Luopaizhou Island, Qidong County: 3 places to see by boat
Explore Luopaizhou, an isolated river island in Hengyang, Hunan Province, China, accessible only by boat across the Xiang River. This unique destination showcases traditional island life where residents have lived for generations, with ferry rides costing 5 RMB per person.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Luopaizhou Island
- End
- Luopaizhou
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Luopaizhou Island — Remote island settlement in southern China featuring traditional architecture and isolated communities that have preserved ancestral lifestyles for generations.
- Local Fishing Community — Coastal settlement where residents maintain centuries-old fishing traditions and sustainable practices adapted to the island's unique ecosystem and geography.
- Luopaizhou — Remote river island in the Xiang River basin, accessible only by boat, inhabited by aging fishing community facing modernization and urban migration.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- The only way to reach Luopaizhou Island is by ancient ferry boat—there are no bridges connecting it to the outside world.
- Transport
- Boat fare to the island is 5 RMB per person. Contact the ferryman using the phone number on the sign at the riverbank.
- Transport
- The ferryman speaks local dialect; expect a language barrier. QR code payment may be available—confirm with the operator.
- Tip
- The island is inhabited almost exclusively by elderly residents. Young people have migrated to cities, so expect a quiet, aging community.
- Avoid
- Do not expect fishing-related activities or a working fishing community. A comprehensive fishing ban has been in place on the Xiang River since 2021.
Video on this route
People Hidden on the Isolated Island – China’s Lost World