First time visiting Lianyungang? Don’t join a tour group, because it’s really…
First time in Lianyungang! Don’t join a tour group! It really ruins all the mountain and sea romance 😭
A sincere warning to everyone visiting Lianyungang for the first time!
Never sign up for cheap mountain and sea one-day tours, Huaguo Mountain group tours, or Lianyungang travel groups!!
Lianyungang is Jiangsu’s only treasure port city where mountains and sea embrace each other!
Half of it is gentle and healing with blue sea and sandy beaches, the other half is majestic with fairy mountains and sea clouds, seafood everywhere, and stunning night views.
There’s absolutely no need to join a tour group! Tours = pure traps!
Rushing around like military training, forced seafood consumption, missing the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets, rushing through Huaguo Mountain, and no chance to eat affordable fresh seafood!
Local-tested, no-trick, nanny-level guide for beginners—just copy it blindly!
❌ Why never join a tour group? Every word is the truth
1. Mountain and sea attractions are extremely spread out, most of the time is spent on the road
Lianyungang’s two main areas are completely out of the way!
The seaside areas of Liandao, Yangwotou, and Haishang Yuntai Mountain are in Lianyun District;
Huaguo Mountain, Old Street, and Yanhe Alley are in Haizhou District, dozens of kilometers apart.
Tour groups get up early every day, spend 2 hours on the bus and 1 hour sightseeing,
The seaside should be for relaxing and daydreaming, the mountains for slowly enjoying the sea clouds, but instead it’s nonstop rushing and walking, turning the vacation into long military training!
2. Cheap tour groups have many seafood traps and hidden costs that are impossible to avoid
Online one-day tours in Lianyungang for just a few dozen yuan are all bait-and-switch traps!
Prices don’t include Huaguo Mountain shuttle, Liandao small train, or mountain top sightseeing bus.
Guides aggressively push seafood banquets, island boat tours, VIP mountain seats, and crystal souvenirs,
They also force visits to overpriced seafood restaurants and shopping stores,
What should be an affordable mountain and sea trip ends up costing double a self-guided trip, definitely getting ripped off!
3. You’ll perfectly miss 90% of Lianyungang’s legendary scenery
The city’s beauty is all in the early morning sunrise and evening sunset night views!
Yangwotou sea sunrise, Liandao Suma Bay orange sea sunset, Haishang Yuntai Mountain panoramic mountain and sea views, Yanhe Alley night market—all are atmospheric highlights.
But all tour groups rush through the daytime, never staying for sunrise or waiting for dusk,
Baking in the sun doing assembly-line check-ins, perfectly missing the city’s most healing and photogenic mountain and sea moments!
4. The Huaguo Mountain group tour experience is completely ruined
Huaguo Mountain is huge and tall, with mountain paths and stairs all the way!
Self-guided travelers can take the shuttle bus to explore slowly, avoid crowds to see the sea clouds, leisurely visit Water Curtain Cave and Jade Maiden Peak.
Group tours have limited time check-ins and rush nonstop, climbing until exhausted,
No time to feel the fairy mountain atmosphere, plus extra paid photo traps and additional charges for extra spots, a terrible experience!
5. You won’t get authentic affordable seafood or local night market food
Group tours serve fixed, bad pre-made meals or take you to overpriced seafood shops that rip you off!
Lianyungang’s joy is fresh swimming crabs, mantis shrimp, sea intestine rice, small fish pancakes, and local cold noodles.
Authentic affordable delicious food is all at Xugou Market and old local shops in residential areas,
Group tours don’t let you experience this at all, completely missing the culinary essence of this seaside town!
