Source: China Geography and Islands Search Catalogue - 360 Personal Library, compiled from 11 related articles.
Original: Wang Yuelei
Finishing: 360 Earth Detective
Xi Sha Qun Dao, known in English as Paracel Islands. Located in the South China Sea, 330 kilometers (220 miles) southeast of Yulin Port, Sanya City, Hainan Island, 15°40'-17°10'N, 111°-113°E, with Woody Island as the center, about 330 kilometers away from Yulin Port in Sanya City, more than 330 kilometers away from Qinglan Port in Wenchang County, and about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of central Vietnam. The Paracel Islands are spread over 31,700 square kilometers of sea, with about 130 coral islands or reefs. There are more than 40 islands and reefs, divided into Xuande and Yongle Islands. The islands are barren and near-sea level, none of which are larger than 2.5 square kilometres (1 square mile) in size and have no fresh water. There are turtles, where seabirds nest and leave their droppings.
The seabed topography of the Paracel Islands is the Xisha Steps on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea, which is an undersea plateau with a water depth of 1500-2000m above the central abyssal plain of the South China Sea. The Paracel Islands are lined with coral reefs, with 8 atolls, 1 platform reef and 1 reef beach, with a total area of 1836.4 square kilometers, of which the reef area is 221.6 square kilometers and the lagoon area is 1614.8 square kilometers. There are a total of 28 gray sand islands that develop on the atoll and Taiwan reef, and there is also one early Pleistocene volcanic breccia island called High Spike in the East Island Atoll.
The Xisha Islands are divided into two groups, the western group is the Yongle Islands, and the eastern group is the Xuande Islands. The Yongle Archipelago in the Western Group includes 5 atolls, including North Reef, Yongle Atoll, Yuzhuo Reef, Huaguang Reef and Panshi Yu, and Zhongjian Island and Taiwan Reef, of which 13 small islands have developed on Yongle Atoll, including Treasure Island, Basket Sandbank, Ganquan Island, Coral Island, Quanfu Island, Ap Kong Island, Yinyu, Yinyuzai, Hamshe Island, Shiyu, Jinqing Island, Chenhang Island and Guangjin Island, and 1 small island on the reef of Panshi Island Atoll and Zhongjian Island Tai Reef. The Xuande Archipelago in the East Group includes 3 atolls and 1 reef (Penny Beach) including Xuande Atoll, East Island Atoll and Langhua Reef, of which Xuande Atoll has 12 small islands including West Sandbank, Zhao Shu Island, North Island, Middle Island, South Island, North Sandbank, Middle Sandbank, South Sandbank, Dongxin Sandbar, West New Sandbank, Woody Island and Stone Island, and East Island Atoll has East Island and 2 small islands of Gaojianshi.
Located in the middle of the tropics, the Paracel Islands have a tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid heat. Taking Woody Island as an example, the extreme high temperature is 34.9 °C, the extreme low temperature is 15.3 °C, and the annual average temperature is 26.5 °C. Annual rainfall is 1505 mm. The Paracel Islands are the most typhoon-prone area. The Paracel Islands are one of the famous fishing grounds on the mainland. The sea area is wide, dotted with islands and reefs, rich in seafood, and many precious species, attracting a large number of fishermen from all over the world to fish on the island every year.
Xisha has been China's territory since ancient times. The Old Book of Tang records that from the Tang Dynasty onwards, the Chinese government began to formally administer the waters south of Hainan Island. In ancient times, this place was called "Thousand Miles of Changsha" and was the only way to pass through the South China Sea Route. As early as the Sui Dynasty, China had sent envoys through the South China Sea to present-day Malaysia, and the Tang Dynasty monk Yijing also arrived in India. In ancient times, merchant ships laden with ceramics, silk and spices sailed here, which is also known as the "Maritime Silk Road".
Among the four major archipelagos in the South China Sea, the Paracel Islands have the most land exposed to the sea, with 34 islands and 7 sandbars, and the small islands are full of greenery, coconut trees, golden plums, cannabis, croissants, etc. There are more than 60,000 birds of more than 40 species and 10,000 species living in Xisha Islands. The total land area is about 10 square kilometers. Population 600 (2010). There are 5 village committees. The Paracel Islands have been part of China's territory since the Song Dynasty. In the second year of Jingduan of Song, the Yuan general Liu Shen attacked Emperor Duanzong of Song at Qianwan, the Song emperor's defender Zhang Shijie lost the battle and retreated to Jingao, Liu Shen attacked Jingao, and the emperor retreated to defend the seven continents in the sea. In 1292, the Yuan general Shi Bi led an army across the seven continents and attacked Java.
