Tourists relax on the beach on Zhujiajian Island in Zhoushan. The island is part of the city's core tourism zone. [Photo provided by Zou Xunyong for Tide News]

Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang province is working to develop China's first "all-age-friendly, accessible, and international tourism demonstration island" in the Putuoshan–Zhujiajian area, its main tourism zone. 

A pilot initiative is underway to create a development framework and action plan for an accessible island experience on Zhujiajian Island.

The initiative aims to improve accessibility for all visitors, particularly during peak travel periods. During the May Day holiday, the region set up four smart service houses at key locations such as the Wugongzhi Dock. These houses offer strollers, wheelchairs, luggage carts, walking sticks, and portable chargers. Additional wheelchair services and escort assistance were provided at passenger terminals.

The region plans to improve accessibility for major tourism and cultural projects, including the "Baosheng Hotel", the "China (Zhoushan) International Marine Sports Center", and the "Zhoushan Ice and Snow World". 

This effort involves incorporating accessible design across venues, transportation routes, and facilities. The accessibility service model at the Zhujiajian Passenger Center will be expanded to include buses, cruise ships, parks, and beaches, with added child-friendly amenities.

A smart service system will support this upgrade by integrating digital navigation, voice guides, and emergency calls into a unified platform. Accessible facility data will also be shared via tourism apps, transport hubs, and public displays. Plans include multilingual signage and new promotional campaigns highlighting inclusive tourism through festivals and digital channels.