Jinxia Beach

Jinxia Beach

Administered by Jinxia Town in Lufeng County, Guangdong Province, it is located seven li south of the city proper and is part of the Jieshi Bay beach area. Known as the “Golden Coast of Eastern Guangdong,” Jieshi Bay is famed for its combination of “divinity, sea, sand, and stone.” At dawn, when the sun rises slowly in the east, the waters of Jinxia transform into a magnificent golden expanse—rippling layers of golden waves, scattered fishing boats, flocks of seagulls, and endless stretches of soft sand blend harmoniously into this poetic and picturesque scene. The naming of Jinxia Beach may well originate from this scene. Along its 18-kilometer-long “S”-shaped coastline, capes and bays are interspersed, creating delightful scenery. The largest capes include Jinxia Cape and Guanyin Ridge. Here, ocean waves crash against rugged reefs, while shadows of swaying trees create a scenic and tranquil landscape. From a distance, you can gaze upon the vast sea, dotted with sails, while the long, narrow crescent-shaped beach nestled within the cape bays resembles a silvery sash tied between the lush green land and the blue ocean—composing a spectacular view of the southern cape and shoreline. In spring and summer, the Yunzhongju and Qiyun Palace at the summit of Guanyin Mountain are often enveloped in clouds and mist, offering visitors an experience akin to wandering through a celestial realm. The gentle waves and mild climate here—with an average annual temperature of 21.8°C and sea water temperatures of around 25°C from June to September—combined with crystal-clear waters boasting visibility of 50–90 cm and no pollution from industrial waste, sewage, or exhaust, make this an ideal destination. The tides follow a regular diurnal pattern, with wave heights below 0.4 meters for nine months of the year and averaging 0.7 meters from June to August. The beach is perfect for swimming, windsurfing, diving, and other water sports. The sandy shore extends 50–70 meters wide, with fine, shell-free, and pebble-free sand that is soft yet firm underfoot. Below the tideline lies smooth quartz fine sand, and the 2-meter depth contour is approximately 200 meters from the shore. Hence, it has earned the title “The Golden Coast of Tourism in Eastern Guangdong.”

On Guanyin Ridge stands the renowned Shuiyue Palace. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty under the name “Guanyin Temple Hermitage,” it was reconstructed in the 21st year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. The architectural complex includes a mountain gate, worship pavilion, main hall, and meditation rooms, laid out in a traditional two-courtyard quadrangle design. The entire structure is graceful and elegant, blending seamlessly with the mountain and sea scenery. When the sun sets and the moon shines bright, listening to the waves by the railing in front of Shuiyue Palace feels like stepping into a fairyland like Penglai. Aside from its soft sand and clear waters, Jinxia Beach is also distinctive for its abundance of peculiar rocks along the shore—layered and flat like grinding stones, shaped like birds and beasts, appearing in white and brown hues, some dynamic and others serene, showcasing a thousand different forms. Even the nearby waters are scattered with jagged rock clusters. This endows Jinxia Beach with naturally superior rocky shores and golden sands, providing the “innate beauty” ideal for developing beach resorts and tourist destinations. Among the more famous rocks are: Dragon Stone, Sea-Calming Stone, Dragon Fang Stone, Double-Layered Stone, Monk Stone, Penguin Stone, White Reef, and Black Reef, many of which still preserve well-preserved stone inscriptions left by ancestors. Some of the massive rocks on Jinxia Beach bear the footprints of proletarian revolutionaries, while others are shrouded in mystery, adding splendor and delight to the beach experience for visitors. In front of the majestic “Dragon Stone” on Jinxia Beach’s islet lies the former crossing point where [figure] once daringly journeyed to Hong Kong. After the Nanchang Uprising, [figure], under the protection of Ye Ting and Nie Rongzhen, crossed the sea from this spot with underground worker Huang Shouwen disguised as a fisherman. He was then escorted to Hong Kong by Yang Shiwen before returning to Guangzhou to participate in the Guangzhou Uprising. Today, the “Dragon Stone” features an inscription of a five-character poem: “The islet night is like a cauldron, a distant pillar in the sky, daring to cross Jieshi Bay, fierce as a tiger descending the mountain.” The bold and powerful calligraphy was inscribed by famed artist Lai Shaoqi. Former member of the Central Advisory Commission Wang Shoudao also penned the gleaming golden characters “Premier [figure]’s Sea Crossing Spot,” engraved on a memorial monument. Not far from the “Dragon Stone” stands the proudly upright “Sea-Calming Stone.” Legend says Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty, in recognition of Yang Wenguang’s feat of slaying a demon with his sword to protect Song troops, dispatched Zheng Yue and Cheng Daru to personally carve the three characters “Sea-Calming Stone” onto this rock, later followed by additional carvings such as “Display Might to Calm Waters, Forever Pacify the Tides.” Near the shore lies a huge rock resembling a monk chasing a nun—said to be the metamorphosis of a monk from Lingyin Temple who, while visiting Shuiyue Palace to rendezvous with a nun, was caught by Guanyin of the South Sea and punished, after which the two transformed into stone out of resentment, lingering between the clouded mountains. Beside Jinxia Beach rises the majestic and beautiful Guanyin Ridge, like a screen or barrier, adding scenic charm to the beach.

Scenic Location

Shanwei City, Lufeng, Guangdong Province

Jinxia Town: Located in the southeastern part of Lufeng City, by the shores of Jieshi Bay, Jinxia Town borders Jieshi Town to the southeast and neighbors Qiaochong Town and Chengdong Town to the northeast and northwest respectively. Backed by mountains and facing the sea, the town has a coastline stretching 18.7 km. It covers a land area of 48 square kilometers with a total population of 47,000. The town administers 13 village (residential) committees and is a coastal town thriving in fishing, farming, salt production, commerce, and trade. In 2000, the town achieved a combined industrial and agricultural output value of 56.209 million yuan. Jinxia Town enjoys convenient transportation both by land and sea, with the Lujinjie Highway passing through its territory. By land, it is 14 km from downtown Lufeng and 15 km from the key southern town of Jieshi... More details about Jinxia Town++