Changdao, the largest island in Shandong

Changdao, also known as Miaodao Islands, historically known as Miaodao Islands, and anciently known as Shamen Island. It consists of 32 islands with a land area of ​​about 56 square kilometers. It is an archipelago affiliated with Yantai City, Shandong Province, China. The entire island is under the jurisdiction of Penglai District. The Changshan Islands are located at the intersection of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, between the Jiaodong Peninsula and the Liaodong Peninsula. Twelve islands in Changdao have been designated as raptor nature reserves. Among them, Beihuangcheng Island, Daheishan Island, Dazhushan Island, Tuoji Island and South Changshan Island's Yutou, where birds are concentrated, have been designated as key protected areas. , Cheyou Island, Gaoshan Island and Houji Island are designated as special nature reserves for birds to facilitate the concentrated breeding of Xia migratory birds.

Basic information

It consists of 32 islands, with a land area of ​​about 56 square kilometers, a sea area of ​​8,700 square kilometers, and a coastline of 146 kilometers. The main islands are South Island and North Island. The island has beautiful scenery, including Crescent Bay, Jiuzhang Cliff and other tourist attractions. The Fairyland Scenic Area on Changdao Island is an AA-level scenic spot in China. There are Changdao National Bird Nature Reserve, Miaodao Islands Provincial Marine Nature Reserve and Miaodao Islands Provincial Spotted Seal Nature Reserve on Changdao Island.

The Xianying Palace on Chang Island is the largest Mazu temple in northern China.

At the intersection of the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, there are 32 islands of various sizes, like 32 pearls scattered in the Bohai Strait.

The land area of ​​these islands is 55.96 square kilometers, forming 99 bays, 65 peaks, and 41 Mingqiao. There are 43,000 residents on the island, with a total coastline of 146.41 kilometers and a length of 56.4 kilometers from north to south.

This bunch of strange islands is called the Temple Island Group on the map. In August 1945, it was liberated and named Changshan Islands, or Changdao for short. Nanshan Island is the largest island in Changdao, with a land area of ​​12.8 square kilometers. It was the original seat of the county government (now merged with the original Penglai City to form Penglai District). Closely connected to South Changshan Island is North Changshan Island, where the famous tourist centers Crescent Bay and Jiuzhangya Park are located.

History Story

The north and south Changshan Islands are connected by a long dam, which was originally called Jade Street. According to the geographical annals of Penglai: "The Changshan Mountains in the north and south are five miles apart, and there is a road in the middle, which is more than 20 feet long. They are all made of pearls and rocks, and they are called Jade Street." But later people called it "Yisu Street", and there is a touching story circulating here. It is said that when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty went north for the Eastern Expedition, Tongai general Wei Chi Jingde led an army passing by here. At that time, there was no road between the two islands, and all communication was by boat.

One day, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty received news that Yuchi Jingde was seriously ill and bedridden. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was eager to visit him. But strong winds blew up, making it difficult for the ferry to sail. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty held his head high and sang: "I hate the mercilessness of heaven, I am exploring love and there is no way to go, there is no way to cross the boat, how can I cross it"! When he fell asleep worried, he suddenly had a dream. He dreamed that a white dragon roared out of the water, and soon turned into a street as white as jade. After Tang Taizong woke up, he hurried to the beach to take a look, without even bothering to put on his clothes and shoes. , as expected, the scene in a dream reappeared. As a result, the soldiers shouted for generals and the people cheered. From this, Jade Street got its name "Yisu Street".

Legend

Changdao is known as the three sacred mountains on the sea: Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang. The ancients had a poem about "I once accompanied all the immortals in Penghu".

The legendary Penglai Island refers to Changdao. Changdao is located in the water, surrounded by blue waves, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and unique scenery. Due to its special geographical conditions, the climate temperature difference is small, warm in winter and cool in summer. There is neither the roar of urban vehicles nor the hustle and bustle of crowds, and there are also natural bathing beaches without pollution. Therefore, Changdao has received such a conclusion from experts: "Changdao is a primitive, natural, unprocessed, and unique place. It is a virgin tourist destination. You can spend summer in Changdao, rest and recuperate. It is an irreplaceable place in the world. ”

Tourist Attractions

Jiuzhang Cliff

Jiuzhang. The cliff is located in the northwest corner of Beichangshan Island, adjacent to the Pearl Gate Waterway to the west, the Changshan Waterway for the international shipping route to the north, and 11 kilometers away from Changdao County. The cliffs are steep, the water is deep and fast, and the rocks are scattered all over the place. The natural landscape is unique.

