Meizhou Island divides its pleasures cleanly between the religious and the secular. The Mazu Temple complex on the island's ridge is the reason most visitors come, and it rewards unhurried attention — the smoke-filled courtyards, the ceremonies, and the views across the strait are all best absorbed slowly. East Beach and the clifftop paths are the secular complement: a clean stretch of coastline and walking trails with sea views that are at their most dramatic at dawn and dusk.