There is one Tang and Song period site on the Xisha Islands, many Ming and Qing dynasty sites, fourteen ancient temples of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and a large number of stone tablets from the Qing Republic of China, indicating that Chinese has been living in the Paracel Islands since the Tang Dynasty and was the master of the Southwest Zhongsha Islands at that time. Fei Xin, who accompanied Zheng He to the West during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, wrote in the Atlantic Record: "The common clouds are afraid of the seven continents, the lower is afraid of Kunlun, the needle is lost, and the people and ships are lost", and it is recorded in the "Zheng He's navigation chart" called Shixing Shitang "sent by the wind": "The boat crossing this [Qizhou Ocean] is extremely dangerous, and a little greedy east is a stone pond of thousands of miles." In 1932, the Paracel Islands were occupied by France and taken over by the Chinese government after World War II. In 1946, the Chinese Navy was stationed on Woody Island. In April and May 1950, when the Chinese People's Liberation Army captured Hainan Island, the garrison on Woody Island revolted. Since then, Woody Island has been garrisoned by the People's Republic of China Navy.
Statistical table on the size of the main islands in the Paracel Islands (1983)
Panorama of the Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
Spectacular dragon clouds in the Paracel Islands
Satellite image of the Paracel Islands
The sea water of the Xisha Islands
Corals of the Paracels
YON Le, located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, within the range of 15 degrees 46 minutes - 17 degrees 07 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 11 minutes - 112 degrees 06 minutes east longitude, is composed of Yongle Atoll, North Reef, Yuzhuo Reef, Huaguang Reef, Panshi Island and Zhongjian Island. Among them, Yongle Atoll includes Guangjin Island, Chenhang Island, Jinqing Island, Quanfu Island, Ap Kung Island, Yinyu Island, Yinyu Tsai, Shek Yu, Ham Shek Yu, Coral Island, Ganquan Island, Treasure Island and Basket Sandbank. The Wing Lok Islands include fourteen islands, four reefs and one sandbar, such as several sandbars south of Treasure Island and Yinzhizai on Senping Beach. It is called Crescent Group in English. The native name of Yongle Atoll is "Shitang". The water depth of this "pond" is not large, within 40 meters. However, outside the atoll, the water depth increases suddenly, the slope of the reef reaches 21°, and there are underwater platforms at 15-25 meters and 45-65 meters underwater. Its base is a submerged sea platform (that is, an underwater platform), which is on the same sea platform as Xuande Atoll, which is also the common foundation of the Xisha Islands. Each island is surrounded by sand banks, low and flat in the middle, with freshwater wells, some sweet and drinkable, some undrinkable. There are jatropha, horn trees, coconut trees, etc. Among them, Coral Island, Chenhang Island, and Treasure Island have garrisons. Ap Kong Island, Silver Island, and Antelope Reef are permanently inhabited by fishermen. The nearby seafood is abundant, and it is located at the forefront of navigation. In 1935, it was named the Koulesant Islands, but the scope was small, including only the part of Yongle Atoll. In 1947, it was proclaimed as the Yongle Islands. Mainland fishermen refer to Xihajima, Xihachijima or Xiazhi. The name Yongle Islands is to commemorate Zheng He's seven voyages to the West during the Yongle to Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. The Crescent Group referred to in some foreign language books refers to the Koulesant Islands, the part of Yongle Atoll, which was announced in 1935.
Most of the reefs of Yongle Atoll have grown to the surface of the sea, so there are many small islands forming sandbars on the reefs. This makes the Yongle Islands worthy of its name. Unlike the Dongsha Islands, there is only one Dongsha Island. Yongle Atoll is located in the center of the South China Sea, far from the mainland, and rivers and coastal sediment cannot affect here, so the water is highly transparent, averaging 29 meters. Sunlight can penetrate deep water, where the water temperature is around 24°C all year round, and there is little change, and the salt content is around 34‰, which is conducive to the formation of coral reefs.
Yongle Atoll has been growing continuously since the middle of the Tertiary period, and the reef body has grown at a large rate of sinking of the dry crust, so it can maintain the atoll shape during the sinking process. Yongle Atoll has two levels of underwater mesas, which are wave erosion platforms formed by waves hitting and eroding coral reef pieces. This reflects that Yongle Atoll was near the sea surface for a period of time in geological history, and the speed of sinking was fast and slow.
Yongle Atoll is made up of eight reefs, each of which has developed a large reef and has sandbars or small islands established on the reef. There are a total of 13 shaped sandbars and islets, listed below:
List of shaped sandbars and islets in Vinh Lok Atoll
Map of Vinh Lok Atoll
Yongle Atoll
Yongle Islands
Eastern part of Yongle Atoll in the Paracels
Beijiao, commonly known as "dry beans", is located in the South China Sea, northwest of the Paracel Islands, an oval-shaped atoll at the northern end of the Yongle Islands, 41 nautical miles northwest of Zhao Shu Island, 30 nautical miles southeast of Quanfu Island, the reef circle of the coral atoll is about 6.5 nautical miles long and 2.6 nautical miles wide, partially exposed at low tide, and some point reefs are exposed at high tide. Located at 17°05′N, 111°30′E.
