Zhoushan: Half Mountain, Half Sea, Half Zen

Falling asleep to the sound of waves and waking up to a flowing blue view—when I woke up at Huashu Homestay in Zhujiajian, I finally understood what a "seaview room should look like." This designer villa hidden by Wushitang frames the beauty of the East China Sea into an eternal oil painting through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Lying in bed in the early morning, you can watch the dawn dye the sea surface red, and when the electric curtains slowly open, it feels as if the whole world is greeting you good morning. 🏝️ The Black Romance of Wushitang Just a 5-minute walk from the homestay leads to this magical black pebble beach. Legend has it that these shiny black pebbles are scales left by the Dragon King's third son. Whenever the tide rushes over, the stones collide, producing a drum-like roar. Standing on the seawall and looking into the distance, fishing boats dot the dark blue sea, and fishermen are hauling in the last net of hairtail fish—the sunset here carries the scent of seafood. 🌊 The Thousand-Year Incense of Guanyin’s Sanctuary A 20-minute boat ride brings you to Putuo Mountain, where the salty sea breeze suddenly mingles with the scent of sandalwood. As the center of the "Buddha Kingdom of Sea and Sky," Putuo Mountain has been the sanctuary of Guanyin Bodhisattva since the Tang Dynasty. The ginkgo tree at Fayu Temple has witnessed 1,200 years of human prayers. Don’t miss the legend at Guanyin Temple: Japanese monk Huie’e invited the Guanyin statue to return to his country, but when the boat reached Lianhua Ocean, it encountered a storm. The Bodhisattva blocked the way with ten thousand iron lotuses, ultimately leaving the statue here. Today, you can still find marks on the rocks in front of Chaoyin Cave where iron chains once tightened. Returning to Huashu Homestay, the housekeeper had already brewed hand-poured coffee. Sitting in the 270° glass room, watching the sunset dye Wushitang golden red, I suddenly recalled Zen Master Huie’e’s insight: "It’s not that the Bodhisattva refuses to leave, but that sentient beings need her to stay." In Zhoushan, every grain of sand holds Zen wisdom, and every breeze carries compassion.