Liandao Scenic Area is located in Lianyun District, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and the largest island scenic area in Jiangsu Province. The scenic area consists of East Liandao and West Liandao, with a total area of 7.6 square kilometers, including 4.7 square kilometers of land area and 2.9 square kilometers of sea area. It has a coastline of 17.6 kilometers and integrates natural landscapes such as mountains, sea, forests, beaches, and islands. Its core features are "blue sea, golden sand,奇mountains, and beautiful reefs." The scenic area includes major functional zones such as Dasha Bay Amusement Park and Suma Bay Ecological Park, and is equipped with facilities such as seaside bathing beaches, sightseeing boardwalks, and ecological trails. It is a comprehensive seaside tourist resort integrating seaside leisure, sightseeing vacations, and sports entertainment.
Historical Culture
The history of Liandao can be traced back to the Qin and Han dynasties. Because it is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea and beside Haizhou Bay, it has been an important maritime transportation route and military fortress since ancient times. According to records in the Records of the Grand Historian, Emperor Qin Shi Huang stopped here during his eastern inspection tour to seek the elixir of immortality on the sea, leaving behind legends related to the "Three Divine Mountains." During the Han Dynasty, Liandao became an important node of the "Maritime Silk Road," and beacon towers were set up along the coast for defense against pirates and for transmitting military information. The existing ancient beacon tower ruins have a history of more than 2,000 years.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Liandao was an important fishing port in Haizhou Bay. Fishermen lived here for generations and formed a unique fishing family culture, including folk activities such as "sea worship" and "fishing songs." The "Fishing Family Folk Museum" in the scenic area displays traditional fishing gear, fishing boat models, and scenes of fishing family life, systematically presenting the development process of Liandao's fishing culture. In the 1980s, Liandao began to develop seaside tourism. In 1999, it was rated as a provincial-level tourist resort. In 2002, it was approved as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, becoming an important seaside tourist destination in northern Jiangsu.
Main Attractions
Dasha Bay Amusement Park
Dasha Bay Amusement Park is the core seaside leisure area of Liandao Scenic Area. It has the largest natural seaside bathing beach in Jiangsu Province. The beach is 1.8 kilometers long and 50-100 meters wide, with fine sand and clear seawater. The average water temperature in summer is about 25°C, making it suitable for swimming and playing in the water. The scenic area has more than 20 amusement projects such as water bicycles, motorboats, and beach volleyball, and is equipped with service facilities such as showers, lockers, and dining. The viewing platform on the west side of the beach is 30 meters above sea level and offers a panoramic view of the entire bay. It is an excellent location for photographing sunrise and sea views.
Suma Bay Ecological Park
Suma Bay Ecological Park is located in the eastern part of Liandao, covering an area of about 0.5 square kilometers. It features ecological protection and natural sightseeing, with a forest coverage rate of more than 80%. It is home to various birds such as egrets and hoopoes. The park has a 2.5-kilometer coastal boardwalk winding among cliffs, along which visitors can observe sea-eroded landforms, strange reefs, and exotic rocks. Among them, the "Sea Oath and Mountain Vow" reef is a check-in spot for couples because its shape resembles a heart. The park also preserves a group of stone inscriptions by Ming Dynasty border defense soldiers, recording the military defense history of that time and possessing high historical value.
Liandao Underwater World
Liandao Underwater World is located at the entrance of Liandao. It has a building area of about 5,000 square meters and is an indoor exhibition hall integrating marine life display and science education. The hall is divided into 8 areas, including a tropical rainforest area, coral reef area, and underwater tunnel. It displays more than 300 species of marine life, including sharks, sea turtles, and jellyfish. The underwater tunnel is 100 meters long, and visitors can observe the living conditions of marine life up close through glass. Mermaid performances and sea lion interaction shows are staged regularly every day, with each show seating 300 spectators. It is deeply loved by parent-child families.
Sea-Crossing Embankment
The Sea-Crossing Embankment connects Liandao with the urban area of Lianyungang. It has a total length of 6,700 meters and is the first sea embankment in China. It was completed and opened to traffic in 1993 and serves both transportation and flood control functions. On the west side of the embankment, there is a sea-viewing platform where visitors can watch the spectacular scene of tens of thousands of tonnage ships entering and leaving Lianyungang Port. On the east side is the shimmering Haizhou Bay. At low tide, a large area of tidal flats can be seen, and citizens often come here to dig for seashells. The monument in the middle of the embankment records in detail the construction process of the embankment and is an important window for understanding the history of Lianyungang's marine engineering.
Food
Lianyungang Swimming Crab
Lianyungang swimming crab is a specialty of the waters around Liandao. It is famous for its tender meat and full roe. Autumn (September-October) is the best season to eat it. At the "Seafood Food Stalls" in the scenic area, you can taste steamed swimming crab, spicy crab, and other dishes. A single crab weighing about 500 grams is priced at 80-120 yuan. Tourists can choose fresh seafood on site and have the shop cook it.
Oriental Prawn
The Oriental prawn is a famous Chinese seafood delicacy. The waters around Liandao are an important producing area. The prawns are relatively large, firm in texture, and rich in protein. The blanched prawns served in restaurants in the scenic area retain their original flavor. Each portion has about 6-8 prawns and is priced at 120 yuan. Served with ginger vinegar sauce, it is delicious and is a famous dish at local banquets.