The North Reef is oblong in shape, about 4 km long from east to west and 1.5-3.0 km wide from north to south. Surrounded by lagoon slopes, the reef is interspersed with shoals and point reefs, and the top of the point reef grows a variety of staghorn corals. At low tide, the atoll, part of the reef and point reef are exposed, and at high tide, the waves hit the reef edge to form a white wreath above the blue sea. The edge of the reef is steep, and there are large coral stones around the reef, which are exposed at low tide and partially exposed at high tide, and the waves are sometimes heard for miles.
The reef circle is like a basin, deep inside and shallow outside, whenever the tide of the sea falls, the four shoals outside the circle emerge, the coral is exposed to the sun, the reef is barrierized, forming thousands of solid dikes, it strongly blocks the rush of the waves rolling in from the open sea, making a deafening sea sound. In the center of the circle, the water is thousands of feet deep, the green water is vast, the current is hidden, the water is as clear as a mirror, and the water is exposed at low tide, during which the Yong Road winds, if the boat is here, one person must stand on the bow of the boat, such as the traffic police standing guard, raise their hands to show the situation, direct the navigation, and avoid the reef obstacles from the opposite side. Fish, shrimp, ginseng and shellfish are ecologically considerable, coral piles are scattered like mountain peaks, growing on all sides of the circle, and cleverly carving out a vast snow-white sea sand.
In the southwest of the reef circle, the reef cracks a fire gap, about 100 meters wide, more than 10 meters deep, at the high tide can enter ten-ton boats, is the gateway for fishing boats to shuttle, the shoals on both sides of the door, mostly made of cow milk stones, straight up from the bottom of the water, out of the water into the clouds, is spectacular.
The western side of the shoal is close to the green water, and from the beach, you can see the underwater like the Adachi cliff, facing the abyss, and it is daunting. There are many sharp reefs here, and many ships have been shipwrecked here in ancient and modern times, which is a famous dangerous area in the northern part of the Paracel Islands. In 1980, the mainland erected a 9-meter-high single-flash white lamp pile here, which can illuminate ten nautical miles away to indicate navigation. There is an international shipping route near North Ledge.
In recent years, a large number of cultural relics such as copper coins, copper ingots, copper mirrors and copper sword scabbards have been salvaged from here, indicating that mainland government and civilian ships have been returning here frequently for a long time. Mainland fishermen call dried beans, according to research, foreigners transliterated Canto, Cantao. The names were published in 1935, 1947 and 1983 as North Reef, named after the northern tip of the Wing Lok Islands. A number of shipwrecks in the Ming Dynasty and Wanli period have been found near North Reef, and a large number of ancient Chinese cultural relics have been unearthed, and a large number of copper coins, copper ingots, copper mirrors, copper sword scabbards and ceramics have been salvaged from the 5th century (Southern Dynasty) to modern times. Hainan fishermen used to find a lot of broad beans left over from shipwrecks here, so they also called North Reef "dry beans". It is called North Reef in English.
