Juhua Island sits about fifteen kilometres off the Xingcheng coast, accessible by a forty-minute ferry from Xingcheng Port. The island is small — about fifteen kilometres in circumference — but carries a disproportionate density of historical monuments: Buddhist temples from the Liao and Ming dynasties, a lighthouse, and several miles of beach that get crowded with domestic tourists in summer but are reliably quiet from October through May.
The Putuo Temple on the north of the island is the most significant religious building, a Ming-era complex built around a natural rock formation that includes a Guanyin shrine and several smaller halls. The walk around the island's perimeter takes two to three hours and passes all the main sites. Ferries run year-round but service is reduced in winter; check the schedule before the trip. Accommodation is available on the island if you want to avoid the day-trip crowds.