Liangfen
Liangfen is a specialty snack in Lianyungang in summer. It can be bought at street stalls in Liandao. Local liangfen is made from sea vegetables or mung beans. It has a smooth texture and is served with garlic paste, vinegar, chili, and other seasonings. It is cool and refreshing. The liangfen in the scenic area is priced at 5 yuan per bowl and is generous in portion. It is a convenient snack while touring the scenic area.
Surrounding Food
The Lianyungang Xugou Seafood Market, 10 kilometers away from Liandao Scenic Area, is a good place to taste seafood. The market offers hundreds of kinds of seafood, such as mantis shrimp (30-50 yuan per jin), clams (8-10 yuan per jin), and oysters (10-15 yuan per jin). You can buy them on site and have them processed at nearby restaurants. The processing fee is about 10 yuan per portion. Dishes such as stir-fried clams and sauce-fried octopus at the "Old Haizhou Restaurant" next to the market are deeply loved by tourists, with an average per capita consumption of about 60 yuan.
Tickets：
Tickets are 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "Lianyungang Liandao Scenic Area" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open all year round, and the specific opening hours are adjusted according to the season:
April-October: 7:30-19:00 (last entry at 18:30);
November-next March: 8:30-17:00 (last entry at 16:30). Liandao Underwater World is open from 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30), all year round; the Sea-Crossing Embankment is open all day, with night lighting until 22:00.
Tour Route：
Recommended one-day seaside leisure route: Arrive at Liandao Scenic Area at 8:30 in the morning. First visit Dasha Bay Amusement Park and experience projects such as motorboats and beach volleyball. At 10:30, go to Suma Bay Ecological Park and hike along the coastal boardwalk to view sea-eroded landforms and reef landscapes. At 12:00, dine at the "Sea View Restaurant" in Suma Bay and taste a seafood set meal. In the afternoon at 13:30, return to Liandao Underwater World and watch the 14:00 mermaid performance. At 15:30, go to the Sea-Crossing Embankment and take photos at the sea-viewing platform. End the itinerary at 17:00, or stay at Dasha Bay to watch the sunset over the sea. This route involves about 6 kilometers of walking in total, balancing leisure and sightseeing, and is suitable for all kinds of tourists.
Transportation：
Bus: In the urban area of Lianyungang, take Bus No. 33 or Tourist Bus No. 3 to the "Liandao Bathing Beach" station. The journey takes about 40 minutes, and the fare is 2 yuan per person; from Xugou Bus Station, take Tourist Bus No. 6 to the "Liandao Scenic Area" station. The journey takes about 20 minutes, and the fare is 1 yuan per person.
Self-driving: Starting from the center of Lianyungang, drive east along Gangcheng Avenue, turn onto Haitang Middle Road, and enter Liandao via the Sea-Crossing Embankment. The total distance is about 30 kilometers, and the drive takes 50 minutes; the scenic area parking lot charges 5 yuan per hour, with a daily cap of 20 yuan.
Taxi: Taking a taxi from Lianyungang Station to Liandao Scenic Area takes about 40 minutes and costs about 60 yuan; taking a taxi from Xugou to Liandao takes about 15 minutes and costs about 20 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Dasha Bay Amusement Park: 1.8 kilometers of high-quality beach, more than 20 water projects, suitable for seaside fun, included in the combined ticket.
Suma Bay Coastal Boardwalk: 2.5-kilometer sea-view boardwalk, where you can view sea-eroded landforms and strange reefs, with excellent ecological environment, included in the combined ticket.
Liandao Underwater World: 5,000-square-meter exhibition hall, 100-meter underwater tunnel, suitable for parent-child tours, tickets 60 yuan per person.
Sea-Crossing Embankment: 6,700-meter sea embankment, where you can view port shipping and sea views, free and open, suitable for photography.
Travel Suggestions：
Suggested travel time is 1 day. The best tourist seasons are July-August (suitable for seaside activities) and September-October (seafood is plump and delicious).
In summer, take sun protection measures, apply sunscreen, and wear a sun hat. The ultraviolet rays in the scenic area are strong; on the beach area, it is recommended to wear beach shoes to avoid cuts from shells.
Some sections of the Suma Bay boardwalk are steep. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes. Elderly people can take the scenic area sightseeing bus (10 yuan per person).
When tasting seafood, choose regular restaurants and confirm prices before consumption to avoid disputes; those allergic to seafood should inform the restaurant in advance.
For sea digging, check the Lianyungang tide table and arrive at the tidal flat on the east side of the Sea-Crossing Embankment 1 hour before low tide. Bring tools such as a small shovel and bucket.
Precautions：
Swimming at Dasha Bay bathing beach must be in designated areas and obey lifeguard management. Avoid severe weather such as typhoons and rainstorms.
Picking plants and disturbing birds are prohibited in Suma Bay Ecological Park. Pay attention to safety when walking on the boardwalk and do not approach the edge of cliffs.
Flash photography, feeding marine life, and touching exhibition tank glass are prohibited in the Underwater World.
Commodity prices in the scenic area are relatively high. You can bring your own drinking water and snacks. Littering is prohibited on the beach area, and violators will be fined 50-200 yuan.
There are many tourists on holidays. It is recommended to arrive before 8:30 in the morning to avoid the peak period from 10:00 to 15:00. When parking spaces are tight, you can park on both sides of the Sea-Crossing Embankment.