Let's go, take the kids to Shuangshan Island to dig for crabs!

Every summer, groups of tourists come to the island with big shovels—not for tomb raiding (that's illegal!), but for crab digging. The reed marshes are full of big holes from all the digging. 📍Navigation: Shuangshan Island Wetland Park 🎫Admission: Free 🚉Getting to the Island: Ferries and speedboats are the only ways to reach the island. How to buy tickets: Follow the official WeChat account "Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Island" to purchase ferry tickets in advance. Queues form quickly near the port, with fuel vehicles on the left and new energy vehicles on the right. Boarding is first-come, first-served, and if full, you'll wait for the next ferry. More ferries run on weekends. 1. Passenger ferry: 8 RMB/person (half-price for children), paper tickets must be bought at the counter. 2. Vehicle ferry: 44 RMB/car (includes the driver's ticket). 🚉Transportation on the Island: The island loop is 18 km. 1. Drive your own car (recommended for families with elderly or infants). 2. Bring your own bicycle (great for cycling enthusiasts). 3. Rent a bicycle on the island (good for active parents—kids can sit in the middle while you pedal). 4. Rent an electric cart: Standard pricing, but rates increase on holidays. Normally 15 RMB for unlimited use; electric 4-wheelers (fits 6 people) are 50 RMB for unlimited use. 🏨Accommodation: Yuanshe Yuguang Hot Spring Family Resort (Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Island Branch). 🍽Dining: The island has an old street with various snacks and small supermarkets, all reasonably priced. 🗓Island Activities: After arriving, drive clockwise around the island. Key stops include: 1. Jingbo Bay Starry Sky Camp 2. Shuangshan Golf Course 3. Dabodun Wetland Park 4. Crossing the Yangtze Victory Park 5. Haitang Bay 6. Pearl Lighthouse 7. Ferry Port Slow Street ✅Crab Digging Bring tools: bucket, gloves, tongs, and a sturdy shovel (small shovels won’t work). If you forget, they’re sold on the island. ✅Loquat Picking: The island’s loquats are ripe—perfect for picking right now. ✅Buy Free-Range Chicken & Duck: There’s a chicken farm by the road with signs—great for buying free-range chicken, eggs, and duck eggs. ✅Camping: Green grass, shady trees, and cool river breezes—set up a tent, hang a hammock, and relax all day. ✅Photography: The riverside is dubbed "Little Kamakura" for its stunning sunset shots. Check tide times—the Yangtze waters are clear now, perfect for wading! 📝Tips: Crab-digging spots are easy to find—just follow the crowds to the reed marshes or mudflats near the golf hotel and wetland park. Watch for signs. The reeds are like a maze, and the mud is slippery, so be careful. A full day circling the island gives kids plenty of exercise and sights. If staying overnight, the best crab-catching time is around 6:00 PM when crabs are most active—sometimes you can just pick them up off the path!