Shihai (Sea of Stones) at Wudalianchi

Shihai at Wudalianchi

The most unique landscape in Wudalianchi is the Sea of Stones, located to the northeast of Laohei Mountain. It is a world-rare volcanic lava wonder.

Wudalianchi, an ocean of stones and a kingdom of lava, features more than 800 square kilometers of volcanic rock spread across 1,060 square kilometers of fertile black soil, forming an awe-inspiring geological wonder. There are three types of volcanic lava in the world: crust lava flows, block lava flows, and splatter (aa) lava flows, all of which are typically represented in the Wudalianchi volcanic group.

The volcanic landforms of Wudalianchi, along with the karst landforms of Yunnan’s Stone Forest, the sandstone peak forest landforms of Zhangjiajie, the danxia landforms of Guangdong, the yardang landforms of Dunhuang, and the canyon landforms of Yuntai Mountain, constitute the extraordinary landform wonders of China. Among them, the volcanic landforms of Wudalianchi are the most grandiose and majestic.

Stepping into Wudalianchi is stepping into the homeland of stones; the vast Stone Dragon Plateau is composed of crust lava flows, stretching as far as the eye can see.

From the urban area to the scenic zones, you can find all kinds of crust lava formations — rope-like, twisted, spiral, log raft-like, elephant trunk-like, and reptile-like shapes — along with relics such as lava waterfalls, lava collapses, and lava folds. Block lava flows are mainly concentrated in Longmen Stone Village and several lava ponds. Looking into the distance, rolling waves of stone seem to rush down from the horizon, resembling a massive stone formation set up by heavenly troops. The splatter lava sea, formed by splatter (aa) lava flows — also known as clinker lava — is primarily found in the newly formed volcanic areas, covering more than 100 square kilometers. It is vast and majestic, seemingly allowing you to hear the distant roar of ocean waves.

According to geologists, the Sea of Stones consists of splatter (aa) lava. During the volcanic eruption, as the magma flowed, the surface cooled and solidified early, forming a thick, hard crust. As the magma continued to move, it deformed under pressure and flow, creating clinker-like accumulations. This led to large-scale overturning and fragmentation of the lava, with successive flows pushing forward — like waves pushing one another — thus forming the splashing, churning Sea of Stones.

The volcanic Sea of Stones is like a silent symphony, a three-dimensional landscape painting, a frozen poem, and a declaration of the earth. The “natural volcano museum” it forms allows people to access deep information about the earth, and the “textbook of volcanoes” it presents helps one understand the harmony between nature and the importance of environmental protection.

The two characters “Shihai” (Sea of Stones) were inscribed by General Zhang Aiping. The Sea of Stones is filled with wonders, unparalleled and unmatched in the world.

Some say the Sea of Stones at Wudalianchi can rival the world-famous landscapes of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. It is no exaggeration to call it a global wonder. In China, there is “Stone Forest in the south, Sea of Stones in the north,” making it a unique highlight of Chinese tourism.

On September 23, 1996, Ning Shimin, then Director of the Provincial Tourism Bureau, wrote a seven-character quatrain titled “Viewing the Sea of Stones” to praise this wonder: “A sea of black stones lies between two mountains, undulating wildly, stretching who knows where. Let stress surge skyward, daring to make stubborn rocks churn great waves.”