Huangpu Shiling Mountain Marine Erosion Site

Huangpu Shiling Mountain Marine Erosion Site

The Huangpu Shiling Mountain Marine Erosion Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Shiling Mountain Marine Erosion Site is situated at the eastern foothills of Shiling Mountain (at the foot of Dongkeng Dagang Mountain) on the northern section of Jianfeng Mountain in the western part of Huangpu Town, Zhongshan City, covering an area of 2,500 mu. It is not only the largest marine erosion site discovered so far along the Guangdong coast, but also one of the few well-preserved marine erosion sites in the province. Formed 5,000 years ago due to crustal changes, it features ancient marine landforms of Cretaceous red sandstone gravel geology. Its marine erosion caves, cliffs, and platforms are among the most intact geological specimens among existing marine erosion sites in the Pearl River Delta, possessing unique scientific and aesthetic value. The Huangpu Marine Erosion Site unveils the mystery of Huangpu as one of Guangdong’s four ancient maritime towns, which has undergone millennia of dramatic geographical changes. According to research by the late geographer He Dazhang, a native of Zhongshan from the Guangdong Institute of Geography at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this site is one of only two remaining marine erosion sites in Zhongshan.

Shiling Mountain Marine Erosion Site

Currently, the marine erosion site spans an area of 2,500 mu (approximately 16,750 square meters), with an elevation of 29.4 meters. Due to long-term marine transgression and erosion, numerous rock caves have formed, and the exposed rocky surfaces showcase a spectacular landscape primarily composed of river pebble layers. At the foot of the mountain lies a massive cave, which local legend says was once visited by Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who stayed there during his travels. As a result, in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1894), villagers built a temple here dedicated to Lu Dongbin. The cave entrance is inscribed with the three characters “玉泉洞” (Jade Spring Cave), and two pairs of couplets were originally displayed there—though their archaic wording was indecipherable except by a few local elders. This temple was renovated in 1984 with funding from Hong Kong compatriots and covers an area of about 146 square meters. Inside the temple is a wooden plaque inscribed with the characters “松风水月” (Pine, Wind, Water, Moon) written by Peng Binggang, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations of 1894, a renowned educator, and calligrapher from Shengshi in Zhongshan. Nearby, there is a cliff inscription about 10 meters above the ground, carved onto a rock measuring 5.3 meters in length and 3.3 meters in width. Written by Ye Songsu of Bao’an in the Qing Dynasty, the three characters “滴水岩” (Dripping Water Rock) are in running script, carved in intaglio, each character measuring 75×52 cm, and they remain well-preserved.

