Bodhi Island

Bodhi Island

Bodhi Island is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located off the southwest coast of Leting County, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, Bodhi Island is a sandy island covering an area of 2.09 square kilometers, making it the largest island in North China. It lies 2.6 kilometers southeast of Yuetao Island, 4.3 kilometers northeast of Laoyujian Wharf, 39.3 kilometers from Leting County, 280 kilometers from Beijing, 220 kilometers from Tianjin, 75 kilometers from Tangshan, and 85 kilometers from Qinhuangdao, nestled among the four major cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan, and Qinhuangdao.

Bodhi Island is an ecological tourism development demonstration zone in Hebei Province and an international bird-watching base. With its pleasant climate and picturesque scenery, it is part of the golden tourism belt in the northern Bohai Sea and is known as a “natural botanical and zoological garden isolated in the sea,” shining like a brilliant pearl on the shores of the Bohai Sea.

The island is naturally formed and boasts eight distinctive features, namely: a large island, a sandy island, a sea island, a green island, a bird island, a wild island, a sun-and-moon island, and a Buddhist island.

The island is lush with vegetation, where the original flora is well-preserved, with a coverage rate of over 98%. Among this, herbaceous plants cover 80% of the island, vines 0.5%, shrubs 8%, wild fruit trees 3.6%, wild economic forests 5.9%, and other types 2%. There are 157 species of vascular plants on the island, including 2 species of ferns and 155 species of angiosperms, distributed across communities such as deciduous broad-leaved forests, shrublands, grasslands, shrub-grasslands, coastal halophyte vegetation, coastal psammophyte vegetation, and marsh vegetation. The island hosts over 260 plant species, including willows native to the northwest and kapok from the south, as well as sour trees, silk trees, pear-leaf crabapples, honey locusts, mulberries, peach trees, apricot trees, and hibiscus. The island is also home to a rich variety of wildlife, including legless lizards, foxes, badgers, horses, wild ducks, pheasants, snakes, rabbits, moles, and hedgehogs — over 30 species in total. It is recorded that there are 408 species of birds on the island. Bodhi Island lies within the animal geographical regions of both Northeast and North China, serving as a migration hub for birds traveling between Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, Siberia, Korea, Japan, and southern regions. With its extensive tidal flats, abundant food sources, and minimal human interference, the island provides ideal conditions for bird habitation and breeding. Spring is the best season for bird-watching on Bodhi Island, where rare national species such as white cranes, black cranes, and short-tailed albatrosses can be spotted. The island is renowned worldwide for its “tranquility, serenity, beauty, and elegance.” Every year, numerous bird-watching groups from countries such as Germany, the UK, Denmark, Finland, and Spain visit for tours and research, making it an international bird-watching base.

Other natural wonders include “Mandarin Duck Trees,” “Three Suns Shining Together,” “Sea Mist and Mirage,” “Exploring the Dense Forest,” and “Ruins of Ancient Fortresses,” among more than ten scenic spots. The island also features a Monk’s Well, famously associated with the tale of “one monk has water to drink, two monks carry water together, three monks have no water to drink” — a story said to have originated here.

There are also ancient temple ruins such as Chaoyang Nunnery and Chaoyin Temple, which add a touch of Buddhist mystique and celestial charm to Bodhi Island. Upon first arriving at the island, one’s eyes are filled with nothing but greenery — novel flowers and plants are everywhere, almost making one instantly understand what it means to return to nature.

The bodhi tree is a sacred tree in Buddhism. Legend has it that over 2,500 years ago, Siddhartha Gautama bid farewell to luxury and solitude, choosing a bodhi tree in a lush wilderness to support his deep meditation, giving rise to the profound breadth of a major religion.

Following a winding path through secluded trails, the ruins of Chaoyang Nunnery lie quietly within. Also known as Guanyin Nunnery, it was initially built in the early Ming Dynasty (around 1573) by the Linji School monk Xian Guang.

In 1796, it was renovated by the eighth-generation successor, Zhi Yuan. However, Zhi Yuan passed away before the renovation was completed. His disciple Hui Chen continued the work based on his vision. The reconstruction was finally completed in 1838. The temple once flourished with incense and attracted worshippers seeking tranquility, but over time it fell into disrepair due to neglect. By 1884 (the 10th year of the Guangxu reign), only the old foundation remained. Chaoyin Temple, established in 1889 (the 15th year of the Guangxu reign) during the Qing Dynasty by the Caodong School monk Faben in the center of the island, was newly built and renamed. After 44 years, the temple was finally completed by Faben’s disciple Zhenkong. According to the Leting County Annals: “In the 15th year of the Guangxu reign, Faben built a new temple on the island and renamed it ‘Chaoyin.’ The mountain gate (Vajra Hall) was in front, inscribed with ‘Great Sea Tidal Sound.’ The Hall of Heavenly Kings had three rooms in the center, with the main deity in the middle and the Eighteen Arhats on the sides; the rear hall had five rooms, with carvings of Five Hundred Arhats inside, and monk rooms on both sides totaling eight rooms. The east and west side halls, six rooms each, served as scripture halls, guest rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms; pathways, piers, foundations, and walls were all complete. The east courtyard housed monk facilities, including sesame oil and sweet potato vermicelli workshops, as well as mills, storage, kitchens, and shelters for cattle, sheep, chickens, and dogs. The west courtyard was a vegetable garden and flower garden. Covering 10 acres, it featured three refined rooms facing north and a sloping path leading into the secluded area, specially designated for visitors. During the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, Chaoyin Temple suffered repeated damage from enemy artillery, with most of the structures severely destroyed and falling into silence. Later, during the Cultural Revolution, the temple faced further devastation — the front hall, middle hall, and main hall were all demolished, leaving only the rear hall partially standing. However, the stone carvings of the Five Hundred Arhats on the walls were chiseled away, and the few surviving ones were left unrecognizable. In April 2001, Tangshan Hongwen Group invested in the restoration and reconstruction of the entire temple to promote Buddhist culture and respect public faith. Zhao Puchu, President of the Buddhist Association of China, visited the site and was moved to write the widely praised verse: ‘Sailing sails and sandy islands are wonders of the human world; clouds and waves create jade palaces above the sea.’ Standing on the sunrise viewing platform of Bodhi Island and gazing into the distance, the vast, boundless blue waves merge seamlessly with the sky, making one feel an open heart and a serene spirit. Humanity, history, and nature blend purely and naturally, everything fitting together seamlessly.

Here, you can not only enjoy the warmth of the island but also experience its tranquility, beauty, and vitality. You’ll witness the tenacity of life, the magnificence of nature, and the peace of the mind. You’ll also receive heartfelt hospitality like that of family, comfort like being at home, and be immersed in profound human history, rich traditional culture, and long-standing Buddhist activities... All of these will leave a deep impression on you, ensuring you have a joyful and relaxing time.

Bodhi Island offers seafood and farmhouse-style dining, with accommodation options including villas and mountain lodges. There are also various recreational activities such as going out to sea to fish, boating, fishing in the marshes, exploring the wild, hunting — making it an ideal destination for leisure vacations, business meetings, and recuperation. It is also a perfect paradise for returning to nature and seeking wild fun.

Address: Bohai Bay, southwest of Leting County, Tangshan City

Type: Island/Peninsula

Recommended visiting time: 4 hours

Phone: 0315-4088021

Opening hours:

Winter: 08:30–17:00 (land access to the island); Summer: 09:00–16:30 (last boat departs at 17:00).