North reef of the Paracel Islands
Stone monument at the base point of the continental territorial sea on the North Reef
Satellite image of North Cay
North Reef Lighthouse
North reef of the Paracel Islands
Jin Yin Dao, located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, 7 nautical miles southwest of Ganquan Island, at the western end of Yongle Atoll, Jinyintai Reef is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Yongle Atoll, and was mostly regarded as part of Yongle Atoll. In fact, it and Yongle Atoll were once a reef before the Middle Pleistocene, and then gradually separated, and now the water depth between the two is 20 meters, which is a small platform reef that exists independently. It extends east-west, narrow in the west and wide in the east, about 3 km long, 4 km wide from north to south, and about 2.5 km wide on average. Treasure Island is located at the southwestern tip, and two small gravel islands form on the southern side of the eastern part of the reef. Located at 16°28′N, 111°31′E. Hainan Island fishermen call it "Tail Island" because it is not within Yongle Atoll, but beyond the atoll, like the tail of Yongle Atoll. It is about 1275 meters long from east to west, 560 meters wide from north to south, with an area of 0.36 square kilometers and the highest point reaching 8 meters. Treasure Island is a sandy island on the western reef of a small atoll, with two small sandbars in the southeast and three small sandbars in the southwest, visible at low tide. This small atoll has a shallow lake in the middle, separated by a shallow lake, and four sandbars on the reef to the northeast. The shallow lake is not closed like Antelope Reef, but is lacking in the southwest, and the gap can be used for boats and sailboats. At low tide, the reef is shallow and people can walk in it. There are docks in the southwest. The sand embankment around the island is 1-2 meters higher than the middle part, and in the middle is a dry lagoon with several wells and drinkable water. The sand berm is vast at the eastern end and extends eastward in a pointed shape. At low tide, the reef is shallow and people can walk in it. At high tide, the sandbar is flooded. The island is luxuriantly wooded, with white shelter flowers and grass and sea tongs, intermittent maple trees, coastal forests growing on hard disk phosphorus lime soil, and water coriander rock vegetation on the north shore. There are many birds and guano resources are abundant. In the west, there are wells dug by Hainan fishermen and planted red thick shell trees (begonia trees). There is a temple. There are stone tablets on the east and west. There is a coral stone temple. The island's artificially planted begonia trees are tall and have wells under the trees with drinking water. But unwillingly. The island has a very early development history. On the island, there are Yuan Dynasty blue-glazed Longquan kiln porcelain plates, Ming Dynasty blue-and-white plates, blue-and-white glazed pots, blue-and-white wind pattern plates, etc., Qing Dynasty flower bowls, blue-and-white dragon pattern jars and other cultural relics, and there are small temples built by fishermen on the island. Treasure Island has many reefs on the vast reef, which is inconvenient for transportation, but rich in aquatic products. Abalone is produced on the reef of the island, turtles. Plum ginseng, clams and other products are abundant. In 1935, the name was announced as Money Island. The name was Treasure Island in 1947 and 1983. Mainland fishermen call Tail Island and Tail Island. Treasure Island gets its name from two reasons, one is that many coins were dug up on the island. Another theory is that the area is rich in fishing because of the production of abalone and other valuable seafood. Hence the name, called Money Island in English.
Map of Treasure Island
Treasure Island topographic sketch
Treasure island
Treasure island
Treasure island
Gold and silver platform reef (left in the picture)
List of Treasure Island, Antelope Reef, and Ganquan Island
Treasure Island Sovereignty Monument
Overlooking Treasure Island
See Treasure Island from a boat
A view of Treasure Island
Treasure Island postage
Gan Quan Dao, commonly known as "Yuanzhi", is located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, on Yongle Atoll, west of Yongle Islands, 2 nautical miles southwest of Coral Island, 0.5 nautical miles north of Antelope Reef, located at 16°30′ north latitude and 111°35′ east longitude. The island is oval in shape, about 800 meters long from north to south, 500 meters wide from east to west, and an area of about 0.3 square kilometers. Surrounded by coral reefs, there is a shallow pier on the southeast side for sampans. Mainland fishermen called "Yuanzhi", "Round Island", surrounded by sand banks in the middle of low flat, the island around the island has a reef, the reef is about 200 meters wide, there is a small pier on the south side of the island, you can moor small boats, the beach is about 30 meters wide, after the shipwreck is a sand berm, the width is about 60-70 meters, there is also beach rock development, and the degree of development is not as good as coral island beach rock, the east coast and west coast can land. The soil of the island is mainly hard disk phosphorus limestone, with stony coarse bone phosphorus limestone in the middle. There are not many white frost flowers (maple trees), grass sea trees (sheep's horn trees) are overgrown, there are coastal tung (black bark trees) forests and shrub forests on the sand bank, there are two wells in the central lowlands, and the water quality is also good. Hang the flag in remembrance". In the northwest of the island, there is a coral stone temple built by mainland fishermen, and in March 1974, a Tang and Song dynasty settlement site was discovered in the northwest of the island, located one zhang deep on the inner side of the sand bank. Unearthed Tang Dynasty "iron pots", green glaze jars, Song Dynasty blue and white glazed vases, four series of small jars, scratched flower large bowls, lotus pattern large bowls, protruding lip bowls and other utensils. In addition, there are also late Ming ruins, three disks from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It shows that since the Tang and Song Dynasties, mainland fishermen have lived on the island in successive generations. The island is the southernmost provincial heritage site on the mainland. It is famous for the fact that there is well water on the island. The reef is rich in aquatic products, famous for plum ginseng, clams, tangguan snails and so on. In 1909, Li Zhun discovered that the island's spring water was sweet and drinkable during his sea tour, so he named it Ganquan Island. It was named Robert Island in 1935 and Ganquan Island in 1947 and 1983. Mainland fishermen call Yuanzhi and Round Island. It is called Robert Island in English. Island。.
