Haiyan Seawall (Chihai Temple Section)

Haiyan Seawall (Chihai Temple Section)

The Haiyan Seawall (Chihai Temple Section) is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Haiyan Seawall (Chihai Temple Section) is located in Haiyan County and dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Chihai Temple section of the Qiantang River Seawall in Haiyan, also known as the "Fish-Scale Seawall," is located along the Hangzhou Bay in the eastern part of Wuyuan Subdistrict, Haiyan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. This section of the seawall extends from the north side of the Nantaitou Sluice in the south to the Chengbei Intersection in the north, spanning approximately 2,300 meters, and is a key component of the Qiantang River Seawall. The Fish-Scale Seawall was first built in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1542) by Huang Guangsheng, the Water Conservancy Commissioner of Zhejiang, to defend against seawater intrusion. The Fish-Scale Seawall constructed by Huang Guangsheng used a method of stacking stone slabs in a five-long-and-five-short pattern. The base was grooved and pile-driven, with the first and second layers arranged in a crisscross (“ding”) pattern, while the third and fourth layers reduced to a five-long-and-four-short pattern, interlocking layer upon layer up to eighteen tiers. It connects to Haining in the south and Pinghu in the north. The structure has been expanded over various dynasties, and repairs were carried out during the Qianlong and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty. The current seawall is a gravity-type fish-scale stone structure, mostly featuring double-layered fish-scale stonework. The base includes wooden piles, and the seaward side is reinforced with slope protection and “ding”-shaped spur dikes, along with a wave-resistant wall on top. The Fish-Scale Seawall serves as a tangible witness to the history, culture, economy, military affairs, and water conservancy facilities of Haiyan County, holding significant historical value. It remains well-preserved and in active use today.

On January 13, 2017, it was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Sites in Zhejiang Province by the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Sites in Zhejiang Province