Immortal Island Beach

Immortal Island Beach

Immortal Island is located on the coast 10 kilometers south of Yingkou Development Zone. Legend has it that the Eight Immortals once stopped here during their journey across the sea. Also known as Rabbit Island, when viewed from the sea, the island resembles a mountain hare lying on the shore. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the scenic area covers a total of approximately 7 square kilometers. Major attractions include the “Tide Roar of Rabbit Island,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xiongyue, the coastal locust tree forest, the bathing beach, wind power stations, and Ming Dynasty beacon towers. Every year in late May, a grand Locust Flower Festival is held here.

1. The “Tide Roar of Rabbit Island,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xiongyue. The best days to watch the tide are the 3rd and 18th days of the lunar calendar. At the start, a white line appears at the water’s edge on the western beach. Listen closely, and you’ll hear a rumbling sound like distant thunder. Soon, the tide rolls in closer, and looking out, it seems like thousands of silvery ribbon fish leaping, tumbling, chasing, and playing. At this point, the sound of the tide becomes like the roar of thousands of soldiers, the long beat of war drums, surging and howling, gradually widening the distance between the north and south tidal flows. The flow moving northeast from the western shore of the island is the north tide, while the one flowing toward a bay from the southwestern shore is the south tide. The tides surge toward the shore, pushed back by rocks; in the blink of an eye, they rush ashore again, with the tides taking on countless forms, too numerous to take in all at once. Occasionally, the two tidal flows will converge, producing a loud “boom” like an earthquake or landslide, thrilling to the core. The spectacular sight of the “Tide Roar of Rabbit Island” has been a wonder since ancient times, attracting numerous visitors throughout history.

2. The Locust Tree Forest of Immortal Island is one of the major coastal defense forests in the Bohai Bay, with a greened area of over 6,000 acres, often referred to as a natural oxygen bar. When the locust flowers are in full bloom, their fragrance—like fragrant snow in May—fills the air and refreshes the spirit. You can stroll through the forest, occasionally spotting wild pheasants, magpies, rabbits, hedgehogs, and other wildlife. Soaking in the hot springs in the locust forest or camping outdoors is a delightful experience. Don’t forget to bring back some locust flower honey before you leave. Immortal Island uses the locust flowers as a magnet to attract visitors from all directions and couples to enjoy the Eight Immortals Feast and breathe in the fragrance of the locust blossoms.

3. The Immortal Island Bathing Beach has a total coastline of about 1 kilometer and is an open beach. With soft sand and flat shores, you can play in the water, ride the waves, collect seashells, bask in the sun, watch the windmills at sunset, and listen to fishermen’s songs at dusk, immersing yourself in the charm of the fairy island. When the tide recedes, you can ride horses freely across the wide beach. At night, light a bonfire, set off fireworks, listen to fishermen’s tales, and experience life by the sea.

4. The Immortal Island Wind Power Plant is one of the wind farms under Yingkou Wind Power Co., Ltd. and is the largest wind power station in Liaoning. Construction began on October 2, 1998. After three phases of development, there are currently 47 wind turbines of four types from five manufacturers in operation, with a total installed capacity of 31,660 kilowatts and an annual power generation of about 57 million kilowatt-hours.

5. The Immortal Island Beacon Tower was built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403, under Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di). The tower is about 15 meters high, with a base circumference of 54 meters and a top circumference of 44.8 meters. Beacon towers, also called signal towers, watchtowers, or platforms, were one of the ancient Chinese architectural facilities used to transmit military information. Hence the saying, “When invaders approach, smoke is lit by day and fire by night.” Yingkou, located on the coastal frontier, had dozens of beacon towers built during the Ming Dynasty. The “Immortal Island Beacon Tower” is one of the better-preserved ones and served as one of the main filming locations for the 1980s movie “The Great Qing Artillery Camp,” starring Liu Xiaoqing. Having endured 600 years of history and the vicissitudes of life, it stands as an indefatigable sentinel guarding the nation’s maritime borders.

Location

Jiulongdi Town, Gaizhou City, Liaoning Province