The Terracotta Army, Xian

The Terracotta Army (Terracotta Warriors and Horses) are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Quan Shi Huang's Mausoleum in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.

Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC),Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had begun to work for his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his after life. A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. It caught the attention of archeologists immediately. They came to Xian in droves to study and to extend the digs. They had established beyond doubt that these artifacts were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211-206 BC).

Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses

The State Council authorized to build a museum on site in 1975. When completed, people from far and near came to visit. The Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses have become landmarks on all visitors' itinerary.

Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigor.

The museum covers an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into three sections: No. 1 Pit, No. 2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit respectively. They were tagged in the order of their discoveries. No. 1 Pit is the largest, first opened to the public on China's National Day - Oct. 1st, 1979. There are columns of soldiers at the front, followed by war chariots at the back.

No. 2 Pit, found in 1976, is 20 meters northeast of No. 1 Pit. It contained over a thousand warriors and 90 chariots of wood. It was unveiled to the public in 1994.Archeologists came upon No. 3 Pit also in 1976, 25 meters northwest of No. 1 Pit. It looked like to be the command center of the armed forces. It went on display in 1989, with 68 warriors, a war chariot and four horses.

Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits. Most of them have been restored to their former grandeur. Since Oct. 1st, 2010 the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum have been combined into one large attraction area,Emperor Quan Shi Huang's Mausoleum site museum, which also includes three other small sites opened in 2011. The Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum and the nearby three unopened sites (namely the Museum of Terracotta Acrobatics, the Museum of Terracotta Civil Officials and the Museum of Stone Armor) constitute the so-called Lishan Garden. Besides, 30 free shuttle buses have been available for visitors' convenience to travel between the Lishan Garden and the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses from then on.

The Terra Cotta Army is a sensational archeological find of all times. It has put Xian on the map for visitors. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages.

Transportation:

How to get to the Warriors from Xian Xianyang International Airport?

Visitors can take Airport Shuttle Line 2 to Xian Railway Station. The bus departs every hour from 10:15 to 19:15 at 1F of T2 and the ticket costs CNY 25. After, take tourism bus no.5 (306), bus no.914, 915 and get off at the final station.

Visitors can also hire a taxi from the airport. Remember to take the legitimate green colored taxies and the fee is about CNY 200. Please make it clear to the taxi driver that you only go to the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses and refuse to go to other scenic sites including souvenir shops.

How to get the Warriors from Xian Ralway Station or downtown?

You can go to the the east square of Railway Station to take tourism bus no.5 (306) for reaching destination. The whole journey takes about one hour. The bus fare for tourism bus no. 5 (306) is CNY7 (US$1.12) per person. Or one can take bus no.307 from the south gate of Tang Paradise. It costs CNY8 (US$1.28) per person if tourists take bus no. 307.

How to get to the Warriors from Xian North Railway Station?

There are free shuttle buses between North Railway Station and the museum. They are scheduled from the railway station from 08:00 to 16:00 and return from the museum during 10:30 and 19:30. The whole journey takes around an hour.

Note: To take the free shuttle bus, you will get a boarding pass/card by showing your train ticket on the arrival day and the entrance ticket to any attraction of Lintong. Upon arrival, you can buy the tickets of Lintong attractions at the Tourists Service Center on the underground floor of the railway station.

From Lintong District:

Take bus 914, 915 or Speical Line 101 and get off at Terracotta Warrior Museum. The whole journey takes about 15 minutes.
Getting Around:
30 shuttle buses are traveling between the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum for tourists' convenience. One can take them for free by showing the entrance ticket. 

Operating hours: 08:30-18:30

Xian Bus / Subway Search

Car Rental : car rental service to Terra Cotta Warriors Museum offered by TravelChinaGuide, with experienced chauffeur.

