Submerged Ancient Forest

Submerged Ancient Forest

The area features over 20 remnants of a 7,800-year-old Keteleeria fortunei forest buried in the intertidal zone, vast oyster reefs that have thrived for millennia, typical marine-eroded red soil cliffs, pebble beach rocks, modern fine sand dunes, as well as uniquely exposed, diverse, well-preserved, and typical marine metamorphic rocks that illustrate the long geological history of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.

Submerged ancient forests of alder and Japanese cedar have been discovered in Japan’s Suruga Bay and Uozu respectively, and have been listed as international natural heritage sites. The alder forest consists of only four trees dating back eight to nine thousand years, while the Japanese cedar forest has just over a dozen trees around two thousand years old. In comparison, the submerged Keteleeria fortunei forest in China’s Shenhu Bay rivals them in age, scale, and quantity. Experts and scholars from both China and abroad have shown great interest, and have visited the site multiple times for research and study.

The protected area not only holds significant scientific value but is also a popular tourist destination. It enjoys favorable climatic conditions and is surrounded by numerous historical and cultural sites, including the “Shi Lang Museum” dedicated to the Qing Dynasty general who unified Taiwan, the renowned “Shenlin Temple,” “Zhenhai Official Shrine,” “Baigong Temple,” “Chongzhen Hall,” and “Baoquan Nunnery” that worship the Goddess Mazu and are famous across Fujian and Taiwan. Other attractions include the Bishan Plank Walk, Yandeng Mountain Beacon Tower, and Shifeng Stone Carvings.

(Image source: Official Website of Shenhu Bay Submerged Ancient Forest)

Information source: Fujian Provincial Department of Tourism Development