Local Specialties of Zhoushan

Here are the major aquatic specialties of Zhoushan: Stewed hails herring, wine-marinated hails herring, fermented salted white hails herring, triple-alum jellyfish, dried large yellow croaker, large yellow croaker swim bladder, air-dried eel, marinated swimming crab, crab paste, Dongsha fragrant dried tofu, Wojingtan hard rice cake, Jintang plum Mamu mud snails, swimming crab, grouper Crispy eel bones, Mingyu fish fillets, sun-dried fresh shrimp

Sand sculpture paintings are handicrafts crafted from special sand through unique techniques, with themes including figures, animals, cartoon characters, myths, legends and religious motifs. Exquisite and elegant, they carry distinct island characteristics. This tourist souvenir originated exclusively in Zhoushan and cannot be found elsewhere in China. Sand sculpture paintings from Zhujiajian are the most famous, mostly made of local pale fine sand, which are deeply favored by tourists.

Also known as Guanyin Daffodil, it enjoys equal fame with Zhangzhou daffodil from Fujian Province. Praised for its four supreme merits: enchanting fragrance, delicate hue, graceful posture and lingering charm, it is the city flower of Zhoushan. Putuo daffodil grows on nearly a hundred islands of the Zhoushan Archipelago along the East China Sea coast, with the largest growth on Mount Putuo; wild clusters also thrive on Taohua Island and Liuheng Island. It features strong adaptability and cold resistance, suitable for both pot and water cultivation with high ornamental value, blooming roughly from New Year’s Day to the Spring Festival. The largest Putuo daffodil planting base in Zhejiang Province has been built at Taimen Village, Liuheng Town.

Peach Blossom Stone is a type of granite embedded with dark green vein patterns. It is mainly found on Taohua Island, with the authentic mineral deposit located on Lianzhui Mountain, a branch of Sanhua Peak. Large exposed stone surfaces often display complete, distinct vein patterns resembling peach blossom branches and petals. Peach Blossom Stone can be polished into premium collectible craft treasures.

Also named Buddha Summit Cloud and Mist Tea, it was originally wild tea growing over 200 meters above sea level on Buddha Summit. Boasting a long history, it was designated an imperial tribute tea in the Qing Dynasty and won the Second Class Award at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

Zhoushan hosts numerous aquatic product processing bases. The Mingzhu Series manufactured by Zhoushan Ocean Fishery Company enjoys the highest reputation.

Zhoushan shell carving is a traditional craft that uses local shells as raw materials. Artisans carve vivid screens of landscapes, figures, mountains, rivers, flowers and birds by making full use of the shells’ natural colors, luster and textures. A wide range of shell carving works are available, including shell carving paintings, shell inlay art and shell jewelry.

Dried cuttlefish sacks from Zhoushan are called cuttlebone in traditional Chinese medicine, with the medicinal effect of astringing and stopping bleeding. They appear translucent reddish-brown coated with natural white bloom, dry and exuding a delicate fresh aroma.

Gaoxie Late-Ripening Bayberry ranks among China’s four top-quality bayberry varieties. According to Yuan Dade Changguo Prefecture Records compiled in 1298, it was a premium specialty treasure of this Buddhist sacred land. The fruit is spherical, glossy jet-black when fully ripe, with plump soft flesh grains, large fruits and tiny pits, abundant juicy tender pulp and an exceptional sweet flavor.

Goushan pears are mainly cultivated in Xintang, Wujiwa and Guangantou of Goushan Subdistrict. Main cultivars include Cuiguan, Qingxiang, Pear No.1 and Emerald Green. The pears feature large size, rich juice, high sweetness, crisp texture and outstanding taste.

One of Zhejiang’s top ten famous fruits, Jintang Plum gets its name from its native and abundant growing land — Jintang Island, with a cultivation history of over a hundred years. It has green skin and crimson flesh, crisp sweet juicy pulp, large fruit with small pits and rich nutrients. Processed products made from Jintang Plum include preserved fruits, candied plums, seedless candied plums and preserved sour plums, which are sold far to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and other regions.

A type of vegetarian pastry stuffed with seaweed, sesame, peanuts and other fillings. Low-sugar and fully plant-based, it perfectly matches modern healthy wellness lifestyles