Sunrise in Feng Dong Shi, meaning ‘rock moved by wind’, which is Dongshan’s landmark.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Dongshan in Fujian province offers rich coastal cultural heritage

Whether your dream island trip in China is to spend a few days sunbathing on white beaches, or to explore the rich coastal history heritage of this country, Dongshan county offers both choices.

Perched on southeast China's sunny coast less than one kilometer east of Fujian province, Dongshan is China's sixth largest island and is edged by seven beaches, with sparkling water and white sand.

Serially connected, the seven beaches stretch to 30 km. Ma Luan Wan, the most popular beach, is 2,500 meters long and 60 meters wide. The waters here are relatively calm, and there's plenty of sand to build castles or simply to sunbathe.

Ma Luan Wan is also known for its not-to-be-missed sunrise and great views of leafy mountains. Ninety-four percent of the island is covered by forests, mostly banyan trees, thanks to six decades of tree planting. The soft air enveloping the island blends into a beautiful banyan-fringed haze.

In 2013, Dongshan was listed among Fujian's "ten most beautiful islands" by the provincial government. It is also a provincial-level reef conservation site and a national biodiversity reserve.

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. Dongshan is also a kite-flier's dream, with wide flat natural beaches and enduring winds. In 2014, kite-fliers from Hong Kong and other coastal areas came to Dongshan for an international kite-surfing contest, which the county has been holding for years.

On the day I visited the island, the turquoise water was relatively shallow and the sands sparkled against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. One of the rocks, Feng Dong Shi, or "rock moved by wind", is Dongshan's landmark and the most photographed site.