Thirteen Islets of Tao River

Thirteen Islets of Tao River

The Thirteen Islets of Tao River Scenic Area is located within the Shizhu Wukeng Scenic Area. It combines pastoral landscapes on the islets with volcanic relics and other natural features. The area boasts peculiar peaks, towering rocks, and numerous caves, forming an important part of the Taozhu Provincial Scenic Spot and the Linhai National Geopark. It consists of ten sub-areas: Tao River Charm, Peacock Pecks the Green, Volcanic Relics, Coiling Dragon by the Sea, General’s Legacy, Green Gourmet Show, Great Wall Peak Forest, Stone Pillar Ascends Heaven, Tangerine Ridge Fragrance, and Tao River Painted Islets.

The Thirteen Islets of Tao River derive their name from the Tao River, which divides and encircles the fields into thirteen islets of varying sizes and shapes. An “islet” refers to “a piece of land surrounded by water.” The Thirteen Islets cover an area of over 600 acres, scattered like stars in the sky, with the largest spanning more than 80 acres and the smallest just half an acre. Land and water each occupy about half the area, making it a typical wetland. Originally, many peach trees were planted on the islets, hence the area is also known as Taozhu Town. The waters of the Thirteen Islets are emerald green, the fields lush, and the surrounding hills cast deep blue shadows. The scenery of the islets changes color with the seasons and crops, creating a vibrant tapestry of hues — truly one of China’s most beautiful pastoral landscapes. It evokes the poetic feel of “building a hut in the human realm” yet “hearing no clamor of carriage or horse.”