Admission Fee:	CNY150 (March 1 - end of November) CNY120 (December 1 - end of Februay) The fare is for the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park Through Ticket including the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Lishan Garden and shuttle buses inside the scenic area.
Guide Services:	The exhibits are so well explained in both Chinese and English. However, visitors can also enjoy the guide services. It costs around CNY 100 to hire a guide.
Opening Hours:	Sell ticket from 08:30 to 17:00 (March 16-Nov.15), stop check-in at 18:35; Sell ticket from 08:30 to 16:30 (Nov.16-March 15), stop check-in at 18:05
Recommended Time for a Visit:	It usually takes around three hours in the museum. Tip: The museum is crowded in the morning because there are too many group visitors. Therefore, independent visitors may visit it in the early afternoon to avoid the crowds. However, they should not miss the last bus that returns from the museum to Xian at 19:00.

source : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

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The Bund, Shanghai

The Bund, also called Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (East Zhongshan 1st Road), is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It is on the west bank of Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge and winds 1500 meters (0.93 mile) in length. The most famous and attractive sight which is at the west side of the Bund are the 26 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance. The 1,700-meters (1,859 yards) long flood-control wall, known as 'the lovers' wall', located on the side of Huangpu River from Huangpu Park to Xinkai River and once was the most romantic corner in Shanghai in the last century. After renovation, the monotone concrete buildings that lovers leaned against in the past have been improved into hollowed-out railings full of romantic atmosphere. Standing by the railings, visitors can have a 'snap-shot' view of the scenery of Pudong Area and Huangpu River.

History 

Before the 1840s, the Bund was a muddy narrow lane with tall reeds. It initially became a British settlement. After Shanghai was established as the trading port in 1846, a street was paved there and the riversides were reinforced. Then, rows of commercial buildings were constructed. As the UK Concession, a building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia. It was the centre of the city's politics, economy and culture more than a hundred years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there, and that's why we have these art-like buildings. 

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the thawing of economic policy in the People's Republic of China, buildings on the Bund were gradually returned to their former uses. Government institutions were moved out in favor of financial institutions, while hotels resumed trading as such.

In the 1990s the Shanghai government attempted to promote an extended concept of the Bund to boost tourism and land values in nearby areas, as well as to reconcile the promotion of 'colonial relics' with Socialist ideology. From 2008, a major reconfiguration of traffic flow along the Bund was carried out. After a 33-month upgrade, the Bund was reopened to visitors on March 28, 2010. The veil on the new Bund was finally lifted.

After the reconstruction, most transit vehicles which originally got through the ground level roads began to make their way through the new underground tunnel. The original eleven driveways on the Bund ground were compressed into four two-way lanes. Thus more space was left for expending the four major squares: Huangpu Park, Chen Yi Square, the Bund Financial Square, and the Observatory Plaza. After being reconstructed, the new Bund waterfront is neat and atmospheric. The public activity space is expansive embracing more visitors.

The Bund has been called a 'museum of international architecture' and indeed it was and still is. But it was also much more. Here were located the banks, hotels, exclusive clubs, press organizations and headquarters of international concerns. The twenty-six major structures, of various heights along approximately 1.5 kilometers of Zhongshan Lu and the Huangpu River, have changed little externally since the 1930s. All were constructed in western-inspired styles. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 the old tenants were gone. They had already been impacted by the wartime crises. Many of the structures were subdivided into government offices, department stores or storage areas. Furnishings were sold off or destroyed, and architectural features covered. 

Night View

It is worth a visit to see the florid night view of the Bund. Under the tenet of keeping harmony and unity, the use of period lamp-posts is in keeping with the aesthetic feeling of the building structures. It fully exhibits the magnificence of the various buildings of different architectural styles and make up of the best night scene of Shanghai together with the colorful lights floating in the river and the flashing lights on the far side of the river. The night piece of the Bund was named in 'Shanghai top ten night light views' in 2009.Tip: There is an eco-friendly mobile charging system with solar photovoltaic power generation at the photography point of the Bund scenic area. It can provide the power of the computer for photographers to print the photos, as well as mobile phone emergency charging service for visitors.

City Sculptures

Near the Nanjing Road intersection stands what is currently the only bronze statue along the Bund, a statue of Chen Yi who was the first Communist mayor of Shanghai. At the northern end, along the riverfront, is Huangpu Park, in which is situated the Monument to the People's Heroes - a tall, abstract concrete tower which is a memorial for those died during the revolutionary struggle for Shanghai dating back to the Opium Wars. As the victor of the war, the British nationals in the Bund put up a 'cross' to mark their 'aggression' which is the Red Rock Monument. On the south side of the Bund Garden Bridge stands an Ever Victorious Army Monument, which was funded by Li Hongzhang to commemorate the officers and soldiers of the Victorious Army who died in the battles against the Taiping Army from 1862 to 1864. Located in front of Shanghai Custom House at Jiujiang Road, the statue Hart was regarded as the most famous statue in Shanghai history. Hurt, British Northern Irishman, had served as Secretary General of Chinese Customs up to 48 years. Another famous sculpture is the World War Monument which was the largest one in the city at that time. It was made to commemorate the soldiers who died in the World War I coming from Shanghai.

