Zhujiajian · Wushi Pond

Zhujiajian · Wushi Pond

Wushi Pond was once a place where fishermen dried their nets, but it has now become one of the key attractions in Zhujiajian. Here, you can see tens of millions of jet-black, glossy pebbles. Take a "sea boat ride," and the helmsman-fisherman might share the legends of Wushi Pond and Zhangzhou Bay, adding a delightful touch to your experience.

Wushi Pond is about 500 meters long, 50 meters wide, and 5 meters high. This horizontally lying seawall is entirely formed by naturally stacked, jet-black, glossy pebbles along the slope—its grandeur is both vast and spectacular. The pebbles feature colorful patterns, smooth and lovely textures, ranging in size from tiny beads to large, egg-like stones, comparable to the Rain Flower Stones of Nanjing and the Multicolored Stones of the Three Gorges. The *Changguo Prefecture Gazetteer* from the Yuan Dynasty records: "Wushi Pond, located in Machin, extends over a hundred zhang, standing about five zhang tall, lying along the coast, with its interior and exterior covered in green, round pebbles, like the scales of a dragon…"

On the southern shore of Zhangzhou Bay, there are numerous reefs with uniquely shaped clusters resembling dragon eyes and a dragon’s mouth. Beside the dragon’s mouth is a crevice in the rocks, which local fishermen call the Dragon’s Cave. Whenever a typhoon is approaching, this cave emits a thunderous roar that can be heard up to ten li away. At such times, the jet-black pebbles of Wushi Pond, stacked obliquely along the water’s edge, will behave unusually, forming vertical grooves. Fishermen say these are the “Little Black Dragon” signaling an incoming typhoon, urging fishermen out at sea to quickly return to harbor.

Why is Wushi Pond so prophetic? Legend says it is the incarnation of the Black Dragon. Originally, the third prince of the Dragon King of the East Sea was pitch-black in color, mischievous yet clever, deeply beloved by his parents. One day, unable to bear the loneliness of the dragon palace, he left on his own to roam the vast East Sea. While playing joyfully, he unexpectedly encountered a group of shark spirits. These shark spirits had heard that eating dragon meat could make one immortal, so upon seeing the little Black Dragon, they lunged at him with gaping mouths. Outnumbered, the little Black Dragon fought valiantly but grew exhausted, wounded all over, and gradually retreated toward Lotus Ocean. The sharks pursued relentlessly. At this critical moment, fishermen from Zhujiajian who were out catching fish spotted him. They bravely rescued the little Black Dragon and brought him into Zhangzhou Bay, where they carefully nursed his wounds. From then on, the little Black Dragon forged a deep bond of friendship with the fishermen of Zhujiajian. After recovering, to repay the life-saving kindness, the little Black Dragon chose to stay in Zhangzhou Bay, vowing to guard the seawall and bring benefits to the people of Zhujiajian. Thus, the little Black Dragon lay horizontally along the shores of Zhangzhou Bay, and over time, its dragon scales transformed into the jet-black pebbles we see today. Day and night, it watched over the changes of the sea. When strong winds approached, it would tremble its scales and cry out loudly to warn fishermen not to go out to sea but to return to harbor quickly. During typhoons, when the turbulent waves towered, it used its body to block the raging waters, protecting the people of Zhujiajian from disaster. The Qing Dynasty literary figure Zhu Xu once praised it in a poem: “A pagoda flying and a monk transforming—is that absurd? / Sudden wind and rain startle the stone pond into surge. / Heaven commands the Black Dragon not to leave— / Lest this land turn into desolation.”

In reality, Wushi Pond is a seawall naturally formed over time. Zhangzhou Bay is about 3 kilometers deep and 1 kilometer wide, with water depths ranging from 0.5 meters to 10 meters, growing deeper the further from the shore toward the bay’s mouth. The mountains on either side of the bay consist of three types of rock: gray-green rock, andesite, and granite. The ocean waves, with their immense force, continuously crash against the cliffs year after year, breaking them into rocks of various sizes that fall into the bay. These rocks are repeatedly tumbled, polished, and refined by tidal currents until they gradually become jet-black, glossy pebbles. The waves then push these pebbles toward the shore, and over hundreds of thousands of years, a glistening black stone wall formed along the coast of Zhangzhou Bay. Among the pebbles in Wushi Pond, gray-green rocks make up 80%, andesite 15%, and granite 5%, corresponding to the distribution of rocks in the southern, central, and northern parts of the nearby mountain range.

On moonlit nights, the clear waters of Zhangzhou Bay shimmer like countless blue sprites dancing on the surface. Under the moonlight, the tides—clad in silver armor—crash against the beach in relentless succession, producing a sound like “sha... la la... sha... la la...,” reminiscent of ethereal divine music. At such times, if you lie on the cool, smooth pebbles, gaze at the moon, and listen to the tide, your thoughts will wander and you may feel as if you’ve entered a dreamlike realm. This scene is known as the “Tide Sounds of Wushi Pond.” Of course, you don’t have to wait for a moonlit night to hear the “Tide Sounds of Wushi Pond,” though it’s harder to fully appreciate the experience during the day. It’s said that local fishermen and farmers can discern wind strength or weather changes from these tide sounds. Some even claim that if you listen attentively with a serene mind, you might even catch faint sounds like those of an ancient zither. Legend says these are the whispers of the little Black Dragon and the maiden sturgeon under the moonlight. Hence, some poetically call it the “Love Sounds of Wushi Pond.”

Address: No. 17, Xiuzhuan’an Road, Putuo District, Zhoushan City

Type: Island/Peninsula

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0580-6031021

Opening Hours:

Off-season: 7:45–16:45; Peak season: 7:30–17:50

Ticket

May–October: 40 RMB (35 RMB if boats are suspended); November–April: 30 RMB (25 RMB if boats are suspended)

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