Zhangzhou Dongshan Wind-Rocking Stone

　　The Wind-Rocking Stone of Dongshan, situated on the rocky cliff by the seaside at the east gate of the ancient Dongshan town, has always been one of the most cherished natural wonders of the island and a favorite scenic attraction for visitors. Among over 60 wind-rocking stones across China, Dongshan’s stands out as the most peculiar, perilous, and precariously balanced, earning praise from ancient scholars as the “No. 1 Marvelous Stone under Heaven.” It is now an iconic landmark of Dongshan Island. As the saying goes, visiting southern Fujian without seeing Dongshan is a regret, but going to Dongshan without seeing the Wind-Rocking Stone is an even greater one. And indeed, it is. This massive wind-rocking stone towers atop a steep cliff, standing 4.37 meters high, 4.46 meters long, and 4.47 meters wide, weighing approximately 200 tons. With a pointed top and a round base, it resembles a fairy peach, seemingly “resting” atop a large, slightly raised rock that tilts seaward. The contact surface between the two rocks is just over ten square centimeters. When strong winds blow, the immense stone sways slightly. If one lies on the base rock and pushes with their feet, the stone also rocks, yet never topples. Standing beneath the Wind-Rocking Stone fills observers with a thrilling sense of awe, marveling at this wonder of nature—hence its name, and the poetic line: “When the wind blows, the stone moves with a force of ten thousand pounds.” On the Wind-Rocking Stone are inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty’s Yongli reign (1648), autumn, left by Governor Lu Zhenfei, commemorating the “Three Loyal Ministers of Tongshan: Huang Daozhou, Chen ??, and Chen Shiqi.” On the right side of the base rock is the bold calligraphy “Dongbi Starlight” by the Ming Dynasty hermit Xieshan Jushi, while on the left stands a stone stele inscribed with a poem by Ming Dynasty naval commander Cheng Chaojing. The Wind-Rocking Stone also has a beautiful legend. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates invaded Dongshan Island, attempting to steal this peculiar stone. They employed several warships, tied ropes around the stone, and pulled with all their might. But after exhausting themselves and hearing only a few snapping sounds, the ropes broke, sending the pirates tumbling into the sea in disarray, while the Wind-Rocking Stone remained firmly in place. Over the centuries, many renowned figures have composed poems about the Wind-Rocking Stone. For instance, the Ming Dynasty poet Sanjun wrote: “This stone, like a star, graces the heavens; not the wind that rocks the stone, but the stone that rocks the wind. Its roots reach deep into the clouds above, its peak a ladder to the moon’s far-flung abode.”