The cliff stretches for more than 400 meters and is particularly famous for its rare stone combination and high and dangerous cliffs. It ranks first among many sea cliffs in the country. The scenic spot integrates mountains, seas, reefs, cliffs, caves and historical sites, and is a combination of wonder, majesty, beauty, danger and magic. It has high tourism and aesthetic value. The main attractions of Jiuzhang Cliff are: Cliff Yansuo (Jiuzhang Cliff), 69.7 meters high. It is a huge cliff that stretches for hundreds of meters. Due to the erosion of wind and waves for thousands of years, the stone cliff has gradually become convex upwards and concave downwards. The walls are intertwined, and there are rows of grottoes and caves. It is a paradise for many waterbirds to inhabit. The nine-stacked stone pagoda is composed of nine layers of quartzite with obvious joints. It has been carved by waves for a long time. The stone pattern on the tower cliff is clear, the layers are distinct, and the shape is unique. It forms a pair of "mother and child cliffs" with the Jiuzhang Cliff. When admiring ancient things at Watergate, there is a gentle land at the foot of Daxi Mountain to the east of the Pearl Gate. The locals call it "Pingtan". According to unearthed cultural relics, homeless people lived here seasonally as early as four or five thousand years ago. Through Peking University and Changdao The museum conducted two excavations and discovered many kiln pits, ash pits and tombs. Bronze swords, stone knives, stone hammers, bone awls, bone keys and a large number of reddish-brown, gray-brown surface pottery and decorative pottery were unearthed. The Eight Immortals Cave is two large sea-eroded caves. The larger one is more than 30 meters deep and 5 meters wide. The roof of the cave is similar to an arch. It is said that the Eight Immortals once gathered here. The quartzite surface in the cave is uneven and exquisite. There is a small hole adjacent to the big hole, which is more than 1 meter wide and more than 20 meters deep. There are stone tables, stone beds and two skylights in the hole. It is said that it is He Xiangu's bedroom. Dragon tongue fishing is named after a reef that looks like a dragon's tongue sticking out of the sea. Dragon Tongue, together with Threshold Reef, Whipstick Reef, Spider Reef and Monkey Reef, naturally form a good fishing ground. The sea water here is smooth and the caves are dense, making it an ideal place for fishing.

Crescent Bay

Crescent Bay is located at the northernmost tip of Changdao Island in Beichangshan. It is commonly known as Half Moon Bay because the bay is shaped like a half moon. It is backed by green mountains and green fields, surrounded by blue sea and clear waves. A long beach covered with silver-white pebbles is embedded in the green mountains and clear waters, like a crescent moon in the deep night sky. Stepping into Crescent Bay, every step is jade-like and sonorous, as if you have entered the Moon Palace where silver light shines and jade is mottled. Touching the pearls and stones with your hands, each one is exquisite and well-behaved, and each one is crystal clear. There are many natural patterns on the rocks: some ancient pines, brilliant maple leaves, fluffy birds, climbing macaques, clouds, flowers... They are vivid and lifelike. It touches the heartstrings and stirs people's emotions. There are many bays in the world, but there is only one thousand-meter-long cobblestone beach with "white as jade, as crystal clear as amber". It is really like a world of jeweled cobblestones.

Miaodao Mazu Cultural Park

Miaodao Xianying Palace is located in the northeast of Miaodao, 2.5 nautical miles away from Changdao County, covering an area of ​​90 acres. Founded in the fourth year of Xuanhe reign of Emperor Weizong of the Song Dynasty (AD 1122), it is the earliest and most famous Mazu temple in northern China. The fishermen of Changdao have respectfully called it the "Poseidon Empress" temple for generations. In the first year of Zongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen granted the temple the title of "Xianying Palace". The main hall of Xianying Palace is the largest building in the temple and has a hard mountain structure. In the hall, a seated statue of Mazu is located on the dragon pier of the central shrine. There are 14 standing statues on both sides of the hall, among which 4 military generals are Qianliyan, Shunfenger, Huangfeng Bingshuai and Baima General; 8 civil servants include Jiujiang, Bahe, Wuhu, Sihai Dragon King, etc.; there are also two old and young standing statues. There are more than 200 steles, tablets and plaques and more than 300 historical ship models in the rooms on both sides of the hall. The architectural style of the harem is Xieshan style, which retains the characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. The main altar in the palace hall has a gilded copper statue of Our Lady of Queen of Heaven and a 2-meter-high 9-flower bronze dressing mirror, as well as various clothing items, bed tents, and furnishings. In October 2002, Taiwanese believers escorted a black-faced Mazu to settle in Xianying Palace. There is constant incense here all year round. Every year during the Lantern Festival and the Empress’ birthday, more than 10,000 people come to Xianying Palace to worship. The reason why the Mazu Temple was built on the temple island is because the temple island is shaped like a phoenix, and the Shaobing Island to the north is shaped like the sun. The two islands complement each other and look like a "red phoenix rising to the sun", which is a geomantic treasure. During the Cultural Revolution in 1969, the original temple was destroyed, leaving only an image and a mirror. It was renovated in 1983 and opened to tourists in 1985.

