Colorful Fishing Village Fairy Tale World | China’s “Five Fishing Villages,” “Rainbow Village” | “Colorful Kingdom”
Wenling’s Colorful Xiaoruocun is a dreamy little fishing village straight out of a fairy tale. This super detailed travel guide will take you to fully experience its charm.
Chapter 1: A Dreamy Beginning — What is Colorful Xiaoruocun?
On the Shitang Peninsula in Wenling, Taizhou, Zhejiang, there is an originally ordinary fishing village—Xiaoruocun. Local fishermen, aiming to improve their living environment, painted their houses with colorful paints. Various macaron colors and Morandi tones intertwine and are arranged in a staggered manner on the hillside, facing the sea, forming an artistic “Colorful Kingdom.” It is thus known as China’s “Five Fishing Villages” and “Rainbow Village,” becoming a hot internet-famous check-in spot in recent years.
Key Highlights:
* Visual Feast: A colorful world that needs no filter; every shot looks like a masterpiece.
* Fishing Village Charm: Behind the colorful houses lies authentic fishing port life and simple folk customs.
* Photo Paradise: With countless carefully designed photo spots, it’s a heaven for photography lovers and beauty enthusiasts.
Chapter 2: Trip Planning — How to Play Efficiently and Enjoyably?
Best Travel Time
* Golden Seasons: Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October). The weather is mild, sunny, the sky is clear blue, and colors are most vivid under the sunlight.
* Consider: Summer (June-August). Colors are bright, but the weather is hot. Be sure to use sun protection and avoid typhoon days.
* Be Cautious: Winter and rainy days. Colors will be greatly diminished due to insufficient light, and the sea breeze is stronger, reducing the experience. Be sure to visit on sunny days!
Recommended Duration
* Core Experience: Half a day (about 3-4 hours) is enough to explore the village and shoot the main spots.
* Ideal Plan: 1 day. It’s recommended to combine with nearby East China Sea Cape (Millennium Dawn Park), Coastal Greenway, or Jinsha Beach for a richer one-day tour.
Chapter 3: Xiaoruocun Strolling Guide — Check-in Spots and Hidden Experiences
Xiaoruocun is small, no strict map needed; wandering freely through the colorful alleys is the best way to explore.
1. Classic Spots Not to Miss:
* The dam/parking lot opposite the village entrance: The best place to capture panoramic views of Xiaoruocun, including the entire colorful village and fishing port.
* Rainbow Staircase & Colorful Archways: There are many in the village; find your favorite color combination, walk up or sit down, and easily take lively and cute photos.
* Popular Cafés / Guesthouse Terraces: The village has several stylish cafés (such as “Do Cafe & Bar”), where ordering a drink lets you enjoy excellent photo angles from their viewing terraces, perfect for resting and shooting.
* Wishing Plaque Wall & Sea-view Platform: Located at a higher point in the village, many wishing plaques with the blue sea as the background create a very romantic atmosphere.
2. Hidden Experiences for Deeper Enjoyment:
* Find Little Joys: Notice colorful graffiti on walls, cute potted plants, fishermen drying fish, cats lounging at doorways—these details add life to the village.
* Wait for Sunset: If time allows, definitely watch a sunset in Xiaoruocun. When the golden sunlight shines on the colorful houses and the fishing port is bathed in rosy light, the scenery is especially gentle and healing.
* Early Night Scene: Half an hour after sunset during the blue hour, village lights gradually turn on, revealing another kind of tranquil beauty.
Chapter 4: Practical Information and Tips
Transportation Guide
* Self-driving (highly recommended): Navigate to “Wenling Xiaoruocun.” About 4-5 hours from Hangzhou/Shanghai. There is a parking lot at the village entrance (paid).
* Public Transport:
1. High-speed rail: Arrive at “Wenling Station.”
2. Transfer to bus: Walk to the nearby Wenling bus hub, take a bus to Shitang (such as routes 231, 232), get off at “Shitang Town Government” or the terminal “Shitang,” about 1.5 hours ride.
3. Local transport: After getting off, take a local “Xiaomian” minivan or taxi, about 10 minutes to Xiaoruocun entrance.
Food Recommendations
* Must-try Seafood: Being in Shitang, seafood is essential. You can enjoy fresh seafood feasts at restaurants near Xiaoruocun or back in Shitang town.
* Specialty Snacks:
* Green Bean Noodles: A Shitang specialty made from sweet potato starch, chewy texture.
* Sweet Potato Tapioca Balls: A sweet soup made from sweet potato starch, sweet but not greasy.
* Qiangao: Wenling’s specialty rice cake dumplings, rich fillings, great for breakfast.
* Dining Tips: Xiaoruocun has many snack shops and simple meals; for full meals, it’s better to dine in Shitang town for more variety and better prices.
Accommodation Suggestions
* Stay in Shitang’s Stone Houses: Strongly recommend staying in stone house guesthouses in Shitang town to experience the unique seaside stone house culture. Quality and scenery are usually better than accommodations inside Xiaoruocun.
* Guesthouses Inside Xiaoruocun: If you want to experience the colorful village without crowds early in the morning, you can stay in the village, but conditions are relatively simple.
Sample Itinerary (Wenling One-day / Two-day Tour)
* One-day Tight Version: Arrive at Xiaoruocun in the morning → Explore and shoot for 3 hours → Lunch in Shitang town → Afternoon visit East China Sea Cape, Millennium Dawn Park → Return in the evening.
* Two-day Leisure Version:
* Day 1: Arrive at Shitang at noon → Check into stone house guesthouse → Afternoon visit Coastal Greenway, cycling or hiking → Evening watch sunset and night scene at Xiaoruocun.
* Day 2: Early morning visit East China Sea Cape (Millennium Dawn Park) for sunrise → Return to guesthouse for rest/breakfast → Visit Xiaoruocun again in the morning (better daylight) → Lunch and return.
Chapter 5: Thoughtful Reminders
* Lower Your Expectations: Xiaoruocun is essentially a living fishing village, not a purely artificial scenic spot. There may be a sea smell, drying fishing nets, and some corners might look a bit worn. Please visit with a mindset to discover beauty, not by 5A scenic spot standards.
In summary, Xiaoruocun is a perfect place for photography, finding childlike fun, and relaxing your mind. Adjust your expectations, dress beautifully, bring eyes that discover beauty, and you will surely capture stunning photos for your social circle and create wonderful memories here!
Wishing you a dreamy journey in Colorful Xiaoruocun!