Overview
A three-day private coastal journey to Xiaoruo, the candy-coloured 'rainbow village' of the East China Sea, paired with a Cinque-Terre-style fishing coast and clifftop sea-view hiking.
About This Tour
This private three-day tour explores a vivid stretch of the southern Zhejiang coast, centred on Xiaoruo (Xiaoruo Village), a tiny island settlement where every stone house is painted a different candy colour, earning it the nickname 'the rainbow island.' Rising in tiers up the hillside above the sea, the village has become one of China's most photogenic coastal spots, often compared to a Chinese Rio de Janeiro when seen from the summit of Qilin Mountain at sunset. The trip combines this island with the stone fishing villages and coastal trails of the Shitang area - the 'Chinese Cinque Terre' - for a fresh, colourful and largely uncrowded coastal experience. Travelling with an English-speaking guide and private vehicle, you mix gentle island walks, sea-view hiking and slow seaside time. Ideal for photographers, families and travellers wanting a bright, unusual side of coastal China. Best from late spring to autumn. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and local regulations. Good to know: • Best season: late spring to autumn; bright light shows off the colours best • Fitness level: moderate; island and coastal walking with some hill climbs • Island schedule can shift with tides and sea conditions • Sunset from Qilin Mountain is the photo highlight - plan for it • Bring sun protection, water and non-slip shoes
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Xiaoruo 'Rainbow Village' & Qilin Mountain Sunset
Your English-speaking guide meets you, briefs the group and drives toward the coast, with a service-area lunch stop on the way. In the afternoon you reach the fairy-tale island of Xiaoruo, a three-sided sea village whose stone houses were once plain grey but are now painted in every imaginable colour, rising in neat, multicoloured rows up the slope - a spot where almost any angle makes a postcard. You have free time to wander the lanes, photograph the rainbow facades or simply sit with a coffee and soak up the laid-back island mood. Toward evening you climb Qilin Mountain to watch the sunset and afterglow over the sea: the colourful island floating on shimmering water, distant wind turbines on the ridges and an ocean-to-sky panorama often likened to Rio de Janeiro. You then transfer to your hotel for the night. Meals: self-arranged/AA (local seafood). Overnight: coastal hotel.
2
Day 2: Shitang Coast | Fishing Villages & Sea-View Trail
After breakfast you explore the nearby Shitang coast, a cluster of stone-built fishing villages stacked along the cliffs above the East China Sea that have earned the nickname 'the Chinese Cinque Terre.' You walk a scenic coastal trail linking headlands, lookouts and quiet coves, with constant ocean views, sea-sculpted rocks and harbours full of fishing boats. Highlights may include the cantilevered sea-view viewing platforms and the boardwalk greenway used in many films and TV shows. Your guide paces the route to catch the best light and the most atmospheric village corners, with time to pause for photos, snacks or a swim in season. In the late afternoon you return to your hotel and enjoy a relaxed seaside evening. Meals: self-arranged/AA. Overnight: coastal hotel.
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Day 3: Coastal Morning | Departure
On your final morning you enjoy a relaxed start with an optional sunrise viewpoint over the sea, then a last walk along the shore or back through the colourful lanes for any photos you missed. After breakfast you take in a final coastal lookout, soaking up the bright water and slow island rhythm one more time. By early to mid afternoon your guide transfers you back toward the departure city, where you connect with your onward train or flight and the tour comes to a close. Meals: self-arranged/AA. Transfer back included.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking guide Private vehicle & transfers 2 nights hotel (twin room) on the coast Listed scenic area tickets and island access Coastal/island hiking activities per itinerary
✕ Not included
International & domestic flights Train tickets to/from the start city China visa Travel insurance Most meals (self-arranged or AA) Personal expenses Tips
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.8★★★★★Based on 81 reviews
Ana L.🇺🇸 USA★★★★★2025-09
Looking back, by dinner we were still comparing notes about the trail. That is usually how I judge whether a tour was worth doing.
Olivia G.🇬🇧 UK★★★★★2024-10
The unglamorous part: transport to the trailhead was the piece I would not have wanted to arrange myself. Once there, the day felt simple. I would rather keep the pause at the trail than add another stop.
Zoe B.🇨🇭 Switzerland★★★★☆2026-03
One thing I learned: the trail is more physical than the tidy itinerary makes it sound. Proper shoes helped, and I was glad we kept water handy. I would keep the Xiaoruo outline as it was.