Map of Ganquan Island
Ganquan Island
Ganquan Island nearby and Coral Island in the distance
Coral Island Shanhu Dao, located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, northwest of Yongle Atoll, located at 111 ° 36 ′ east longitude, 16 ° 32 ′ north latitude - 17 ° 07 ', commonly known as "Laozu Island", coral island is named for the many corals. In Li Zhun's "Patrol of the Sea" at the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was said: "This coral is more than before, because of the name Coral Island." The flag is also carved in stone to commemorate it". The island is located on the northwest side of Yongle Atoll, bordering the main channel of the South China Sea. The island is flattened and round, about 900 meters long from east to west and 450 meters wide from north to south, with an area of about 0.31 square kilometers. It is 9.1 meters high. There is a small bay on the south side of the island, which is a docking place for ships. The island is surrounded by shrubs and guano layers, making it one of the richest phosphate ore islands in the Yongle Islands. The presence of guano indicates that there were many trees here in the past. There is artificially grown casuarina on the island. Coconut trees, etc., there is a well in the middle, next to the coconut trees, the water is sweet and drinkable, while the western well water is polluted by guano and has a stinky smell. Not drinkable. 365 meters north of the island there is a reef that rises above the sea. On the east side of the island there is a destroyed pier 80 meters long. Today, Qing dynasty porcelain is found all over the island, and many everyday utensils such as blue-glazed porcelain bowls and cups. The building has a small temple, at the southwest end of the island, which was built by fishermen in Zhuhai in 1934 and contains a stone statue. There are weather stations and lighthouses built on the island, wells on the island, and the water quality is good. There used to be a coral stone temple (Jinshaan) built by mainland fishermen on the west of the island, with coral as the wall, an offering table in the temple, and a stone statue of the goddess, dedicated to Mazu. On the wall is written the couplet "Tao can promote everyone and everyone propagates, Buddha is the heart is Buddha". Now it is called "Golden Wave Bilang Pilgrimage Temple; Sand gathering competes to build ancient temples. "This is the most distant and smallest Kannon-an in the southernmost part of the mainland. The island is due to its good geographical location. In January 1947, French naval forces landed on the island and withdrew after protests. Vietnam occupied the island again in April 1956 and withdrew only in January 1974 due to mainland resistance. At present, the construction of the island is increasingly prosperous, meteorological observatories, channel docks, tall buildings, one by one, five-star red flags, flying in the blue sky. Famous ginseng, Cunxisha has been famous for decades. In 1909, Li Zhun found that there were many corals here, hence the name Coral Island. In 1935, it was promulgated as Bitaur Island. Both in 1947 and l983 the name was Coral Island. Mainland fishermen have always called Lao Rough Island, Old Rough Confrontation. Pattle Island is known in English.
Quanfu Dao, Quanfu Dao, named for the rich aquatic products in the island area, is located in the South China Sea, the western part of the Paracel Islands, the north of Yongle Atoll, about 4.5 nautical miles northeast of Coral Island, at 16 degrees 35 minutes north latitude, 111 degrees 40 minutes east longitude. It is based on a small oxbow-shaped sandbar on a coral reef, named for its abundant aquatic products. The coral reef area is rich in 56 species. The island is 360 meters long from east to west, 240 meters wide from north to south and 2.2 meters high. It is high and low in the middle, with an area of 0.02 square kilometers. There is no plant growth, lack of fresh water, the sand embankment is not wide, and the sand embankment in the north is the highest. The south of the island is less visible. The beach rocks on the island are not well developed, but they have been able to protect and fix the sand embankment. Powerful typhoons are often flooded by the sea. The reef is rich in aquatic products, mainly ginseng and clams, and plum ginseng is abundant on the outer edge. In 1974, during the underwater archaeological work, a batch of Qing Dynasty porcelain was found on the reef, dating from the Jiaqing to Daoguang years, the cloud dragon pattern dish (4 pieces), the Huifeng cloud pattern bowl (1 piece), and the blue and white bowl (5 pieces) from the Jiadehua kiln. The artifacts have also been cemented with ash of 0.5-1 mm, which is a 100-year-old shipwreck. In addition, according to the memories of old fishermen on the mainland. Five generations of ancestors have been fishing on Quanfu Island, which has long been a frequent destination for mainland fishermen. Mainland fishermen are called Quanfuzhi, Quanfu or Qushou. In 1983, Jeofu Island was announced as the standard name. It is called All Wealth Island in English.
