Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago

Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago

The Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago is located in the Huibei Ocean area, 7 kilometers northwest of Zhoushan City’s main island. It lies about 12 kilometers north of Dayushan Island and 9.7 kilometers southeast of Mamushan Island, and falls under the jurisdiction of Cengang Town, Dinghai District, Zhoushan City.

This maritime area serves as a key shipping route for Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Shengzhou, boasting a strategically advantageous location. The Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago is composed of seven islands — Da Wuzhi, Xiao Wuzhi, Longdongshan, Mantou Shan, Yaque Shan, Wumao Shan, and Laoshu Shan — and five reefs — Long Jiao, Beida Jiao, and Dayu Anjiao. The island reserve covers an area of over 7,000 mu, with a tidal flat area of 0.01 square kilometers, a total coastline of 5.4 kilometers, and a highest elevation of 46.6 meters. Laoshu Shan and Xiao Wuzhi Shan connect with Da Wuzhi Shan during low tide, and the overall appearance of the islands is that of a grassy meadow, with a terrain extending from southwest to northeast.

Thanks to its unique environmental conditions and favorable geographical location, the Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago provides excellent natural conditions for the breeding and development of various species. A total of 42 species of wetland birds have been observed and recorded here, belonging to 6 orders and 9 families. These include 6 resident species, 19 summer migratory species, and 17 winter migratory species. The dominant summer species are black-tailed gulls and intermediate egrets, while the dominant winter species are ringed plovers, grey herons, and spotted-billed ducks. Resident birds include sparrows, Chinese bulbuls, orioles, and white-backed buntings.

Since being designated as a district-level nature reserve in 1988, the Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago has undergone over a decade of effective protection and management. The population of black-tailed gulls increased from 450 in 1988 to over 3,200 in 2001, egrets rose from just over ten in 1988 to more than 4,200 in 2001, and winter migratory birds grew from around 300 in 1988 to over 2,000 in 2001. Notably, the yellow-billed egret, a second-class nationally protected bird, increased from just a few dozen in 1988 to over 500 in 2001, and the Chinese crested tern numbered over 150. The total number of various bird species that breed and inhabit the Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago throughout the year has now reached over 10,000. Nowadays, visiting the islands between May and August offers breathtaking views of flocks of birds soaring through the sky — a truly spectacular sight.