Inner Lingding Island

Inner Lingding Island

Guangdong’s Inner Lingding Island – Futian National Nature Reserve consists of two areas: Inner Lingding Island and Futian Mangrove Forest. Located in the southern part of Guangdong Province, on the eastern side of the Pearl River Estuary, the reserve covers a total area of 921.64 hectares. Among them: Inner Lingding Island is situated on the eastern side of Lingdingyang in the Pearl River Estuary, lying in the middle of the four cities—Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong, and Macau. It is 9 km east of Hong Kong, 30 km west of Zhuhai, and 17 km north of Shekou in Shenzhen, with an area of 554 hectares (at high tide, 477.8 hectares). The Futian Mangrove area is located in the northeastern part of Shenzhen Bay, stretching from the mouth of the Xinzhou River in the east to the Seaside Ecological Park in the west, reaching the outer tidal flats and the mouth of the Shenzhen River in the south, and extending to the Guangzhou–Shenzhen Expressway in the north. The coastal line is about 9 km long with an average width of about 0.7 km, covering a total area of 367.64 hectares. It faces Hong Kong's Mai Po Nature Reserve across the water (the closest distance is about 300 meters) and is 2.2 km away from the new urban central area of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. It is situated in the Shangsha and Xiasha areas in the southern part of Futian, Shenzhen. The reserve is a rocky island with a hilly coastline. The terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west, featuring undulating hills and steep cliffs. The highest point, Jianfeng Mountain, has an elevation of 340.9 meters, while most hills are below 100 meters. The topography is rugged with slopes ranging from 20 to 50 degrees, and there are some exposed rocks and steep cliffs in certain areas.

The coastline of Inner Lingding Island is 11,000 meters long, winding with many sandy beaches. The average annual temperature is 22°C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,948 mm, reaching up to 2,662 mm. The rainy season lasts from May to September, with a relative humidity of 80%. The island is rich in water resources, with numerous mountain streams flowing year-round. The coastal zone and estuary of Shenzhen Bay feature flat terrain, consisting of river-formed silt and sand layers, typically more than 10 meters thick. The reserve is home to 443 species of vascular plants, including 20 species of plants in the Futian Mangrove area. The zonal vegetation is monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest. Currently, most of it is secondary forest that has regrown after damage, with main tree species including camphor, oak, and banyan. There are also forests of Masson pine, casuarina, and acacia, as well as fruit tree groves such as lychee, longan, persimmon, jackfruit, and mango. There is an abundance of wild fruits, such as false sterculia, small-leaved fig, Phyllanthus emblica, rhodomyrtus tomentosa, guava, and banana—all of which are favored by macaques. The reserve hosts 21 species of rare birds, including two under national first-class protection: the white stork and the white-shouldered ibis. The black-faced spoonbill, a second-class protected animal, has a global population of 288, 84 of which reside in the Shenzhen mangroves. They are not resident birds, arriving in November each year and departing in early April of the following year. The black-faced spoonbill has a flat beak shaped like a lute. The reserve also provides a habitat where 21 species of nationally protected animals—such as macaques, pangolins, pythons, and tiger frogs—live and breed. In particular, there are over 300 macaques in 10 groups. When visitors come to the island, they can not only enjoy the mountain and sea views but also swim and interact with the monkeys, making for a highly entertaining experience. The land vegetation, aquatic animals, and birds in the air form a cohesive ecosystem, making the bay an area of significant scientific research value. The reserve’s unique natural resources provide excellent conditions for eco-tourism development. While prioritizing conservation, the reserve seeks its own sustainable development, highlighting the characteristics of the special economic zone, and preserving this irreplaceable treasure for the nation.