Putuo district offers a slice of island life

Night scence of sand sculpture group at Nansha beach. Sand sculpture has become a representative symbol of the city and is also a driving force of the city's tourism and cultural industries. [Photo Provided to China Daily]

Putuo Mountain is an ideal place to escape city hustle and bustle and enjoy peace and tranquility but in contrast, Zhujiajian is a lively place with beaches full of activities.

One beach, Nansha, is home to China's sand-sculpture art. Since Zhoushan city introduced sand sculpture into China in 1999, the art form has become a representative symbol of the city. It is also a driving force of the city's tourism and cultural industries.

Ding Wenxi, deputy manager of Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Co, said that the annual number of tourists in Nansha rose to 4 million last year from 400,000 in 1999. Tourism income contributed more than 1.5 billion yuan ($245 million) to the city's GDP in 2013. The total GDP of Zhoushan was 93.09 billion yuan.

Every September, sand-sculptors from around the world gather in Nansha and get to work in the sand. Their sculptures are maintained on the beach until a new group of artists start afresh the following year.

Apart from the sand sculptures, water sports including sea fishing and sailing are also popular in Zhujiajian.

Shenjiamen fishery port is China's largest natural fishery port and it was listed among the world's top three, together with Bergen port of Norway and Callao port of Peru.

When night falls, the 5 km port lined with fishing boats waiting to sail out is lit up like shining stars.

Restaurants standing beside the port offer fresh seafood to customers, who can dine by the waterfront and enjoy the sea breeze.