Overlooking Quanfu Island
Aerial photo of Quanfu Island
Quanfu Island and Ap Kong Island in the Paracel Islands
Xianshe Yu means "nothing" in Hainanese, which means poor island. It is located in the South China Sea, the west of the Paracel Islands, the northeast of Yongle Atoll, about 2 nautical miles southeast of Ap Kong Island, at 16 degrees 33 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 43 minutes east longitude. This island is a large reef, mostly made of coral reefs, most of them are stony, a small part of sandy (such as sandy beaches, sand banks, etc.), is a height of 3 meters, the diameter of the island is only 45 meters, oval, the island has many stone embankments, an area of more than 3,000 square meters. The reef is underdeveloped and does not allow for the formation of a lush coral biota. The island has two sand berms, in the shape of a ring, which are the result of strong waves. The gravel embankment on the island is ring-shaped, the middle lowland is not obvious, the entire island extends to the east and the northeast, and the embankment facing the northeast is larger than the southwest gravel embankment in terms of height and slope, which is a strong reflection of the northeast monsoon. Mainland fishermen call it Hamshe, or Salty Island. In 1983, Ham She Yu was announced as the standard name. It is called Salty Hut Islet in English.
Yin Yu is said to have been named after the amount of silver found here during the Qing Dynasty. It is also said that there was no shipwreck here in the Qing Dynasty, and it was named after the silver. The foreign language map of the reef where this silver island is located is called: "Observation Beach". Located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, north of Yongle Atoll, east of Quanfu Island, 16 degrees 35 minutes north latitude, 111 degrees 42 minutes east longitude, a small sandbar more than one nautical mile northeast of Ap Kong Island, Yinyu is located on a crescent-shaped reef 15 kilometers long and 1.4 kilometers wide at its widest point, is a sandbar with an area of 6100 square meters. There are a small number of weeds growing on the island, and from time to time seabirds roost it, it is 2.2 meters high, and most of it is submerged at high tide. On the reef of Yinyu Island, the terrain is also distinctive, such as a deep pit, the area of the pit mouth is the size of a basketball court, the water is blue-black, the water depth is more than 20 meters, and the water temperature near the pit mouth is particularly cold, indicating that the sea water in the pit is penetrated by the deep cold water of the open sea. At low tide, the reef at the outer edge of the crater mouth is exposed. This deep crater is formed by the rapid development of the outer coral reef of the reef disk, while the inner coral reef does not have time to develop. The composition of Yinyu was mainly coral sand, accounting for 62.3%, followed by shell sand, accounting for 25.2%, and the rest were lime algae and foraminifera. There is also a small sandbar in the southern part of Silver Island, which is also composed of coral sand. Silver Island was announced as the standard name. Mainland fishermen are called Yinzhi. Some foreign language books refer to obserVation Bank, referring to the old name Senpingtan. It is called Silver Islet in English.
Silver Island
Yinyu Zai is located in the South China Sea, west of Paracel Islands, north of Yongle Atoll, east of Quanfu Island, on the same reef as Yinyu, about 600 meters southeast of Yinyu, located at 16 degrees 35 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 42 minutes east longitude. It is a sandbar with an altitude of 2 meters and an area of more than 2,000 square meters. The island is littered with coral detritus and a small number of weeds grow. There is a deep pit on the reef of Yintao and Yinyuzai, which is bottomless, the water is blue and black, and the water temperature is low, which fishermen call "Dragon Pit". Mainland fishermen are known as Yinzhizi. In 1983, it was published as the standard name of Silver Lantau Boy. It is called Minor Silver Islet in English.
Yagong Yu is located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, southeast of Senping Beach Reef, southeast of Yinyu, 1.5 nautical miles east of Quanfu Island, 116 degrees 34 minutes north latitude, 111 degrees 41 minutes east longitude. The water outside the reef is quite deep, and there is no large reef, so there are few aquatic products. Aquatic products are mainly shellfish, and the South China Sea specialty horseshoe snail is produced on the island. Curved hook-shaped island, the island is mostly composed of reefs, composed of coral debris, an area of 9800 square meters, an altitude of 1~3 meters, is a gravel beach, growing creeping ground plants. Aquatic products are mainly shellfish, and the South China Sea specialty horseshoe snail is produced on the island. The island is inaccessible and inhabited by seasonal seabirds. Mainland fishermen have called it Ap Kung Yu and Ap Kung Island, and in 1983 they announced that Ap Kung Island was the standard name. It is called He Duck Island in English.
