Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area

Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area

Located at the estuary of the Jiaomen and Humen waterways in the Pearl River Estuary, Dragon Cave Island lies about 10 kilometers north of Xiaonansha and 86 kilometers from Guangzhou, approximately 6 kilometers southwest of Xinken Town. The island comprises the Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area, Chicken Hugging Sand, and Ma Sha. Covering a total area of 65 square kilometers, it is the largest island in Nansha.

I. Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area

Formerly known as Dragon Cave Islet, the Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area consists of Dragon Cave, Tonggu, and Yaobei, covering an area of approximately 2.8 square kilometers, and is situated on the eastern part of Dragon Cave Island. It lies about 10.2 kilometers northwest of Wanqingsha Town. The northwest portion of the scenic area is a river-marine alluvial plain, which has been reclaimed since the 1950s, covering around 0.5 square kilometers.

Originally a deserted island, Dragon Cave Island features the 60-meter-high Dragon Cave Mountain, surrounded by green hills and shaded by lush trees. The vast river and sea, along with spectacular sunrises and sunsets, create a marvelous view. The island’s beaches offer natural swimming areas, scattered with pebbles and seashells to collect. There are eight ancient wells on the island, yielding clear, sweet, and green-tinted water that remains unfrozen during droughts and unsalted even during high tides. The shoreline, eroded by sea waves, forms numerous sea caves, known as Carp Palace, Shrimp Palace, Crab Palace, Dragon Palace, and Treasure Cave. Ancient banyan trees grow in the crevices along the shore, standing firmly even against typhoons. About 200 meters off the island, a massive reef holds a lighthouse built by the British during the Daoguang era, accessible by wading during low tide.

Legend has it that several deep and spacious caves lie due south of Dragon Cave Island, inhabited by the Dragon King of the South Sea. Another tale says dragons were often seen emerging from the sea, using these caves as their dwellings—hence the name Dragon Cave Island or Dragon Cave Islet. There is also a legend that these caves were the treasure troves of the infamous late Ming and early Qing pirate Zhang Baozai.

In ancient times, the inland sea of the Pearl River Estuary was much larger than it is today. Many areas of present-day Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, and Panyu were then vast marshlands. It wasn’t until 1928 that a few impoverished families from Dongguan settled here. By the 1980s, the population had grown to over 600 residents. At that time, the island had amenities such as a power station, agricultural machinery repair shop, travel agency, supply and marketing cooperative, aquatic product purchasing station, and grocery stores. The fertile soil covered 0.5 square kilometers of arable land, producing bananas, plantains, and lotus roots.

The Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area was jointly established by the state-owned Zhujiang Overseas Chinese Farm and Hong Kong’s Guangqiao Tourism and Trade Company, and was named after the island. It developed its tourism offerings based on the island’s seawater, beaches, mythically inspired modern marine erosion caves and islets, structures, seafood delicacies, fragrant plantains, and other attractions.

Construction began in November 1980, and facilities such as a sandy beach swimming area, Dragon Palace Gate Tower, holiday villas, electronic amusement park, seafood restaurant, iron-chain bridge, Sunrise Pavilion, Mountain-Piercing Cave, and Flower Cave have been completed. The Guangzhou Shipping Company built a steel-pile berthing dock to ensure safe anchorage even under level-four winds and waves. Ships and motorboats connect the island to Guangzhou and Wanqingsha. The Dragon Cave Island Scenic Area boasts picturesque scenery and abundant tourist resources, attracting many visitors.

II. Ma Sha

In the 1980s, two connected sandbars emerged southwest of the island, collectively called Ma Sha, named after the two sand formations that formed a settlement. The entire sandbar consists of two small sandy beaches made of mixed river sand and silt, elevated 0.1 to 1 meter above low tide level. Stretching about 10 kilometers in a northwest-southeast direction, it covers a total area of approximately 20 square kilometers.

III. Chicken Hugging Sand

The Chicken Hugging Sand tidal flat is located at the confluence of the Jiaomen and Humen waterways, about 1 kilometer north of Nansha Town. Its shape resembles a chicken hugging a fish (river fish), hence its name. Formed by the accumulation of river sand and silt, the terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The central area stretches approximately 9 kilometers in length, with an average water depth of about -0.3 meters and a maximum depth of about 1.1 meters. Covering an area of about 26 square kilometers, the tidal flat features fertile soil, yielding high production of sugarcane, lotus roots, bananas, and plantains. The lower, deeper areas are also suitable for aquaculture of fish and shrimp.

