Nan'ao Island National Forest Park

Nan'ao Island National Forest Park

Nan'ao Island National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Nan'ao Island National Forest Park is the only national forest park in eastern Guangdong. Located in the western part of Nan’ao Island, it covers a total area of 20,600 mu with a forest coverage rate of 92%. Its unique geographical location is traversed by the Tropic of Cancer through its center, featuring a typical South Asian tropical marine climate and ecosystem. The climate is mild, warm in winter and cool in summer, with fresh and pleasant air. The park is surrounded by sea on three sides, boasts prominent mountain and sea landscapes, and has abundant tourism resources.

Forest Ecological Landscape. The park’s forest is a typical subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including over 1,400 plant species and 130 bird species.

Stone Egg Landform Landscape. The park features granite stone egg landforms, with rugged rocks of various shapes and striking resemblances. Natural rock formations such as Eagle Rock, Sky-Mending Stone, and Goddess Stone are scattered throughout the park. On Xijiao Mountain, there is a massive rock formation that forms a natural cave stretching hundreds of meters from the mountainside up to near the summit, known as the “Marvelous Cave of the South Sea” since the Northern Song Dynasty.

Mountain and Sea Landscape. The park is surrounded by sea on three sides, where mountain and sea views complement each other, creating a rare and spectacular feature. Dajianshan Mountain, located in the central part of the park, stands at an elevation of 588.1 meters, making it the highest peak in Shantou. From the summit, visitors can overlook the lush, layered mountain peaks, gaze across the vast expanse of the South China Sea, or take in the sweeping views of the boundless Chaoshan Plain.

Cultural and Historical Landscapes. The park is rich in historical and cultural sites, with numerous relics and legends. These include Tang Dynasty stone carvings at Datian, the “Farewell to My Lord” site from the late Song and early Yuan Dynasty where Chen Biniang bid farewell to her husband, Ming Dynasty watchtowers, and Qing Dynasty Changhaiwei Fort. There is also the Martyrs’ Cemetery, which marks the site of the first battle in the Guangdong resistance against Japan and embodies the “Nan’ao Resistance Spirit” and “Guangdong Spirit.” The park has the largest cliff carving area in China, as well as numerous man-made military tunnels scattered throughout.

The park adopts a strategic layout with Dajianshan Scenic Area as the backbone, Guizheng Scenic Area as the core, and Qianlaiyuan Scenic Area as the supporting element, driving the development of five themed gardens — Turtle Garden, Bird Garden, Calligraphy Cliff Carving Garden, Earth Art Garden, and Eco Botanical Garden — through the “Three Scenic Areas and Five Gardens” strategy.

Guizheng Scenic Area is the central zone of the park. Key attractions include the Eagle Stone Mountain Cliff Carving Area, which features over 1,300 calligraphic works by renowned artists from China and abroad, presented on a grand scale and complemented by three viewing pavilions and hiking trails. Other facilities include the Guizheng Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, visitor center, and former educated youth site. The turtle-themed park in this area spans 500 mu and plans to display 99 stone turtle sculptures of various sizes, including a main turtle sculpture measuring 7.9 meters in length, 3.5 meters in width, and 2.8 meters in height — the largest artificial stone turtle sculpture in China. It will also showcase various species of live turtles from around the world.