pingtan archipelago and one of mainland China's closest points to Taiwan. It is reached by a Fuzhou-Pingtan high-speed train from Fuzhou Station or Fuzhou South to Pingtan station, taking about 35-60 minutes at roughly ¥40-70, with fares to be confirmed on 12306. From the station, island bus K1 or K3 (a few yuan) or a taxi (¥40-120) reaches the main coastal sights such as Longfeng Head, Tannan Bay and Shipaiyang. A shared-ride service called Yueba, accessed through the WeChat account Guoyun Yixing, charges about ¥5 per 3 km. The island is known for its wind-sculpted coastline, long beaches, stone-built fishing hamlets and its dense rows of wind turbines. Longfeng Head offers a sandy beach and sea views; Tannan Bay has a long white beach suited to sunsets; and Shipaiyang is a scenic stretch of rock formations and coastline. A sensible day starts with an early train, spends the morning at Longfeng Head and the beach, takes lunch at a seafood restaurant near the shore, where grilled fish, oyster and shellfish dishes are typical, and uses the afternoon for Tannan Bay or Shipaiyang. Island taxis are the easiest way to link the dispersed sites. The best weather runs from May to October, when the sea is warm and the island is at its greenest, though July and August are hot and crowded and typhoons can disrupt trains and ferries. Winter is windy and cool, and many beach facilities close. Sun protection, a hat and a wind layer are useful, as the coast is exposed. Visitors should keep an eye on the return train times, since the last services leave in the evening.