Mang Island, on the north side of the Shandong Peninsula, is a tourist destination pretty much waiting to be discovered in this east coast province of the country.

Rising out of the Bohai Sea, it is one of a number of remote islands waiting to be explored.

With an area of two-square-kilometers, it is home to over 600 households. The local ferry is the only way to get to the island. The trip generally takes about 30 minutes.

There are some arguments about the origin of the name of the island, which literally means "mulberry tree" in Chinese.

Some people believe that the name might derive from the shape of the island, which looks like a mulberry tree leaf, while others argue that there were once mulberry trees growing on the island.

It was said that these mulberry trees were planted by Xu Fu, a famous sorcerer of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) who was sent by the Emperor Qinshihuang on a journey to Japan in search of an elixir for longevity.

Xu is said to have stayed on the island while preparing for his journey, and planting mulberry trees to breed silkworms.

According to the "Shiji" (The Historical Records), written by Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), Xu took 3,000 girls and boys across the ocean to Japan, but they ultimately settled down in Japan, never returning to China.

Actually now there are not many mulberry trees on the island. Most of the local inhabitants live off fishing, their lives having changed little with the passage of time.

Work begins early in the morning, with the fishermen leaving home well before the sun rises. The women stay home working in groups repairing nets. Fishing often continues until sunset. The returning fishermen haul their boats up on the shore and take home their catch.

Some of them who have already done well fishing and raising marten are now showing great interest in getting involved in local tourism. Tan Guotian, for instance, has invested 1 million yuan (US$120,000) of his hard-earned savings into building a hotel.

Although perhaps not as scenically striking as some other tourist attractions in Shandong, the island, nonetheless has a lot to offer visitors.

The fabulous sandy beaches and crystal clear water are a great place to escape the daily grind and relax in a pristine bit of sun-and-sea nature.

Visitors will also find that they have many opportunities to mix with the local fishermen and get to know a bit about their simple way of life, as the local people are exceptionally hospitable.

(China Daily October 24, 2003)