Jieshi Golden Beach

Jieshi Golden Beach

Jinxia Town is part of the Jieshi Bay beach area. Known as the "Golden Coast of Eastern Guangdong," it is celebrated for its combination of the "divine, the sea, the sand, and the rocks."

As the sun rises slowly in the east, the waters of Jinxia become a magnificent golden scene—layered golden waves, dots of fishing sails, groups of seagulls, and endless stretches of soft sand all harmoniously blend into this picturesque panorama, rich with poetic and artistic beauty. The naming of Jinxia Beach may originate from this very scene.

Along the 18-kilometer-long "S"-shaped coastline, capes and bays are interspersed, creating enchanting scenery. The largest capes include Jinxia Cape and Guanyin Ridge. Here, ocean waves crash against rocks, tree shadows sway gently, and the views are idyllic. From a distance, the vast sea spreads out with scattered sails, while within the cape bays, the long, crescent-shaped sandy beaches resemble silver sashes tied between the lush green land and the blue sea, forming a magnificent seascape of southern coastal capes. In spring and summer, the Yunzhongju and Qiyun Palaces atop Guanyin Mountain Peak are often shrouded in mist, offering visitors an experience akin to wandering a celestial palace above the clouds. The area features gentle waves, a mild climate, and an average annual temperature of 21.8°C. From June to September, the seawater temperature averages 25°C. The water is clear with visibility ranging from 50 to 90 centimeters and is free from pollution by industrial waste, waste water, or solid waste. The tides follow a regular diurnal pattern, with wave heights under 0.4 meters for nine months of the year and an average of 0.7 meters from June to August—making it an ideal spot for swimming, windsurfing, diving, and other water sports. The beaches are 50 to 70 meters wide, with fine, shell-free, pebble-free sand that is soft yet firm underfoot. The subtidal zone consists of fine quartz sand with gentle slopes, where the 2-meter depth contour lies about 200 meters from the shore. Hence, it is hailed as the "Golden Coast of Tourism in Eastern Guangdong."

Aside from its soft sand and clear water, Jinxia Beach is also distinctive for the abundance of unique rocks along its shores—piled up and smooth like grinding stones, resembling birds and beasts, appearing white and brown, dynamic and still, in a thousand varied forms. Even the river and sea areas feature rugged clusters of rocks. This endows Jinxia Beach with naturally superior rocky shores and golden sands, giving it the “natural beauty” suitable for developing beach resorts and tourist destinations. Among the more famous formations are: Dragon Rock, Sea-Guarding Rock, Dragon Fang Rock, Double-Layered Rock, Monk Rock, Penguin Rock, White Reef, and Black Reef. Many ancient stone inscriptions left by predecessors remain well-preserved. Some of the giant rocks at Jinxia Beach bear the footprints of proletarian revolutionaries, while others are shrouded in mystery, adding splendor to the beach and delight to visitors.

In front of the majestic “Dragon Rock” on Jinxia Beach’s islet lies the former ferry crossing used for the daring escape to Hong Kong. After the Nanchang Uprising, under the protection of Ye Ting and Nie Rongzhen, [name redacted] was ferried out to sea here by underground worker Huang Shouwen disguised as a fisherman, then escorted to Hong Kong by Yang Shiwen, before later returning to Guangzhou to participate in the Guangzhou Uprising. Today, a five-character poem is engraved on the “Dragon Rock”: “Islets dark as a cauldron, a lone pillar in the distant sky, a bold dash across Jieshi Bay, fierce as a tiger down the mountain.” The bold and vigorous calligraphy is the work of renowned painter and calligrapher Lai Shaoqi. Meanwhile, Wang Shoudao, former member of the Central Advisory Commission, inscribed the gleaming golden characters “Premier [Name Redacted]’s Sea Crossing Site,” which are carved onto a memorial monument.

Not far from the “Dragon Rock” stands the proudly upright “Sea-Guarding Rock.” Legend has it that Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty, in recognition of Yang Wenguang’s heroic deed of slaying a demon with his sword to protect the Song army, specially dispatched Zheng Yue and Cheng Daru to carve the three characters “Sea-Guarding Rock” onto this stone. Later generations added the inscriptions “Exert might to calm the waters, forever guard peace.” Near the shore, there is a massive rock shaped like a monk chasing a nun—said to be the transformed forms of a monk from Lingyin Temple who secretly met a nun at Shuiyue Palace and was caught by Guanyin of the South Sea, leading to their punishment and eventual transformation into these shapes, lingering in resentment among the clouded mountains. Beside Jinxia Beach stands the majestic and beautiful Guanyin Ridge, like a screen or barrier, adding scenic charm to the beach.