Wangfu Reef Park

Changdao Wangfu Reef Park has been under construction since May 1995. It has five major scenic spots and 36 scenic spots, covering an area of ​​3 square kilometers. , with a total project construction area of ​​2,000 square meters, it integrates mountains, water, and forests into one corner, integrating islands, reefs, beaches, and beautiful legends, showing the charming cultural connotation of the natural landscape. Wangfujiao Park is one of the tourist attractions in Changdao. The main attractions are: On Yunmen Mountain in Qingzhou, there is the Chinese character "Shou", which is known as "the longest life in the world". The character "Shou" is 7.5 meters high and 3.7 meters wide. On the hillside of Wangfujiao, The "Fu" character is 21.9 meters high and 16.3 meters wide, which is larger than the "No. 1 longevity" character. It can be said to be "the No. 1 blessing in the world". Guanyin Pavilion, Olympic Monument, the First "Fu", Geological Museum, etc. This "big blessing" character immediately highlights the atmosphere of "the source of blessing". The location of Wangfu Reef is almost at the same latitude as the Xianying Palace on Miao Island. Island people believe that the Goddess of the Sea protects ships sailing on the sea and cruises here to wish good luck to the boatmen. Therefore, Wangfu Reef is also called Mazu Stone. Wangfu stone is a naturally formed stone that has not been artificially carved. It is formed by the alternating stacking of shale and quartz rock. Changdao is surrounded by the sea and is known as the blessed land in the world. Wangfujiao Scenic Area is a place full of blessings. The park is located at the foot of Nanchangshan Island, where there is a reef standing in the wind, shaped like a woman wearing a scarf and holding a baby in her arms. People call this reef "Wangfu Reef". There is a touching legend here. One year on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a fisherman was forced to go out to sea for fishing. He was suddenly caught in a storm and never returned. His wife, who had been married for more than a year, was so distraught that she held her dissatisfied baby in her arms all day long. The child stood on the beach, hoping that one day a miracle would occur and her husband would return safely. But after many years, her relatives did not return, and she became an immovable stone statue standing there. She is the epitome of thousands of fisherwomen in Long Island who were loyal in love and miserable in fate in the old society.

Linhai Park

Miaodao Linhai Park is located at the southeastern end of Changdao County, with the Bird Exhibition Hall in the sky on Fengshan Mountain to the north, and the snow-covered Changshanwei on Yutan (yellow-Bohai Sea dividing line) to the south. ), covering an area of ​​154.2 hectares. It has undulating mountains, thousands of acres of pine trees, hundreds of birds inhabiting it, and green waves. It is famous for its fresh air and high content of negative oxygen ions, and is known as the "Forest Oxygen Bar".

Food

Braised prawns

Changdao is a rich source of all kinds of shrimps. Braised prawns are very famous locally, and can be found in various restaurants and even regular Common people all like this dish. Changdao seafood is definitely the main local catering item. This dish can be eaten in various restaurants, usually around 50 yuan. If it is a seafood food stall, the price can be negotiated, usually at a 20% discount.

Spicy Crab

The shallow sea area around Changdao is rich in sea crabs, which are large and heavy. Therefore, Changdao’s crabs are said to be one of the meatiest crabs in China. In addition to spicy crabs, there are also steamed, salt-baked and braised crabs locally. Tourists can let the restaurants process them according to their own tastes. The most important thing when eating crabs is that they are fresh. Usually, crabs of 3 ounces in Changdao cost more than a dozen yuan each.

Fresh Fish Dumplings

The shallow sea area of ​​Changdao is rich in various fish. Dumplings made of fish meat have a delicate texture and delicious taste. They are a well-known delicacy in Changdao. When traveling to Changdao, the most common fish dumplings in various restaurants are: mackerel, yellow croaker and eel. Visitors can choose according to their own preferences, which costs about 15 yuan per drawer.

"Ha" jellyfish soup

Jellyfish soup is a very famous local snack. It is sold in large and small restaurants. It is usually served with fish dumplings or kelp buns for breakfast. , drinking jellyfish soup, it’s really a seafood gathering. A bowl costs about 10 yuan, enough for two or three people. Interestingly, people on the island call "drinking" "ha". In late summer and early autumn, news about jellyfish is high. Remove the head and claws from the fresh jellyfish, cut into large pieces and soak in water. When you want to "ha", use a knife to cut the jellyfish into slices. Then cut evenly and thinly like cutting noodles. Then rinse with clean water several times. Add appropriate amounts of refined salt, MSG, vinegar, sesame oil, coriander, pepper and other seasonings.

Seaweed buns

Seaweed buns are a snack unique to Changdao. There are many types of sea vegetables that can be used to make buns, such as sea vegetables, dried shrimps, etc., but camel hair is the most delicious. Sea vegetables like oil and garlic. Therefore, when people on the island make sea vegetable buns, in addition to using enough oil, they often use diced meat and garlic slices as fillings. The buns are of medium size and the vegetables should be packed tightly. The steamed buns can be either round or dumpling-shaped, and are recognized by tourists as one of the most delicious steamed buns in China.

Wrinkled Abalone

The king of Chinese abalone. Often adsorbed on reef gravel, crawling for food. It is a precious shellfish distributed along the northern coast of my country and was offered as a sacrifice in the Han Dynasty. To the north of Tuoji in Changdao County, the sea water is clear, the water is deep and fast, the reefs are densely covered with caves, and the seaweed food is abundant, which is most suitable for the growth and reproduction of abalone. The wrinkled abalone produced is large in size, tender in texture, delicious in taste and rich in nutrients. It is also known as the king of eight delicacies.