The Hai Pan Nan Tian Stone

The Hai Pan Nan Tian Stone

Situated in the renowned Tianya Haijiao Scenic Area of Sanya City, Hainan Province, this destination is considered iconic for Hainan tourism. The reason can be traced back to the group of cliff inscriptions that remain in the scenic area today, documenting the historical changes of Tianya Haijiao. It is widely thought that the most famous are the “Tianya” and “Nan Tian Yi Zhu” inscriptions. In fact, the oldest and most unique of these inscriptions are the ones from the Hai Pan Nan Tian cliff carving complex.

The Hai Pan Nan Tian cliff carvings were inscribed in November of the 53rd year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign. What makes them special is that they were created by imperial envoys dispatched by the Kangxi Emperor—not carved on a natural boulder, but on a specially cut and processed surface. Clearly, there must be some significant secret behind this inscription, likely closely related to the origin of Tianya Haijiao. However, due to scarce historical records, lost documents, and limited clues, it has become very difficult to uncover or understand its true background, let alone decipher its secrets. In front of the Hai Pan Nan Tian Stone is a rock shaped like a roof, with very distinct edges and a smooth, flat surface—showing clear signs of artificial carving, unlike the naturally formed rocks elsewhere in the scenic area.

Research has revealed that the “Hai Pan Nan Tian” inscription was left during China’s first national map survey conducted in the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, serving as a marker for measuring latitude. At that time, three imperial envoys—Miao Shou, Chuo’er Dai, and Tang Shangxian—were tasked with this project. In the 53rd year of Kangxi’s reign, or 1714 AD, they cut into the rock here and inscribed the four large characters “Hai Pan Nan Tian.” Opposite the Hai Pan Nan Tian stone carving stands a towering, cone-shaped boulder about seven meters high, known as the famous “Nan Tian Yi Zhu” (Pillar of Southern Heaven) landscape. The four characters “Nan Tian Yi Zhu” were inscribed in 1909 (the first year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty) by Yan Zhizhou, the prefect of Yazhou. Amidst the vast, blue sky and endless sea, through the changes of time and the eternal sound of the waves, the Hai Pan Nan Tian stone remains standing quietly here.

A measurement marker should logically be related to geographical coordinates, so why were only these four highly literary characters—“Hai Pan Nan Tian”—inscribed? Among these four characters, three are relatively easy to understand. The issue lies with the character “Pan.” Some say “Pan” means “border” or “edge,” but “seaside border of the southern sky” doesn’t quite capture the intended imagery. Others suggest “Pan” means “divide” or “separate,” implying the sea dividing the land—yet this interpretation feels rather plain. Still others propose that “Pan” means “decide” or “finalize,” which might vaguely relate to the South Pole, though the reasoning feels constrained. None of these interpretations have a clear connection to a survey coordinate. Could it be that the imperial envoys had such poor command of the written word?

From “Records of the Grand Historian – Biography of Lu Jia”: “Since the separation of heaven and earth, there has been nothing like it.” Interpreted as “the sea opens to the southern sky,” the phrase carries a majestic imagery. Standing weather-beaten by the surging tides, silently guarding the nearby “Nan Tian Yi Zhu,” it inspires awe and forms a unique cultural wonder at Tianya Haijiao.

Tianya Haijiao

Nan Tian Yi Zhu