Transportation

By Subway:
Take Line 2 or Line 10 to East Nanjing Road Station. Then walk about 10 minutes toward the Huangpu River.

By Bus:
Take bus 33, 37, 55, 65, 147, 305, 307, 317, 330, 921 and get off at East Zhongshan 1st Road / East Nanjing RoadTake bus 123, 135, 145, 576, 934 and get off at East Zhongshan 1st Road / Hankou RoadTake bus 576 or 868 and get off at East Zhongshan 1st Road / Guangdong RoadTake bus 220 or 939 and get off at Middle Sichuan Road / Hong Kong RoadTake bus 42, 71, 311, 316, 320 and get off at East Yan’an Road / East Zhongshan 1st RoadTake bus 20 and get off at Jiujiang Road / East Zhongshan 1st RoadTake Tunnel Line 9, bus 26 or 926 and get off at East Jinling Road / East Zhongshan 2nd Road Take City Sightseeing Bus Line 1 and get off at the Bund

By Ferry:
There are scheduled ferryboats between East Jinling Road Ferry Dock / The Bund in Puxi and Dongchang Road Ferry Dock in Pudong.  The ferry ticket costs CNY 2. Walk toward Huangpu River from East Nanjing Road and turn right to walk down along the Bund, East Jinling Road Ferry Dock can be seen soon. Dongchang Road Ferry Dock is about 10-15 minutes' walk south of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

The Sightseeing Tunnel:

There is a total 646.7 meters sightseeing tunnel from the Bund in Puxi to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Lujiazui area in Pudong. It only takes 3-5 minutes by the speed train through the tunnel with colorful radiating lights around. It is open from 8:00 to 22:30, perhaps till 22:00 in winter . CNY 45 for single trip is not cheap for this 3-5 minutes journey, but CNY 55 for round trip sounds more resonable. This is a short but unique experience. The Puxi Entrance/Exit is in the north side of Chenyi Square, which can be easily found at the Bund from East Nanjing Road or East Beijing Road. Pudong Entrance/Exit is next to the south of Shanghai International Convention Center, near to the south entrance of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

source : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

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Great Wall

The Chinese Great Wall is the great construction in the history of human civilization. It was praised as the Eighth Wonder of the World many years ago. The construction of the Great Wall began during the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring Period (770BC-221BC). After unification of China by Qinshihuang (the first emperor in China), Qinshihuang ordered his people to build a new wall on the base of the original one in large scale. Subsequent dynasties continued to strengthen and extend the wall. The most part of the extant wall from Shanhaiguan in Pohai to Jiayuguan in Gansu Province were built by Ming dynasty (1386 – 1644AC). The Great Wall is 7.8 meters high, 6.5 meters across at its base and 5.8 meters at its top. There is a watchtower rise to about 12 meters every one hundred meters. 

Dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period, more walls were put up to defend the borders of the different kingdoms and nomad nationalities in the northern China. The Great Wall had become the dominant fortification for Han people since Qin Dynasty. In fact, the walls didn't resist the attacks of the dangerous enemies. Ming Dynasty tried their best to renovate the wall, regardless of the expense to humans in effort, time and financial well-being, but ironically, the leader of Qirat not only led his army to crack the defense of the wall, but also took the emperor Yingzong of Ming Dynasty alive in 1499AC. At any rate, the Great Wall is just a wall which cannot protect a nation. Interestingly, the most prosperous Tang Dynasty was one of dynasties which never renovated the wall.

The Great Wall is the symbol of the Chinese civilization. It is the fruit of the Chinese nation's wisdom. Now, the Great Wall is the famous scenic spot attracting tens of thousands of tourists. There is a well-known Chinese saying on the wall, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man". The Great Wall was selected on the list of the World Heritage in 1987.

