Longjiao Ancient Volcano

　　Longjiao Ancient Volcano is situated at the mouth of the river near the foot of Niutou Mountain in Baitang Village, Longjiao She Ethnic Township, Longhai City. It is a well-preserved ancient volcano formed from Cenozoic basalt. The volcano has erupted 15 times, with a total thickness of 178.5 meters. What can be seen today are only the deposits from the last three eruptions in the middle to upper part of the Late Pliocene, dating back 24.6 million years. The first eruption produced grayish-black basalt containing olivine xenoliths, which spread out in a semi-circular pattern to the northeast and originated from mantle material ejected with the magma. The second eruption formed columnar-jointed dark gray coarse basalt. The third eruption produced grayish-black coarse basalt containing breccia, distributed in the central part of the volcanic crater.

　　The ancient volcanic crater is shaped like an upward-facing oval trumpet, with the top opening measuring 50 meters in diameter and the bottom about 3 meters deep. It gets submerged during high tide and is exposed during low tide. Within a 0.7 square kilometer area around the ancient volcano, the traces of volcanic activity are remarkably intact and clear. The surface features gray, dark purple, and purplish-gray basalt formations created by magma, exhibiting diverse and strikingly rugged shapes. Particularly noteworthy are the large areas of hexagonal columnar-jointed basalt, as well as watermelon-like, flow-banded, and pillow-jointed basalt formations, all creating a spectacular and magnificent landscape. Geologists have praised it as a “rare ancient volcano museum seldom seen in China or abroad” and “a vividly lifelike maritime Terracotta Army.” It is one of the world’s rarest and best-preserved ancient submarine volcanoes, possessing significant scientific research, sightseeing, and physicochemical magnetic therapy value. Experts describe it as “a tourism resource of unique monopolistic character.” Standing on this naturally crafted ancient volcanic crater, gazing at the surging sea and the waves crashing against the shore, one cannot help but be deeply moved.

　　Longhai Ancient Volcano enjoys a highly favorable geographical location. To its north, it faces Xiamen Special Economic Zone across a narrow stretch of water; to its south lies Shantou Port in Guangdong Province; to its east is the Taiwan Strait; and to its west it connects with the Zhangzhou Economic Development Zone and Zhangzhou Power Plant of China Merchants Group (Hong Kong) and Bank of China. It has a vast hinterland. The surrounding area boasts numerous attractions, including the ancient Chenghai Wei Fortress built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty to defend against Japanese pirates, the 24 Scenic Spots of Mount Nantaiwu — known as the highest peak in southern Fujian — the largest foghorn lighthouse in East China, well-equipped coastal golf courses, and the 12-kilometer-long natural beach at Longjiao Bay, making it exceptionally suitable for the development of tourism.