Jinqing Dao, commonly known as "Sijiang Island", is located in the South China Sea, the west of the Xisha Islands, the southeast of Yongle Atoll, 2800 meters northeast of Chenhang Island, the middle waterway is called "Jinqing Gate", the narrowest point is about 2000 meters, the water depth is 40 meters. Jinqing Island Reef Ping and Shiyu Reef Ping are the same large reef. The former is located at the southwest end and the latter at the northeast end. Jinqing Island is a sand island, relatively large, about 5 meters high, vegetation development, in the beach area relatively extensive development of beach rocks. The inner flat is about 10 meters wide, similar to other reef flats. This zone is mostly sandy bottom, with coral clumps or patches, mainly staghorn corals, and many branches of rose corals. The inner slope is about 5 meters wide, with varying widths and widths, undulating terrain, gravel and sand pits, and large and small protrusions. The coral here is dense, including umbrella house antler coral, head-shaped coastal coral, rough wild staghorn coral, irregular staghorn coral, and cup-shaped coral, as well as sponges, soft corals, etc. Further towards the lagoon, the area of the sandy bottom increases, and the corals gradually decrease, and occasionally beautiful antler corals are seen. Sometimes there are small raised reefs. Located at 16°28′N 111°44′E. There are beach rocks around the island, and the sand bank is 3-5 meters above the sea. Jinqing Island is oval in shape, 950 meters long from northeast to southwest, about 420 meters wide from northwest to southeast, and there is a sandbar protruding northeast of the island, covering an area of 0.21 square kilometers. It is 6.4 meters high. In the north of the island, there are many grassy sandbars about 0.9 to 3 meters high, and the continents are overgrown with shrubs. The lowlands between the sandy berm and the dry lagoon in the middle of the island are thick jungles of croissant trees, which are difficult to walk and the soil is guano. In the middle of the island is a dry lagoon with dense forests. According to documents from the late Qing Dynasty, there were trees several feet tall (about 10 meters) here, with large trunks that could be hugged, branches and leaves, many seagulls on the island, and black soil. Today, the trees on the island are not as tall as before, the seabirds have gone, and the surface of the soil is recently accumulated white sand, 20-40 cm below the sand layer, and only then can you see the brown guano layer. Due to the shallow sand layer and the abundance of guano, there are very few sweet springs on the island. There are two land temples, engraved with the four characters "responsive to requests". In the white sand layer at a depth of l meters at the top of the sand embankment in the southeast corner of the island, a Song coin was dug in 1974, with the words "Saint Song Yuanbao" on it. This small flat coin was minted in the first year of the Northern Song Dynasty. According to this, it can be seen that the sand berm, which is about 30 meters above the sea, has increased by 1 meter in the past 1,000 years. Jinqing Island has a large reef and is famous for producing sea turtles, which are concentrated on the west coast of the island. In addition, there is a sea cucumber field, which is on the north reef of the island. Due to the phylogeny of the valley at the outer edge of the reef, it is convenient for small boats to enter the island. Reef trenches can be used to open up deep waterways and build docks. In 1909, when Li Zhun patrolled the sea, he named Fubo Island after his accompanying warship, Fubo. In 1935, the name was promulgated as Dulan Mang Island. In 1947 and 1983, the name was announced as Jinqing Island, which was named in honor of Shi Jinqing, the consolation envoy of the Three Buddha Qi during the Ming Dynasty. Mainland fishermen refer to Sijiangmen, Sijiang Island, and Shijiangzhi. It is called Drummond Island in English.
Jinqing Island
Map of Jinqing Island
The reef where Jinqing Island is located
Jinqing Island, Paracel Islands
The reef where Jinqing Island is located
A small stone temple on Jinqing Island
Residence of fishermen on Jinqing Island
Overlooking Jinqing Island
The Sovereignty Monument on Jinqing Island
Shiyu Shi Yu, located in the South China Sea, the west of the Paracel Islands, the east of Yongle Atoll, on Senping Beach, southeast of Quanfu Island, north of Jinqing Island, and Jinqing Island belong to the same reef, located at 116°33′ north latitude, 114°45′ east longitude. About 2 nautical miles east of Hamshe Island, it is composed of coral reef sand, most of which are cemented rock beaches, so it is also known as "Shizhi". The terrain is circumferential, high and low, and is silted up by dry lagoons. It is 2.7 meters high and has an area of 2,000 square meters. There is a dry lagoon on the island, and the island form also goes around the sand bank once into a small lagoon, the north reef of the island is narrow, the south reef of the island is large, and the reef is rich in aquatic products, which is the main production area of sea power, ginseng and plum ginseng, and there are many tabby shells, tangguan snails, and horseshoe snails. There are many coral reefs, the beach surface is high, the low tide is often exposed, and the fishing and gathering are convenient, which is one of the main operation areas of fishermen. Mainland fishermen call it Shiyu. In 1983, Shiyu was announced as the standard name. Some sources call Shiyu Jinsha Island and Shizhi. It is called Stone Islet in English.