If you want to experience the culture and enjoy the beauty of the Great Wall, meandering along the bricks of the Badaling is your first choice. It is famous for its deep-rooted culture, magnificent sights and complete military facilities - the essence of the Great Wall. You may find many pictures of it in magazines and guide books and printed on stamps. Being the must-see section of the Great Wall, it is sometimes flocked with visitors especially during holidays.

You  may want to  avoid  the peak  seasons  or  visit  the  Mutianyu  instead. It  is  even  more beautiful and has fewer tourists. If you are nostalgic for old times, the Simatai and Gubeikou sections should be on your itinerary. These two sections are well maintained in their original states. The strong, primitive walls enhance the beauty of the wilderness.

If you are energetic and daring,  adventures  on  the Huanghuacheng and  Jiankou sections await you. The steep peaks  and  broken  bricks  will  challenge  your  courage and curiosity. Remember to bring complete a mountaineering outfit, food and water. Water is unavailable on the wild sections.

Travel Tips

Badaling Great Wall

Admission Fee: 45RMB, or 85 (Badaling Great Wall plus cinema)

Open Time: 6:30-19:00(high season), 7:00-18:00(low season)

How to Get to: Take coach bus in downtown for about 1 hour. The coach bus starts at east Qianmen Lou in the morning. (Round-way fare: 90RMB)

1. If you travel alone, don't believe the tour guide on coach bus.

2. A bottle of water around Great Wall is more expensive so that you should buy water beforehand in downtown.

Badaling Great Wall

Great Wall At Badaling

Mutianyu Great Wall

Admission Fee: 20RMB to 45RMB

Open Time: 8:00-16:00

How to get to: Take Bus No.936 (7:00 or 8:00) at Dongzhi Gate

Tips:

1. It is steep at Mutianyu Great Wall so you should be very careful

2. If you plan to stay overnight, please take the thick coat and some food.

Mutianyu

Jiankou Great Wall

Admission Fee: 20RMB Open Time: 7:00-17:00

​How to get to: Take Bus No.916 to Huairou and then rent mini-bus to Jiankou Great Wall.

Woman At Jiankou Great Wall

Jiankou Great Wall

Jiankou To Mutianyu

Source : http://www.chinatour.com/

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Miyako Island

Miyako Island, located 300 kilometers south of Okinawa Main Island and 100 kilometers north of the Yaeyama Islands, is known for some of Japan's best beaches and as a great destination for snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs. The sub tropical climate provides mild weather year around.

Miyako is the fourth largest island in Okinawa Prefecture. It lacks any major hills or mountains and is mostly covered by sugar cane fields and a few towns, among which Hirara is the largest with a moderate range of restaurants and bars. Resort hotels and pensions are found across the island. Unlike other parts of Okinawa, Miyako is free of habu snakes.

BEACHES

Maehama Beach

Also known as Yonaha-Maehama Beach, this white sand beach in the southwestern corner of Miyako usually leads rankings of Japan's best beaches. It stretches seven kilometers and is suited for swimming and various other water sports. The beach is also known for beautiful sunsets. Its facilities include showers, toilets and a rental shop.

Yoshino Beach

Also referred to as Yoshino Kaigan, this is the best beach on Miyako for snorkeling. Swarms of colorful fish surround you as soon as you enter the water. And a few steps further starts the maze of a spectacular coral reef with an abundance of marine life. Beach facilities include showers, toilets and a rental shop.

