This Gouqi Island guide is for travelers chasing one of China’s strangest and most photogenic sights: a whole fishing village swallowed by green. Gouqi (枸杞) is the second-largest island of Shengsi County, part of Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China, out in the East China Sea. For decades it was a busy fishing and kelp-drying community, but one hillside settlement — Houtouwan — was abandoned in the 1990s as residents moved to easier ground. Left to itself, the empty stone houses were overtaken by creeping vines and ivy until the village became a soft green sculpture of rooflines and windows. That “green village” is now the island’s claim to fame, drawing photographers from across China. Gouqi also keeps its working side: beaches striped with drying seaweed, fleets of squid boats, and some of the freshest seafood on the coast. The Hangzhou travel guide covers the mainland city most visitors fly into before the ferry.
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- Gouqi Island: best time to visit
- How to get to Gouqi from Zhoushan
- Top things to do on Gouqi
- Where to stay on Gouqi
- Sample Gouqi itinerary
- Practical Gouqi travel tips and FAQ
Gouqi Island Guide: Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Gouqi is May through October, when the sea is calm and the ferries run reliably. The green village looks lush from late spring through early autumn, with the vines at their thickest in July and August. Those same months are hot and busy, so many travelers prefer May to June or September to October for cooler walks and smaller crowds. Winter brings rough seas, fewer boats, and a real chance the island feels shut.
Typhoons can disrupt sailings from July to September, so watch the forecast. Gouqi is part of Shengsi County in Zhejiang, China; more on the island group is on Wikipedia’s Shengsi Islands article. For national timing, see our best time to visit China overview.
Gouqi Island Guide: How to Get There
Gouqi has no airport. Most visitors reach Zhoushan first (fly to Putuo Mountain Airport or bus from Hangzhou/Ningbo), then take a ferry from the Shenjiamen half-port pier to Gouqi; the trip takes about three to four hours by the slower overnight or daytime boat, with faster services in peak season. In summer there are also direct boats from Shanghai’s Luchaogang dock to Shengsi, then a short hop to Gouqi. Tickets sell out in July and August, so book early on the ferry platform.
| Mode | Route | Time | Approx. Cost |
|——|——-|——|————–|
| Flight + bus | Hangzhou → Zhoushan (HSN) → pier | 1h + 1.5h | ¥400–800 |
| Bus + ferry | Hangzhou → Zhoushan → Gouqi | ~3.5h + 3.5h | ¥150–250 |
| Ferry | Zhoushan (Shenjiamen) → Gouqi | 3–4h | ¥130–190 |
| Ferry | Shanghai (Luchaogang) → Shengsi → Gouqi | ~4h total | ¥160–220 |
| Local bus | Shengsi → Gouqi | ~40 min | ¥10–20 |
On the island, minibuses and scooters connect the pier, the green village, and the beaches; walking between them is possible but hilly.
Start your island trip from the mainland city with our Hangzhou travel guide for flights and transport links.
Top Things to Do on Gouqi
The Green (Abandoned) Village of Houtouwan
This is the reason most people come. Houtouwan’s stone houses are wrapped in ivy from roof to doorway, a living green ruin you can walk through on a marked path. Go early for soft light and fewer people, and stay on the trail to protect both the structures and yourself. It is eerie, beautiful, and unlike anywhere else in China.
The Kelp and Seaweed Beaches
Gouqi is a major kelp- and laver-drying center, and in season the beaches are striped with racks of dark seaweed laid out to dry — a vivid, almost abstract pattern against the sand. It is a working landscape, so ask before walking onto the drying areas, but from the path it is a great shot.
Climb to the Ocean Statue and Cliffs
A short walk uphill brings you to the hilltop “Ocean” (Aobo) statue and a railed cliff viewpoint over the open sea, with the fishing fleet dotted below. Sunset from here is the island’s other signature image after the green village.
Walk the Working Fishing Harbor
Gouqi’s main harbor is full of squid and kelp boats. Early morning is the time to watch the catch come in and to eat it within hours at a harborside stall. A seafood meal costs ¥60–120 per person.
Swim and Relax on the Sandy Bays
A couple of small sandy bays on the island’s calmer side are good for a swim in summer. They are modest compared with tropical beaches, but the water is clear and the setting is quiet.
Where to Stay on Gouqi
Gouqi has family-run hotels and guesthouses near the main pier and the green village, ranging from ¥200 to ¥450 a night in season. Conditions are simple — clean rooms, shared or private bath, and generous seafood breakfasts. Book early for summer weekends. If you want a polished city counterpoint after the rustic island, the canal-side hotels of Suzhou offer more creature comforts.
For a refined river-town stay afterward, see our Suzhou travel guide for canal guesthouses near Shanghai.
Gouqi Island Guide: Practical Tips
Some Gouqi travel tips will keep the trip smooth. Ferries book out, so lock in tickets early and leave a buffer day for weather cancellations. Carry cash, as payment apps are spotty away from the pier. Pack a windproof layer even in summer, plus sturdy shoes for the hilly green-village path and good insect repellent.
Mobile coverage is fine near the pier but weaker up in Houtouwan, so save offline maps. English is rarely spoken, so keep a translation app and the name “枸杞岛” handy. First time in the country? Our China travel guide for first-timers walks through payments, SIM cards, and transport that work across China. For a calmer lake-and-garden alternative, our West Lake Hangzhou guide describes a very different waterside mood.
Sample Gouqi Itinerary
Day 1: Ferry from Zhoushan to Gouqi, check in near the pier, and watch the sunset from the Ocean statue cliffs.
Day 2: Early visit to the Houtouwan green village, then the kelp beaches and a harborside seafood lunch.
Day 3: Slow morning walk, a swim if the season allows, then the afternoon ferry back to the mainland.
FAQ
Why was Houtouwan abandoned? Residents moved downhill in the 1990s for easier access to schools, boats, and supplies; nature then reclaimed the empty houses.
How do I reach Gouqi? Ferry from Zhoushan’s Shenjiamen pier, or via Shengsi from Shanghai in summer; the crossing takes three to four hours.
Is the green village safe to visit? Yes, on the marked path. Stay off unstable structures and don’t climb the ruins.
When is the village greenest? Late spring through early autumn, with the thickest vines in July and August.
Do I need cash? Yes. Bring enough for a couple of days, as ATMs are limited and payment apps are unreliable on the island.
By Karl — Last updated July 27, 2026
For more unusual coastal and countryside destinations across the country, explore our best things to do in China list of distinctive places.