Yin Zhou Island

Yin Zhou Island

Yin Zhou Island is located downstream of the Lingyang Gorge on the Xijiang River, facing the Guangli Office and Shapu Town across the river. Situated in the middle of the river, the island covers a total area of 6 square kilometers, including 2 square kilometers of naturally formed sandy beaches. It features small to medium-sized tourist spots such as barbecue areas and an ice-skating rink, and has a dedicated dock. Notable attractions include the famous Yin Zhou Bao Gong Temple and the Chen Family Ancestral Hall (the ancestral home of Chen Huanzhang, the tutor of China’s last emperor, Puyi). The island may not have many “attractions,” but the entire Yin Zhou Island is itself a major attraction. Located in the center of the Xijiang River, it faces Laoding Mountain to the north, borders Lankē Mountain to the south, and lies adjacent to Xiashan and Lingyang Gorge to the west. Surrounded by mountains and water, it boasts uniquely favorable natural conditions. The island’s natural villages are small in scale but have decent and fairly organized infrastructure, along with expansive farmland that presents a true idyllic rural scene.

Geomorphologically, Yin Zhou Island is called a “riverine island,” and its formation is primarily influenced by the terrain of the river channel. Downstream of a narrowed section of the river [the Lingyang Gorge of the Xijiang River], the river widens, the flow disperses, the unit discharge decreases, and the sediment-carrying capacity weakens, leading to deposition. The formation of a riverine island generally occurs in three stages. The first stage involves the gradual accumulation of silt at the bottom of the riverbed, forming an underwater shoal. This shoal does not emerge above the water surface during the dry season, remains unstable, and may disappear due to erosion or shift to one side to become a point bar. The second stage occurs when the accumulation of the shoal intensifies, causing the cross-sectional area of flow to decrease, the flow velocity to increase, and the water to erode the banks. The channel bends as the banks retreat, enhancing circulation and promoting the deposition of coarse gravel (bed load) on the shoal. The shoal body continues to expand and rise in elevation until it eventually emerges above the water surface during the dry season, becoming a mid-channel bar. The front end of the mid-channel bar experiences high flow velocity and is prone to erosion, while the tail end has a low-velocity zone conducive to sediment deposition. As a result, the head of the bar often erodes backward while the tail accretes, causing the mid-channel bar to continuously migrate downstream. For instance, the Qianzhou in the Yangtze River near Nanjing moved 3.6 kilometers downstream between 1950 and 1956. The third stage involves the repeated deposition of suspended load during flood seasons on the foundation of the mid-channel bar. When the surface of the bar rises above the average water level, a riverine island is formed. Since riverine islands remain above water year-round and are only submerged during floods, and their surfaces are covered with thick layers of fine clayey soil, they are suitable for farming and habitation—hence the name. These islands feature stable forms, and sometimes the head of the island may extend upstream due to the accumulation of flood-borne silt, as seen when the Tianxingzhou in the Yangtze River extended 300 meters upstream in 1954.

Tourism Development on Yin Zhou Island: According to available information, Yin Zhou Island attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with its beautiful natural scenery and captivating legends. Local residents have carried out some relatively basic tourism development activities. The Guangli Office plans to leverage the tourism resources of Yin Zhou Island to develop a large-scale comprehensive tourism zone integrating commerce, travel, dining, and entertainment. Proposed projects include a Golden Sand Beach swimming area, Golden Sand Beach amusement park, island hotels, and offshore entertainment facilities. The area is currently in the process of seeking investment.

Transportation

Take bus route 15 and get off at the Yin Zhou Dock Station.

Attraction Location

Guangli Town, Dinghu District, Zhaoqing City