Yanxia village, Hengdu town, Sanmen county, Taizhou. [Photo/WeChat account: meilitaizhou_]

Taizhou's Sanmen county is a great place to visit in late autumn, as it is home to both ancient villages and numerous islands. 

In the first half of a day, a visit to some ancient villages is recommended. 

Dongping village

Dongping was so named due to the screen-like mountain to the east of the village. "Ping" is the Chinese word for "screen".

The village is home to a cluster of well-preserved buildings, and it has been dubbed a "museum of traditional residential houses in eastern Zhejiang from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911)".

A museum showcasing local marital culture and customs is also worth a visit.

Yanxia village

Yanxia village, with a history of several hundred years, is the home of the descendants of Luo Shi, a famous official and hydraulic scientist who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). 

It has been dubbed "China's Village of Astrology", as buildings and objects in the village are commonly shaped like the sun, moon, and stars.

The village is home to more than 300 traditional quadrangle courtyard-style ancient dwellings, as well as nearly 100 ancient wells.

It also boasts a marine life museum with more than 5,000 exhibits, including coral specimens and seafood.

In the second half of the day, a tour of Shepan Island is recommended, as it is home to great seafood and many scenic spots.

Shepan is the largest island in Taizhou and has been dubbed the "Island of a Thousand Caves", as there are thousands of caves on the island.