Sunayama Beach

With its white sand, clear blue waters and rock formations, Sunayama Beach is another of Miyako's most beautiful beaches. It is reached in a short walk over a sand dune from the parking lot. Its facilities include showers and toilets.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS Besides its beaches, snorkeling and diving, Miyako offers a small range of other attractions, including places of natural beauty and cultural interest, and a couple of elegant bridges to neighboring islands. Cape Higashi-Hennazaki  Higashi-Hennazaki is the southeastern cape of triangle shaped Miyako. At the tip of the two kilometer long, narrow peninsula stands a handsome lighthouse. Lighthouse: 9:00 to 16:30, 150 yen Tuyumya Grave Located in central Hirara near the port, the Tuyumya Grave enshrines Nakasone Tuyumya (Toyomiya in standard Japanese), a leader of Miyako in the 16th century, and his descendants. The grave is built in a unique style and designated a national cultural asset. Freely accessible Tropical Botanical Garden  Miyakojima City Botanical Garden is a spacious park for recreation and the study of tropical plants in inland Miyako. Several walking trails pass by the over 1600 types of plants that include trees, bushes and flowers from Miyako and from Hawaii, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Freely accessible Ikema and Kurima Bridges Miyako is connected to two of its smaller, neighboring islands by gracefully shaped bridges. At the northern tip of Miyako, the 1.4 kilometer long Ikema Ohashi leads to Ikema Island, while the 1.7 kilometer long Kurima Ohashi connects Kurima Island with Miyako in the southwest. Freely traversable by car, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot GET THERE AND AROUND Miyako Airport has direct flights to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (2.5 to 3 hours, 1 flight / day ) Osaka's Kansai Airport (2 hours, 1 flight/day), Naha Airport on Okinawa Main Island (45 minutes, frequent flights), Ishigaki (30 minutes, 2-3 flights/day) and Tarama (20 minutes, 2 flights/day), a small island between Miyako and Ishigaki. Air passes can provide big savings on the Tokyo and Osaka routes. Ferry services between Ishigaki, Miyako and Okinawa Main Island were discontinued in 2008. HOW TO GET AROUND Miyako is a relatively small island, measuring about 25 kilometers from south to north and about 15 kilometers from east to west. A rental car is the most convenient means of getting around Miyako. Most rental car companies have an outlet at Miyako Airport. Driving on Miyako is easy and enjoyable. There are also rental shops for bicycles and scooters. Many hotels offer their guests free shuttle bus rides from/to the airport. Likewise, many leisure and water sport companies will pick up their customers from hotels free of charge. A bus network on the island is existent, but it is not easy to use, and bus connections are infrequent. Airport access is provided by taxis rather than buses. Source : http://www.japan-guide.com/

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Ishigaki Island

Ishigaki Island is the main island of the Yaeyama Islands and the region's transportation hub. Ishigaki City, Japan's southernmost city, is the Yaeyama's only urban center and is the site of the region's major airport and boat terminal, as well as lots of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars.

Ishigaki offers several nice beaches and good snorkeling and diving in the surrounding coral reefs. Snorkeling can be enjoyed at nearly every beach on the island, while diving is offered through the numerous dive shops with tours available for all experience levels. If diving, be sure to check out the island's famed manta rays which congregate in large numbers around Manta Scramble near Kabira Bay.

Kabira Bay

Ishigaki's rivers, while not quite as wild as those of nearby Iriomote, also offer a jungle like scenery and are nice to explore by kayak. Ishigaki also has the highest mountain in Okinawa Prefecture, as well as various hiking trails throughout the island's hilly interior.

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Kumejima Island

Kumejima is one of the islands that make up the Okinawa Shoto island group. It is located about 90 kilometers west of Okinawa Honto. Like many other of the small islands surrounding Okinawa Honto, Kumejima offers a much less developed version of the beaches and Okinawanculture for which the prefecture is well known. Kumejima is quite small, and traveling from one end of the island to another rarely involves a journey longer than ten kilometers.

Like elsewhere in Okinawa, the beaches of Kumejima, snorkeling and diving are among the principal attractions for visitors. Hatenohama Beach, an approximately seven kilometer long sand bar surrounded by water just east of the island, is Kumejima's most famous attraction. The beach is highly regarded for its white sand, but can only be accessed by joining a tour. The other beaches of Kumejima are also quite attractive, and are generally less busy than the beaches found on Okinawa Honto.

Kumejima Island Seen From Above

Hatenohama Beach seen from above

Kumejima developed similarly to the rest of the archipelago, where regional rulers appeared and built castles as their seats of power. The Uegusuku Castle Ruins stand on one of the island's highest peaks, affording panoramic views of the surrounding area. However, the castle was not able to resist the forces from Okinawa Honto, and Kumejima became part of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the early 1500s.

Kumejima has two major towns, one is located around the port and is inhabited mostly by locals, while the other is a small town of hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the tourists, located alongside Eef Beach.

