Linjin Islet and Nanding Islet

　　Linjin Islet and Nanding Islet are among the first batch of eleven national-level geological and geomorphological parks in China, situated within the Zhangzhou Coastal Volcanic National Geological Park. They have been selected by "China National Geography" as one of the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Islands in China."

　　The volcanic landforms of Linjin Islet were formed by multiple intermittent eruptions during the Cenozoic era. The island features columnar basalt formations, various ancient volcanic crater clusters with rootless volcanic vents, as well as sea-eroded lava lakes and lava cave landscapes. Linjin Islet is oval-shaped, covering an area of 0.16 square kilometers with an elevation of 72.7 meters. The island is primarily composed of basalt, and its northeastern side is home to a cluster of 16 volcanic fumaroles.

　　Nanding Islet is located about 6.5 kilometers from the coast. It has an ellipsoidal shape, covers an area of 0.07 square kilometers, and has an elevation of 51.5 meters. The entire island consists of 1.4 million densely packed, uniquely developed dark green basalt columns, forming the world’s largest and most densely concentrated basalt columnar formation known to date. From a distance, the island looks like a piece of dark jade inlaid in the blue sky and sea.

　　The island features vast cliffs entirely made up of towering basalt columns, with densely arranged stone pillars resembling frozen waterfalls. Geologists believe that most of the volcanic landforms in Zhangzhou resulted from multiple eruptions, and Nanding Islet, being the farthest from the shore, was likely formed during the most powerful of these eruptions. As the magma cooled, it formed neatly aligned stone pillars, known geologically as basalt columnar jointing. The volcanic wonders of Nanding Islet are unique within China.