Zhi'ao Village, a stone village on the Shengsi Islands in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

A village in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, has been promoting tourism with its distinctive stone culture in recent years. 

Zhi'ao Village, located on Huanglong Island, part of the Shengsi Islands in Zhoushan, is known as a "Stone Village in the East China Sea" due to its stony landscape, stone houses and stone roads nestled within the dense mountains.

It is the only stone village in Zhoushan, according to local authorities.

"Huanglong is rich in stone, so it is easy for us to build stone houses here. Stone houses are extremely sturdy and stand up well against sea water corrosion," said Lu Senwan, a former Party secretary of Huanglong. 

Lu added that there are more than 800 stone houses in the village, and the views created by layer upon layer of stone houses have earned the village the nickname "Potala Palace on the Sea".

Taking advantage of the unique landscape, locals started to develop tourism several years ago. They have attracted tourists not only through the stone houses, but also fishing activities and homestay inns.

When the tourist season arrives, the village also provides distinct folk cultural performances for visitors.

Local residents perform a dragon dance for visitors. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

There are now 13 homestay inns in Huanglong, and the stone village is attracting more than 10,000 tourists every year, said Lu.