Fish-Scale Stone Dyke

Fish-Scale Stone Dyke

The Yanguan Fish-Scale Stone Dyke, located within the Tidal Bore Watching Scenic Park and about 1,000 meters from the Zhan'ao Pagoda, is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit.

The Fish-Scale Stone Dyke was built to defend against the tidal bore of the Qiantang River and construction began over 1,700 years ago. During the reign of King Qian Liu of the Wuyue Kingdom in the Five Dynasties period, large-scale construction of the seawall was carried out with the conscription of laborers. Subsequent dynasties continued to build and maintain it.

The Fish-Scale Stone Dyke is entirely constructed from neat, rectangular stone slabs in a "T" shape, stacked layer by layer from bottom to top. To solve the technical challenges posed by the scouring and undercutting of the Qiantang River’s currents, every slab is bonded with sticky glutinous rice paste and grouted, then fastened with iron clamps; the top of the dyke is secured with iron ingots to prevent loosening; and the back of the dyke is reinforced with earthen mounds for added protection.

Viewed from the side, the layers of the dyke resemble the scales of a fish — neat, beautiful, and sturdy — hence the name “Fish-Scale Stone Dyke.” To this day, the Fish-Scale Stone Dyke still plays a very important role in water conservancy and is also known as the “Great Wall Against the Sea.”

Admission Fee

10 RMB

Opening Hours

7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Location

Yanguan Town, Haining City, Zhejiang Province