Fun Attractions in Lianyungang

Lianyungang boasts a vast territory embraced by clear mountains and limpid waters, featuring tranquil elegance and a distinctive urban layout. It resembles an innocent, pure maiden with bright eyes and pearly white teeth, radiating sincere smiles from the bottom of her heart with every glance. Without the graceful charm of Laoshan Mountain in Qingdao, people today would fail to appreciate the literary charisma of Pu Songling; without the magical allure of Huaguoshan (Mountain of Flowers and Fruits) in Lianyungang, Chinese literary history would lose a universally familiar image of the divine Monkey King. Every mountain and river across China holds unique beauty. After learning these stories, watch billowing clouds roll over the peaks, listen to the rustling forest waves, admire blood-red ancient stone carvings, and sip in the fresh, sweet mountain and river scenery. Every picturesque landscape takes on a solemn touch, becoming even grander and more magnificent.

Renowned worldwide as the "hometown of the Great Sage Sun Wukong" depicted in the classical masterpiece Journey to the West, Huaguoshan draws endless praise from visitors with its abundant cultural relics and stunning natural vistas. Ancient towering trees cover the mountain, dotted with numerous historic sites bearing traces of literati and poets from all dynasties. There are 136 major scenic spots, many closely linked to Journey to the West: the Birthplace of Sun Wukong (Wa Yi Stone), vivid Monkey Stone, Bajie Stone, Sandy Monk Stone, lifelike Monk Tang Cliff, the Seventy-Two Caves, the Divine Golden Cudgel, Immortal Inkstone, Cypress Crutch, Scripture-Drying Stone, Reunion Palace, and the world-famous Water Curtain Cave.

Centered around Sanyuan Palace, the ancient building complex originated in the Tang Dynasty, was reconstructed in the Song Dynasty, granted imperial recognition in the Ming Dynasty, and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. It was a revered pilgrimage site in ancient times. Notable cultural landmarks here include the Yulin Temple Stone Carvings of profound literary and historical value, the Ashoka Pagoda built in the Northern Song Dynasty, as well as Pingzhu Meditation Courtyard, Righteous Monk Pavilion, Tea Nunnery, and Nine-Dragon Bridge.

Boasting rich vegetation and scenic beauty that shifts with every season, Huaguoshan is home to precious local specialties: golden-inlaid jade bamboo (one of China’s four celebrated ornamental bamboo varieties), Cloud and Mist Tea, kiwifruit, ginseng fruit, ginkgo, and chestnuts. In recent years, the scenic area management has ramped up afforestation and landscaping efforts, transforming Huaguoshan into an earthly paradise blooming with flowers all year round and bearing fresh fruits in every solar term.

Kongwang Mountain Scenic Area ranks among Lianyungang’s four major tourist destinations, covered in jagged exotic rocks and lush green foliage. Its cliff carvings, hailed as masterpieces of primitive art, together with stone inscriptions left by celebrities across ages, fill the site with timeless antique charm and earn it global fame. Located 5 kilometers south of Xinpu, the city center, Kongwang Mountain forms part of the national-level Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area. Legend holds that Confucius climbed the mountain to overlook the sea, hence its name. The scenic spot is internationally celebrated for its concentrated collection of precious ancient cultural relics.

Yuwan Natural Scenic Area is known as the "Jiuzhaigou of Jiangsu Province". It echoes Jiuzhaigou’s charm through its natural mountain-water grace, serene pristine surroundings, age-old simple folk customs, and profound cultural heritage. Its transportation accessibility is an unmatched advantage: it is a secluded valley nestled beside a bustling downtown, a mountain woodland within a densely populated region, an easily accessible retreat retaining unspoiled original natural scenery.

Liandao Coastal Tourism Resort is a core component of the coastal zone within national-level Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area. Its highlights include:

Stunning unique coastal natural scenery and distinctive island cultural relics make Liandao Resort an ideal destination for leisure, entertainment, vacation and recuperation.

Formerly named Eagle Roost Mountain, Liandao is Jiangsu’s largest offshore island. Its winding mountain ridges and rolling peaks stretch out like an exquisite painted screen, forming a gorgeous natural barrier standing amid the sea. Its captivating landscapes have enthralled countless travelers through the centuries.

Liandao’s greatest beauty lies out at sea, shrouded in drifting mist and clouds, resembling a celestial mountain floating atop thousands of acres of rolling waves. Lush green peaks rise against shimmering blue waters, creating unique mesmerizing coastal vistas that earn it the title of a brilliant pearl on the Yellow Sea shore. Integrating mountains, sea, forests, rocks, beaches and cultural landscapes, Liandao Scenic Area belongs to the national-level Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area. Thanks to its special geographic location, the resort enjoys mild weather year-round. The island’s verdant peaks boast a forest coverage rate exceeding 80%, with shady trees blanketing every corner. Surrounded by sapphire-blue seawater, visitors wandering along wooded mountain trails can gaze far at the boundless ocean. All daily fatigue melts away instantly, filling hearts with pure delight. Two natural bathing beaches lie on Liandao: Dashawan and Sumawan. Both feature gentle waves, flat shores, clear water and fine sand, with seawater meeting international swimming standards for up to 80 days annually — perfect for beach fun. City dwellers worn thin by concrete jungles and urban hustle and bustle can escape to Sumawan on Liandao. The unchanging rhythm of tides and the everlasting grandeur of mountains and seas dissolve all pent-up worries in an instant, merging visitors into the boundless expanse of sea and sky.

Dashawan Coastal Bathing Beach on Liandao is Jiangsu’s sole premium natural coastal bathing beach. Monitored continuously by the State Oceanic Administration, it ranks among China’s 16 healthy seawater bathing beaches and has obtained ISO14000 International Environmental Quality Certification. It has successfully hosted major events including eight opening ceremonies of Lianyungang Summer Festival, the International Kite Festival, the 2003 FIVB Women’s Beach Volleyball World Tour China Stop, and the First Jiangsu Fishermen Culture & Sports Festival.

As one of the largest tourist projects newly introduced to Liandao Coastal Tourism Resort in recent years, Liandao Oceanarium is the only oceanarium along Jiangsu’s coastline, a designated Jiangsu Provincial Popular Science Education Base, and the domestic facility showcasing the widest variety of live coral species. Here you may unlock the mysteries of the ocean and encounter diverse marine life: colorful corals, delicate jellyfish, varied shellfish, and countless vibrant tropical reef fish.