Beaches and Snorkeling

Hatenohama Beach

Multiple companies operate tour boats between Kumejima and Hatenohama Beach. Half day and full day tours are offered. On the sandbar, swimming is restricted to the calmer northern beach, and the sand is a little rougher than it seems from a distance. The sea has a moderate variety of fish that can be observed by snorkelers. Washrooms are the only facilities available on the sandbar.
Half day around 3500 yen; full day with lunch around 5500 yen

Hatenohama Beach 

Ara Beach

Located quite apart from most other attractions, Ara Beach offers visitors an attractive and secluded beach atmosphere. The beach is about 500 meters long, and its washroom and changing facilities are not well maintained. Ara Beach offers some good snorkeling opportunities, with a variety of sea life around a group of coral about 200 meters from the shore and a bit difficult to find. Beware of currents.
Admission: Free, no parking fees

Ara Beach

Eef Beach 

Eef Beach is located beside the main concentration of tourist activity on Kumejima. Nonetheless, it does not get excessively crowded, as it stretches about two kilometers along the coast. Thebeach has both washrooms and changing facilities, and nearby hotels and businesses offer a range of water activities.
Admission: Free, no parking fees

Eef Beach Hotel

Eef Beach Hotel

Eef Beach

Shinri Beach 

Shinri Beach is located in front of the Cypress Resort Hotel on the western coast of Kumejima and known for nice sunsets. The beachsits in front of a rocky inlet that almost completely drains during low tide.
Admission: Free, no parking fees

Other Attractions

Uezu Residence 

The Uezu Residence is built in the traditional Okinawan style with thick stone walls and red-tiled roofs. It was built in 1750 for a high ranked family. The house cannot be entered but only viewed from the outside. The grounds have two separate entrances, one for men and one for women.

Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 
Closed: No closing days 
Admission: 300 yen

Uegusuku Castle Ruins

The Uegusuku Castle was the main fortification on Kumejima, located on the island's highest point about 300 meters above sea level. Nowadays only a few small stone walls remain, but the hilltop location still offers panoramic views over the island.
Hours: Always open 
Admission: Free

Pools of Tropical Fish 

On the northern coast of Kumejima exists an interesting spot along the coast where relatively large pools of water with a variety of sea life are separated from the sea during low tide. These pools allows visitors to observe the colorful sea life without even stepping into the water.
Hours: Always open 
Admission: Free

Tatami Ishi Rocks

The Tatami Ishi are a rock formation on a small island connected to Kumejima by a bridge. They are named after tatami mats which they are supposed to resemble. Nearby are a sea turtle museum and a public bath house.
Hours: Always open 
Admission: Free

Torinokuchi Rock

The Torinokuchi rock is located at the southern tip of Kumejima and resembles a bird's beak, after which it is named. The rock is accessible by a pleasant walking path that runs along the coast and the "whale viewing hill" with nice views onto the sea.

Hours: Always open  Admission: Free

Mifuga Rock

The Mifuga Rock is another unique rock formation along Kumejima's coast. There is a parking lot just beside the rock, and it is possible to walk through the hole in the rock.

Hours: Always open 
Admission: Free

Get There and Around How to get to Kumejima By air JAL and RAC (Ryukyu Air Commuter), a member of the JAL Group, operate about 6-8 flights per day between Kumejima and Naha Airport on Okinawa Honto (how to get to Okinawa Honto). Flight duration is about 35 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 13,000 yen, however, discount tickets are usually available for around 8,000 yen. During the summer, JAL operates one direct flight per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kumejima. Flight duration is about 2.5 hours. The regular one way fare is around 56,000 yen, however, discount tickets are usually available for about 20,000 yen. With an air pass you might be able to fly even cheaper. By ferry Kumejima (Kanegusuku Port) and Naha (Naha Tomari Port) are connected by ferries operated by the Kume Shosen Company. There are two round trips per day, with some of them stopping at Tonaki Island along the way. The one way trip takes 3.5 to 4 hours and costs 3390 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 6450 yen. How to get around Kumejima Rental cars are available through a small number of companies at the airport and port and are the most convenient way to travel around the island, while bicycles and motorcycles can be rented from some hotels and minshuku on the island. There are three bus lines on Kumejima: The Loop Line travels in a circle along the island's main road (4-5 buses per day in either direction), the Airport Line connects the airport with Eef Beach (5-6 round trips per day), and the Shimajiri Line travels from Eef Beach to the southern tip of the island (2-3 round trips per day). Fares depend on the distance traveled and range from 120 yen to 470 yen.

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