By Herta He (Shanghai Star)

Located on the East China Sea, Zhoushan archipelago of Zhejiang Province is one of the most famous places for fish and other seafood,because it has one of the four biggest fishing grounds in the world.

Taking a coach and then a two-hour trip by ferry is a good way to get to Zhoushan. We chose the route from the long-distance bus station near the Nanpu Bridge to Yangshan Harbour, over the 32.5-kilometre-long Donghai Bridge.

Photo Source: China Daily

There are hundreds of islands in the Zhoushan archipelago, most of them uninhabited. Being nature lovers and students majoring in biology, we contactedthe local government and were allowed to visit the Bird Islands, a paradise that several hundred kinds of birds call home. Few people are allowed to get close to these birds and people are forbidden to hunt them.

When we approached one of the islands, we were shocked at the number of seagulls flying over our heads. The abrupt slope and twining plants made climbing to the top of the island difficult.As we wandered around the island, we had to be very careful where we stepped because there were several bird nests under some low bushes.

Like in many other scenic spots, we visited some historical landmarks. An ancient and typical fishing village on Changbai Island hides itself in the valley,immersed in peace and silence. It is said that the youngest resident here is over 70 years old.All the houses in the village were built by layering stones and tiles without using cement to bond them. This kind of stone-made house was very typical in the village in Close to sea and close to nature the past, but now only a few old people still live in them. The older people in the village come from a family whose surname is Yu. Most of the men in the village were fishermen when they were young and catching fish was their major source of income. Surrounded by mountains, a palpable feeling of being away from the real world brought me into what seemed a fairytale. Soft and beautiful songs came from unseen birds in the fresh and green mountains.

Photo Source: China Daily

Walking through a narrow meandering footpath from the Yu village, we caught sight of the colourful coast, the blue sky and sea, green islands far away,white clouds and golden sunshine,a wonderful background for pictures. Stones with different shapes and colours covered the shore. Skipping stones on the water, catching crabs and picking up seashells are interesting games on the coast. Some of the shells and beautiful stones can be used to make a bracelet.

On the nearby mud flats,local people pick up mudsnails,a popular seafood in Zhejiang Province and in Shanghai cuisine.Here, you can pick up your own snails and take them to a small restaurant for cooking.

Eating fresh seafood is a joyful thing that should not be missed. And, there is always room for negotiation when it comes to prices in restaurants.

I visited Zhoushan in July,during the fishing off-season - the holiday time for fishermen.If you want to taste seafood to your heart's content, you'd better make your trip during other months.

Hotels on the islands of Zhoushan are not very big or expensive. You can find accommodations in towns and the city.Some visitors may prefer living and eating with a local family.

The beautiful seacoast, peaceful stone fishing village, fluttering seagulls and tasty seafood left me with a sweet memory.