Lianyungang Travel Guide: The Monkey King's Mountain and the Yellow Sea Coast
Lianyungang, on the Yellow Sea coast in the far northeast of Jiangsu, has two big days out. Huaguoshan, the Flower and Fruit Mountain, is officially the "hometown of Sun Wukong" from Journey to the West, with the Water Curtain Cave and Jiangsu's highest summit. Liandao, an island joined to the mainland by China's longest sea wall, has the province's best beaches. Spend a day on each, and add an hour at Kongwang Shan, whose Eastern Han cliff carvings are among the earliest Buddhist images in China.
Huaguoshan
A 1982 academic symposium on Journey to the West agreed that Lianyungang's Huaguoshan was the model for the Monkey King's home, although Shanxi and Fujian have rival claims. The scenic area covers about 75 square kilometres and 136 peaks of the Yuntai Mountains. The highest, Yunu (Jade Maiden) Peak at about 625 metres, is the top of Jiangsu, which is otherwise very flat.
Visiting
- Water Curtain Cave is the legend's centrepiece, the cave behind a waterfall where Sun Wukong ruled his monkeys. The flow depends on recent rain.
- Sanyuan Palace is the main temple complex on the climb.
- Yunu Peak is a longer walk to the summit for views of the coast.
Wear proper shoes; it's a lot of stone steps. Real monkeys live here too, so keep food and bags closed. Weekdays are much calmer than holidays. Opening times, shuttle buses inside the area and ticket prices are on the scenic area's notice; this guide doesn't quote yuan amounts. Plan most of a day, and if you're short of energy, choose between the cave-and-temple route and the summit.
Liandao
Liandao gave the city its name. The island is about 9 km long and 80% forested, and its west end is joined to Lianyun District by a 6.7 km sea dyke, the longest in China. Drive or ride along it for the sea views. The island has two main bays:
Dashawan and Sumawan
- Dashawan is the big beach, with facilities and crowds in summer.
- Sumawan is a quieter, greener bay, the better choice when Dashawan is packed.
Coastal boardwalks link the headlands. The water is warm enough for swimming roughly 108 days a year, mostly July to September. Bring sun protection, check tide and swimming notices, and confirm the last return bus or shuttle if you don't have a car.
Kongwang Shan
In Haizhou District south of the centre, Kongwang Shan is a 129-metre hill named for the story that Confucius climbed it to look at the sea, which has long since retreated. On a cliff 17 metres long and 8 metres high are 105 carved figures from the late Eastern Han, roughly the late 2nd century. They mix Daoist figures with some of the earliest Buddhist images in China, including a Nirvana scene and the Buddha feeding himself to a tigress. Archaeologists link them to a seaside temple founded in 155. It's a quick and fascinating stop for history fans, about an hour.
The port city
Lianyungang, once known as Haichow, opened to foreign trade in 1905 and is the eastern terminus of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the rail freight route that runs across China towards Central Asia and Europe. The port is big and industrial; it's interesting from a viewpoint, but there's no need to tour it.
When to come to Lianyungang
May to June and September to October are best for the mountain. July and August are beach season, hot and busy, with most of the year's rain falling from June to August. Winters are cold, with average lows below freezing in January, though snow is rare. Avoid the summer holiday weekends on Liandao if you can.
Getting in and where to stay
- High-speed rail: Lianyungang station, rebuilt in 2018, serves the Qingdao–Yancheng railway along the coast and the high-speed line west to Xuzhou. Lines south also connect via Huai'an towards Nanjing.
- Air: Lianyungang Huaguoshan International Airport opened in December 2021 in Guanyun County, about 21.5 km from the city centre.
- Local: Taxis and ride-hailing are easiest for Huaguoshan, Kongwang Shan and Liandao.
For beach days, stay in Lianyun District near the sea wall. For an early start on the mountain, stay in Haizhou or near the Huaguoshan entrance.
Eating in Lianyungang
Yellow Sea seafood is the point: shellfish, shrimp, crab and fish from the harbour restaurants in Lianyun District, as well as small-fish pancakes. Seafood is priced by weight, so check the price and weight before it's cooked. Noodle shops and dumpling houses near the station cover the rest.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: Arrive, Kongwang Shan in the afternoon, seafood dinner in Lianyun District.
Day 2: Huaguoshan all day: Water Curtain Cave and Sanyuan Palace, then Yunu Peak if your legs allow.
Day 3: Liandao: across the sea wall, Sumawan in the morning, Dashawan in the afternoon, then the train on to Yancheng or Nanjing.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, choose by interest: Huaguoshan for the legend and the hike, or Liandao for the sea. Kongwang Shan is a short add-on only if you're keen on early Buddhist art. Skip the port.
Things to confirm before you go
- Huaguoshan hours, internal shuttles and cave access.
- Liandao swimming season, tide notices and last return transport.
- Which station your train uses.
- Weather, because summer storms and fog can spoil the views.
Frequently asked questions
How many days for Lianyungang?
Two days for the mountain and the coast, three with Kongwang Shan and a slow seafood evening.
Huaguoshan or Liandao if I only have one day?
Huaguoshan for the Monkey King legend and hiking; Liandao for beaches and coastal walks.
Is Huaguoshan the real home of the Monkey King?
It's fiction, but Lianyungang's claim is the best known, endorsed by a 1982 symposium. Rivals exist in Shanxi and Fujian.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 24, 2026, and rechecked on October 18, 2026.
- Lianyungang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lianyungang
- Mount Huaguo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Huaguo
- Liandao (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/连岛
- Kongwang Shan cliff carvings (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/孔望山摩崖造像
- Lianyungang station (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/连云港站
- Lianyungang Huaguoshan International Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lianyungang_Huaguoshan_International_Airport
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.
- lianyungang-huaguoshan.jpg from File:Monkey King's Homeland - Mount Huaguo.jpg, by Jason M. C. Han, CC BY-SA 4.0
- lianyungang-liandao.jpg from File:西连岛远眺.JPG, by 赵文博, CC BY-SA 3.0
- lianyungang-port.jpg from File:Port of Lianyungang IMG 8981.jpg, by Gary Todd, CC0