Yanting

Yanting

Yanting is located in the eastern part of Cangnan County, covering a scenic area of 23 square kilometers. It faces the sea to the southeast and is surrounded by mountains from the northeast to the southwest, boasting a beautiful environment and pleasant climate. The Yanting Scenic Area mainly consists of the Yanting, Qianyu Island, and Haikou scenic spots.

Yanting is 26.6 kilometers from the county seat and is one of the main fishing towns in the county, with seafood such as swimming crabs and shrimp being local specialties. During the Five Dynasties period, after the monk Yuanqi came to open up the Nan Yandang Mountain, King Qian of the Wuyue Kingdom built the Puzhao Monastery and 18 temples for him, supporting over a hundred monks with tax revenues from the Jiangnan Plain. Yanting’s former name was Yanting (Salt Pavilion), which was where the Nanjian Salt Field collected salt taxes. The residents traditionally made a living by fishing, salt drying, and farming. By the late Yuan Dynasty, the county resident Chen Gao wrote in his “Record of Zhuxi Tower”: “In Pingyang, Wenzhou, there is a place called Yanting, located by the sea. It faces the east toward the ocean and is backed by mountains on the south, west, and north, encircling the land like a winnowing basket. The area spans about three to four li.”