The marine erosion cliff landscape known as “Sky’s Edge and Sea’s Corner” features many scenic spots. Jade Spring Cave is the largest marine erosion cave in the site, measuring 15 meters in width, 8 meters in depth, and over 5 meters in height, with inward-curving walls. Local legend says that Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, once stayed in Jade Spring Cave, prompting villagers in 1894 to establish a temple-cave dedicated to him, referred to as the “Immortal Temple.” Two pairs of unusual couplets stand in front of the temple—no one could read them except for a few elderly locals who understood their meaning. The marine erosion cliff is a continuous landform found north of Jade Spring Cave on the eastern foothills, where the mountainside is entirely made up of such cliffs. The cliff faces are smooth, with slightly concave bases or smooth transitions into marine erosion platforms. Due to the near-horizontal orientation of the rock layers and the alternating strata of conglomerate and sandstone, which create varying resistance to erosion, the cliffs often appear stepped. Upon closer inspection, honeycomb-like pits can often be found on the cliff surface—traces left by ancient waves washing away some of the pebbles in the conglomerate layers. Following the ancient mountain path from Jade Spring Cave northward, visitors will encounter a series of natural wonders, including the Matchmaker Stone, Lovers’ Stone, Eight Immortals Stone, Sunbathing Pool, Fortune Cave, Fishing Platform, Gathering of Immortals, Heavenly Dog Rock, Flying Stone, Dripping Water Rock, and Cave Gate Stone. The Sunbathing Pool, located near Jade Spring Cave, remains filled with water year-round, its crystal-clear surface offering sweet-tasting water. The Dog-Piercing Path is situated at the eastern foothills of Dongkeng Dagang Mountain within the marine erosion site. Formed by prolonged wave erosion, it features a tunnel through which people can crawl from one end to the other. Further along, a large rock dramatically juts out, suspended about 20 meters above the ground, beautifully embedded in the ancient marine erosion cliff of Dagang Mountain’s eastern slope—it is one of the site’s scenic highlights. Because of its resemblance to a giant nose, it is also commonly known as the “Immortal Nose Stone” (or Flying Stone). Since ancient times, visitors to the Immortal Temple during festivals have thrown coins at this rock from below—if a coin hits, people clap their hands and make a wish, believed to be particularly effective. This tradition continues to this day. Next, one finds the cliff inscription “Dripping Water Rock,” featuring bold calligraphy carved into a rock about 10 meters above the ground, measuring 530 cm in length and 330 cm in width. Written by Ye Songsu of Bao’an in the Qing Dynasty, the inscription remains well-preserved. As described by Feng, the area was once densely forested, with year-round dripping water and flowing streams. Even in the depths of winter, thin streams resembling strings of glistening pearls could be seen cascading down the cliffs. During heavy rain, visitors could take shelter in the dripping cave and witness a spectacular waterfall-like scene. However, due to damage to the water vein of the “Dripping Water Cliff,” water no longer drips here during dry seasons, only appearing during spring and summer rains.

Jade Spring Cave is the largest marine erosion cave at the site, measuring 15 meters in width, 8 meters in depth, and over 5 meters in height, with inward-curving walls. Local legend says that Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, once stayed in Jade Spring Cave, prompting villagers in 1894 to establish a temple-cave dedicated to him, referred to as the “Immortal Temple.” Two pairs of unusual couplets stand in front of the temple—no one could read them except for a few elderly locals who understood their meaning.

The marine erosion cliff is a continuous landform found north of Jade Spring Cave on the eastern foothills, where the mountainside is entirely made up of such cliffs. The cliff faces are smooth, with slightly concave bases or smooth transitions into marine erosion platforms. Due to the near-horizontal orientation of the rock layers and the alternating strata of conglomerate and sandstone, which create varying resistance to erosion, the cliffs often appear stepped. Upon closer inspection, honeycomb-like pits can often be found on the cliff surface—traces left by ancient waves washing away some of the pebbles in the conglomerate layers.

Following the ancient mountain path from Jade Spring Cave northward, visitors will encounter a series of natural wonders, including the Matchmaker Stone, Lovers’ Stone, Eight Immortals Stone, Sunbathing Pool, Fortune Cave, Fishing Platform, Gathering of Immortals, Heavenly Dog Rock, Flying Stone, Dripping Water Rock, and Cave Gate Stone.

The Sunbathing Pool, located near Jade Spring Cave, remains filled with water year-round, its crystal-clear surface offering sweet-tasting water. The Dog-Piercing Path is situated at the eastern foothills of Dongkeng Dagang Mountain within the marine erosion site. Formed by prolonged wave erosion, it features a tunnel through which people can crawl from one end to the other.

Address: No. 1 Guanxian Road, Huangpu Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province

Type: Geological Landform

Huangpu Town: Huangpu Town is located in the northernmost part of Zhongshan City, the hometown of the great leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It borders Shunde District of Foshan City to the northwest and faces Panyu District of Guangzhou City across the river to the northeast. Situated in the central development zone of the Pearl River Delta metropolitan area, it shares a one-hour traffic circle with Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Jiangmen, Hong Kong, and Macau. The town covers an area of 88 square kilometers, with a registered population of 83,000 and a migrant population of over 80,000. It governs 12 village committees and 4 community neighborhood committees. In 2017, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 13.055 billion yuan; the added value of large-scale industries... More details about Huangpu Town++