连云港市

Why this place

Lianyungang is where the Longhai railway meets the Yellow Sea — the eastern terminus of the New Eurasian Land Bridge. Its Huaguo Mountain is claimed as the home of the Monkey King from Journey to the West, which makes it a place of pilgrimage for readers of the novel.

What to see

• Huaguo Mountain and the Water Curtain Cave, the Monkey King's legendary home
• The Yellow Sea coast and Liandao beach
• The Confucian temple at Qufu and the Han dynasty carvings in the surrounding area

What to eat

• Yellow Sea seafood — crab, prawns and shellfish
• Lianyungang is known for its dried seafood products

Best time

May–October; July–August is beach season