✅ Beginner’s 3-day 2-night relaxed self-guided itinerary (no rushing, fully enjoy the city’s mountain and sea)
Day 1 Island waves · sea view healing line | must-see on arrival
Afternoon off-peak entry to Liandao Scenic Area
First visit Dashawan’s fine sandy beach, step in the waves for photos and relaxation
Walk along the popular seaside boardwalk to Suma Bay, where the water is clearer and fewer people, the bay atmosphere is perfect
In the evening, watch the stunning sea sunset at Suma Bay, the orange sea view is legendary
At night, visit Xugou seafood market, choose fresh seafood and have it cooked at the shop for affordable seafood freedom
Night stroll at Yanhe Alley, enjoy the old street night scene and local snacks
💡 Tip: Be sure to buy the scenic area small train ticket for Liandao! The two main areas are very far apart, walking alone is exhausting
Day 2 Fairy mountain panorama · artsy night market line
Morning: Haishang Yuntai Mountain
Take the sightseeing bus up the mountain, climb to Erweijian Peak, overlook the “mountain, sea, and port city” panoramic view, magnificent and beautiful, misty weather adds a fairy atmosphere
Afternoon: Lianyungang Old Street
Retro artsy seaside old street, great for strolling, less crowded and perfect for photos
Stop by Haiyifang Park for a free seaside walk and relaxation
Evening visit city night market, try small fish pancakes, fried cold noodles, grilled squid, and other local specialties
Day 3 Great Sage fairy mountain · signature finale line (must-see)
Spend the whole day exploring Huaguo Mountain deeply
Enter early to avoid crowds! Take the shuttle bus directly to the core spots
Check in at Water Curtain Cave, Sanyuan Palace, Seventy-two Caves, and climb Jiangsu’s highest peak Jade Maiden Peak
See the sea clouds over the mountains, the peaceful greenery, and immerse yourself in the fairy mountain atmosphere of Journey to the West
⚠️ Remember: don’t carry plastic bags or feed the monkeys to avoid scratches
Before leaving in the evening, shop for souvenirs at Old Street for a perfect trip ending
🎫 Official tickets & avoid scams | refuse all scalper tricks
1. Yanhe Alley, Lianyungang Old Street, and Haiyifang Park are all free!
2. Tickets for Huaguo Mountain, Liandao, and Haishang Yuntai Mountain must be bought through official channels only. No insider or expedited tickets. Scalpers are all scams.
3. Scenic area shuttle buses, small trains, and sightseeing buses are highly recommended. The mountain paths are long and the seaside areas are far apart, saving a lot of energy.
4. Avoid cheap boat rides, private filming, and paid photos at Water Curtain Cave—these are all hidden traps.
5. Pay attention to weather warnings at seaside attractions. No swimming or climbing during storms or heavy rain.
🚗 Transportation + accommodation | zero-fail money-saving guide
Transportation
✅ Best for self-guided trips: taxis + direct scenic area shuttles, convenient between Haizhou and Lianyun districts
✅ City short-distance shared electric bikes are great for riding, no pressure visiting Old Street or night markets
❌ Avoid unlicensed cars at stations or scenic areas, cheap group tours with sky-high prices and forced seafood consumption
❌ Some seaside roads have restrictions, self-driving to catch seafood or go to islands is not recommended
Accommodation tips
✅ Want to see the sea and catch the sunrise: stay in Lianyun District or near Liandao, within walking distance to the sea
✅ Focus on city food and shopping, Old Street: stay in Haizhou District near Yanhe Alley or city center, full of local flavor
❌ Don’t stay in remote suburbs! The mountain and sea attractions are dozens of kilometers away, wasting lots of time and energy
🍤 Lianyungang ultimate food list | avoid tourist traps
1. Don’t eat seafood at scenic area entrances! Prices are inflated and portions are often short
Locals eat at Xugou Market, choose fresh seafood and have it cooked there, fresh and affordable with no traps
2. Must-try city soul dishes:
Fresh swimming crab, mantis shrimp, sea intestine rice, salt and pepper shrimp, small fish pancakes, Lianyungang cold noodles, stir-fried clams
3. Local flavors are mostly fresh and salty. Seafood must be fresh. If you have a sensitive stomach, bring medicine.
4. Crystal and dried seafood specialties are best bought at city supermarkets, much better value than scenic areas
⚠️ Key travel tips to avoid traps! Must save for first visit
1. Large temperature difference day and night by the sea, strong sea breeze! Bring a light jacket even in summer and use sun protection
2. Huaguo Mountain has stairs all the way, wear comfortable sports shoes, do not tease or feed wild monkeys
3. All cheap seafood tours, free filming, and fast passes are traps, ignore them all
4. When catching seafood or playing by the sea, watch the tides, don’t go deep into deserted mudflats, stay safe
5. Lianyungang is all about slow travel! No need to rush checking in everywhere. Relax by the sea, climb to watch the sea clouds, and enjoy fresh seafood—that’s the right way to experience it
✨ Final thoughts
On one side is the endless blue sea, on the other the misty fairy mountains.
Lianyungang’s romance is the gentle sea sunset, the majestic mountain and sea panorama, fresh affordable seafood and local night market, and the fairy atmosphere of Great Sage fairy mountain.
This treasure city with both mountains and sea is really not suited for rushed group tours!
Take your time to see the sea, climb the mountains, and enjoy seafood freedom on your own,
Only then can you truly understand the unique mountain and sea charm of this port city 🌊