IV. Four Wonders of Dragon Cave Island

1. Mirage

During the Ming Dynasty, Dragon Cave Island belonged to Dongguan County. The nearby sea area was often shrouded in mist and fog, where mirages frequently appeared. From the third to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, people from Dongguan would gather at Jingkang Salt Field in Humen to watch the mirages over the island. In the misty spring rain and veil-like moisture, scenes of pavilions and towers, bustling streets, and crowds of people would suddenly emerge on the sea. Chronicles of Dongguan and Bao’an counties frequently recorded this marvel: “Mirages are often seen at Jingkang Field. On dark nights, sea light suddenly arises, turning the water surface entirely red. Countless lights move to and fro, with sounds of laughter from mermaids and pearl and silk vendors, continuing until dawn.” A poem by the Dongguan poet Chen Jingji titled “Jingkang Sea Market” reads: “The sea and sky churn with mountainous waves, barbaric mist and fog cannot be dispersed; the river god cannot command the wind, causing mirage vapor to form towers. Towers, long bridges, and myriad paths stretch on, with carriages, parasols, people, and horses coming and going. In moments, water and sky merge into one hue, sunset paints the fishing boat sails, and fishermen sing.”

As a result, it was listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Dongguan County during the Ming Dynasty. From the above, we know that the Jingkang Sea Market was a common spectacle at the time.

In the Qing Dynasty, when Dragon Cave Island belonged to Xin’an County (later renamed Bao’an County), the mirage was still listed among the Eight Scenic Spots of Xin’an. In the ninth year of the Kangxi reign (1670), the magistrate of Xin’an, Li Kecheng, wrote a poem titled “Dragon Cave Towers”: “For thirty years the sea has been calm, the dragon’s breath conjures clouds and mist. The tower’s scenery shifts in a thousand forms, the market’s clamor belongs to another world. The dragon’s den has long brought auspicious signs, but the fairyland cannot retain its immortals. Another time, let us explore Dragon Cave, and learn to ride the celestial raft like the Han envoy.”

The “Xin’an County Annals” record: “On the fifth day of the seventh month in the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign (1652), nine dragons soared from Dragon Cave, passing through Chen Village above and Chen Village below, and flew away over several miles.” The “Dongguan County Annals” state: “Dragons were often seen emerging here.” Folklore claims: “Dragon Cave Island is where dragons come to drink. The island has a freshwater spring, and whenever —, countless dragons thrash about, competing to drink the sweet water. Dragon Cave Island also appears and disappears intermittently, seemingly there and yet not.”

Thus, Dragon Cave Island has witnessed multiple mirages. Its fleeting appearances and disappearances are nothing more than interactions with the waves crashing against the rainy sea. As for the nine dragons soaring, it was likely a natural phenomenon where a massive waterspout lifted nine columns of water. It provides a recorded instance for meteorologists. In modern times, the natural environment of Dragon Cave Island has undergone tremendous changes. Due to excessive land reclamation and natural sedimentation of river water, the inland sea of the Pearl River Estuary has become increasingly narrow, with rapid silt buildup in the riverbed, and the Jingkang Sea Market has long vanished without a trace. Yet, the scenic Dragon Cave Island remains highly popular with tourists.

2. Mysterious Wells

Dragon Cave Island has eight ancient wells, each yielding sweet water that never dries up. According to old records from Dongguan County, Dragon Cave Island played an important role in the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Foreign ships returning from voyages would draw mountain spring water from the island as backup fresh water.

3. Remarkable Banyans

The ancient banyan tree growing beneath White Step Ladder has roots anchored in rock crevices and sandy soil, providing shade over nearly an acre. Despite battering by wind and waves, it stands firmly.

4. Magical Caves

The Drum Cave Mountain on Dragon Cave Island features Carp Cave, as well as Shrimp Cave, Crab Cave, and even Dragon Palace and Treasure Cave. These caves are not only winding and fascinating but also remain warm in winter and cool in summer.

Scenic Spot Location

Southern end of Nansha District, Guangzhou City (at the estuary of the Jiaomen and Humen waterways in the Pearl River Estuary)