Zhangzhou Happy Island — China Travel

Happy Island Tourist Area, Longwen District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China

Stretching along the historic Fujian coastline, the site occupies a region once bustling with Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch traders during the 16th and 17th centuries, when Zhangzhou served as a gateway on the Maritime Silk Road. Today, the area's maritime spirit lives on in Happy Island's seaside character, where 7,000 acres of protected pine forest meet the Taiwan Strait. The forest's tall casuarina and pine trees, reminiscent of the Landes coastline of southwest France or Portugal's Algarve, create an atmosphere more Mediterranean than typically Chinese. The resort's architectural philosophy draws heavily from American outdoor recreation culture, recalling the national-park lodges and RV resorts of the western United States. Rather than ornate temples or traditional Chinese pavilions, visitors find modern timber-clad reception buildings, modular RV pads with hookups, and domed "stargazer" tents clustered around a central freshwater lake. The layout intentionally echoes the planned-resort model pioneered at places like California's Pismo Beach or Florida's Disney Wilderness, prioritizing open green space over dense construction. The crown jewel is the Water Cube Aquatic Park, a 13,000-square-meter facility with wave pools and spiral slides comparable in scale to Spain's Siam Park or Italy's Aquafollie. Open afternoons through early evening during summer (13:00 to 21:00), it draws families seeking relief from Fujian's subtropical heat. Beyond the water, the property boasts more than 30 FIFA-standard natural-grass football pitches, a karting circuit echoing the go-kart traditions of European motorsport resorts, plus equestrian trails, archery ranges, and a golf driving range. Accommodation options cater to adventurous tastes: American-style RV sites with full hookups, transparent bubble tents for stargazing over the Taiwan Strait, and pine-view apartments overlooking the lake. Lakeside barbecue pavilions, a children's playground, a "Time Garden" flower meadow, paddle-boating excursions, and traditional shellfish-gathering on tidal flats round out the experience. The campground's "China's Most Beautiful Campsite" award reflects its appeal to travelers seeking the kind of eco-retreat common in Scandinavia or New Zealand. Practical planning is straightforward: basic entry costs roughly 70 to 80 yuan (about $10 to $12 USD), with separate fees for the water park and select activities—combination tickets offer better value. The park operates daily from 09:30 to 18:00. The address is Bihai Road North No. 1, Xia Mei Town, Zhangpu County. Driving is strongly recommended; from Xiamen, take the expressway toward Zhangpu and exit at Duxun, then follow GPS to "Happy Island." Allow a full day, or better yet, an overnight stay to fully appreciate the coastal sunsets and star-filled skies that make this corner of Fujian so memorable.