In September, my husband and I went on a trip to Lianyungang. Lianyungang is located in Jiangsu Province and is a coastal port city relatively close to Henan Province. It takes 4 hours by high-speed train from Luoyang to Lianyungang.

Day 1 (September 18) 

We took an afternoon high-speed train from Luoyang to Lianyungang. Lianyungang serves as the eastern starting point of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge (the modern Silk Road) and is also one of the important starting points of the Maritime Silk Road. As a hub where land and sea routes converge under the "Belt and Road Initiative," it connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 2 (September 19)

To understand a city, one should start with its museum. In the morning, we visited the Lianyungang Museum, which houses the genuine Yinwan Bamboo Slips from the Han Dynasty. The neat Han Dynasty clerical script on them records administrative and daily life details from two thousand years ago, making them a precious literary treasure that transcends time. Among them, the Western Han Dynasty yellow jade pigs are carved from the extremely rare top-quality Hetian yellow jade known as "chicken oil yellow jade." The White Jade Buddha, brought from Myanmar by a Ming Dynasty monk and known as the "Oriental Smile," is a highlight of the museum, reflecting Ming Buddhist art and Maritime Silk Road exchanges.

Lianyungang Museum

Bamboo slips, Yellow Jade Pig, White Jade Buddha

In the afternoon, we headed straight to Huaguo Mountain, which has gained worldwide fame thanks to the novel Journey to the West. The beauty of this mountain lies not in its steepness but in its abundant fairy-like and spiritual atmosphere. The most delightful aspect is the group of monkeys—some sitting by the roadside, others swinging through the trees, freely and leisurely, being the most lively hosts in this "fairyland."

Huaguoshan Scenic Area

Huaguoshan Water Curtain Cave

Monkeys at Huaguoshan

Day 3 (September 20)

In the morning, we toured the Zaihaiyifang Park. Here, there are no violent waves, only gentle ripples licking the sandy beach. I stepped barefoot into the waters of the Yellow Sea, feeling its coolness and inclusiveness.

Zaihaiyifang Park

In the afternoon, we visited Lian Island. We took the scenic area's unique mode of transportation—a mini-train—to the entrance of the scenic spot, which made the journey along the way extremely enjoyable.

Upon stepping onto this island, we found the classic Sumawan Bay hidden beneath cliffs, with fine sand and a gentle slope, and waves as white as snow. The most exquisite part is the coastal plank road that winds between the mountains and the sea. Walking on it, on the left are rugged reefs with waves crashing against the shore, and on the right are green mountains rising, filled with birdsong and floral scents, presenting a vivid spectacle of mountains and seas.

Lian Island Scenic Area, Lian Island - Mini Train

Lian Island Beach

In the evening, we watched the sunset over the sea. We saw the golden fireball slowly sink below the horizon, igniting both the sky and the sea, dyeing them a splendid golden-red. The clouds were like crumbled warm jade, covering the entire sky.

Sunset over the sea at Lian Island

Day 4 (September 21)

In the morning, we watched the sunrise on Lian Island. Unlike the passionate farewell of a sunset, a sunrise over the sea is a rebirth full of hope. The sky gradually changed from fish-belly white to pale pink and orange-yellow. Finally, a red sun burst forth, and countless golden rays filled the sea surface, creating a shimmering effect like diamonds sparkling. 

Sunrise over the sea at Lian Island

We also strolled through the local seafood market, where a wide variety of fresh seafood was on sale, including different kinds of shellfish and various types of fish, all at very reasonable prices.

Lian Island Seafood Market

At noon, we toured the Maritime Yuntai Mountain. Standing on the mountaintop viewing platform, I truly understood the meaning of "Lianyungang": beneath my feet was the green-peaked Yuntai Mountain, in front of me was a bustling modern port in operation, and in the distance was the vast Yellow Sea. Mountains, seas, ports, and the city perfectly blended here, forming a magnificent three-dimensional picture.

The scenic beauty of Yuntai Mountain by the sea

At night, we took bus back to Lianyungang city, strolled through the Democratic Road Old Street. Illuminated by retro lights, it shed the weight of history and donned a warm, urban cloak. On both sides were Republican-era buildings that combined Chinese and Western styles, with time-honored shops and specialty snack stalls lining the street.

Night Market Seafood

Day 5 (September 22)

We boarded the high-speed train back to Luoyang, with our backpacks filled with the scent of sea breeze and the mist from Huaguo Mountain. Over these four days, I traveled through Lianyungang's thousand-year history, mythical fairylands, magnificent seascapes, and urban life. What it has bestowed upon me is not just the sunrises and sunsets captured in my camera but also a broad-mindedness as vast as the mountains and seas.

Yours Truly

June Zhao - Charmission Travel