A hand-drawn map of Zhoushan. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Zhoushan, the first prefecture-level island city in China, consists of 1,390 islands and has a permanent population of 1.168 million.

The city is renowned for its Buddhist culture and fishing industry, and is known as the "Buddhist Realm between Sea and Sky" and the "City of Fishing and Ports". It attracts many tourists every year with its enchanting island scenery, delicious seafood, and profound Buddhist culture.

Zhongda Street in Dinghai district is the soul of the city, as it is filled with delicious food and many intangible cultural heritage items.

Putuo Mountain is popular among Buddhists, while Dongji Island offers the earliest morning light in China and Huaniao Island is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

In addition, there are many other recommended scenic areas in the city, including Zhujiajian Island, Daishan Island, and Gouqi Island.

Zhoushan, the first prefecture-level island city in China, consists of 1,390 islands. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Zhoushan is heaven for seafood lovers. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Dongji Island offers the earliest morning light in China. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Huaniao Island in Zhoushan is often referred to as the Chinese Santorini. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]