Shenhang Dao, commonly known as "Big Three-Legged Island", is located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, on the same reef as Guangjin Island, which is about 2.6 kilometers long and 1.2 kilometers wide from east to west. Surrounded by a sandy embankment, the reef is about 2.6 kilometers long from east to west and 1.2 kilometers wide. The island is surrounded by a sand embankment, about 1 km east to west, about 0.5 km wide, and an area of about 0.48 square kilometers. It is the largest island in Vinh Lok Atoll. It is located at 16°27′N, 111°42′E. It is named in honor of the "Chen Ship" that arrived here at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The central concave island is surrounded by sandbank, which is curved and triangular in shape and about 5 meters high. The terrain is circumferential, high and low, with two reefs, one circular, about 200 meters in diameter, with stagnant water; One is elongated, about 80 meters long, and has dried up, separated by a sand ridge. There is a 5,000-ton shelter windproof pier. Well water is not cited. There is a sand spit in the west of the island that stretches out to Hirogin Island, and you can wade through the water at low tide. The middle of the island is flat, surrounded by two shallow lakes surrounded by gravel embankments, and the dry lagoon is slightly souther, with coconut palms and lake wells, and there are wells dug in the middle of the island, but they are not drinkable. The northern part of the island is a lagoon surrounded by a sandy berm, which is a saltwater lake surrounded by saltwater vegetation. The whole island is overgrown. At present, the shallow lake has been filled, but some of it still has stagnant water, and in summer it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and the guano layer in the lake area is thick and soft and easy to collapse. Because the embankment that surrounds the lagoon is made of coral gravel, it is highly permeable, so at high tide, seawater can seep into the shallow lake, making the lake salty. Today, the lakeside gravel embankment is still low, only 2 meters high, and a very large typhoon can set off huge waves, open the gravel embankment, and create a gap. In the northwest and northeast corners of the island, fishermen built two small stone temples, which have been demolished. However, from the statue of Guanyin of the Ming Longquan kiln enshrined in the small temple in the northwest, it can be seen that fishermen have come to fish here in the Ming Dynasty. In the northeast and southwest of the island, there is a coral stone temple built by mainland fishermen, which has been demolished. However, from the statue of Guanyin of the Ming Longquan kiln enshrined in the small temple in the northwest, it can be seen that fishermen have come to fish here in the Ming Dynasty. Beyond the sandy island is a circle of secondary lagoons on the reef, outside the lagoon is a circle of embankments, and beyond the dikes, there is the reef edge area. The aquatic products on the reef are mainly clams, salamanders, bell butterflies, treasures, etc. At low tide, the reef gully area is also a good place to fish for grouper. The island is overgrown with grass and shrubs, with small forests of self-sheltering flowers (Maplethocade), and palm trees and coconut trees to the south. The vegetation on the sand bank is dominated by clusters of horn trees, which are dense and difficult to penetrate, and there is a coconut tree planted by fishermen by the lowland well, which is 20 meters high. Breeding vines in the horn forest, such as coastal morning glory, climb on it. Due to the large tax, good shipping lanes, and the transportation center of the Xuande Islands and the island, the location is very important. It has been repeatedly coveted by foreign invaders. France landed in 1932 and 1974, and South Vietnamese troops occupied it in 1956. In January 1974, I fought back in self-defense and recovered the island, where many people were killed, and a monument to the martyrs is now built on the island to commemorate. There are also lookouts and housing on the island. In the south of the island, there is the inscription "Wang Guobin" left by the well when Qionghai fishermen dug the well in 1919. In 1909, Li Zhun was named after his accompanying warship Chen Hang when he toured the sea. In 1935, the name was announced as Tanjian Island, and in 1947 and 1983, it was announced as Chenhang Island. Mainland fishermen call the three-legged island, the big three-legged island, and the three-legged island. It is called Duncan Island in English.
Map of Chenhang Island
Aerial view of Chenhang Island
Chenhang Island and Hirogin Island
Chenhang Island in the Paracel Islands
Scenery of Chenhang Island
The sapphire waters around Chenhang Island
A corner of Chenhang Island in the Paracel Islands
Monument to the sovereignty of Chenhang Island
A view of Chenhang Island
Overlooking Chenhang Island
A view of Chenhang Island
Monument to the Martyrs of Chenhang Island
Guangjin Dao, commonly known as "Little Three Feet Island", is located in the South China Sea, western of the Paracel Islands, and is a small island on the reef of Chenhang Island, located at 16°27′N 111°42′E. It is named in honor of the "Guangjin Ship" that cruised here in the late Qing Dynasty. There is a sand spit connected to Chenhang Island. Low tide can wade through. The distance between the two islands is only 370 meters. The island is triangular in shape, 300 meters long and 210 meters wide, with an area of about 0.06 square kilometers. It is 4.8 meters high. The island is densely wooded, mostly thick bushes of grass and sea trees, and there is a coconut tree, which is 11 meters high. The surface layer of the soil is white sand, below 20-40 cm, that is, guano soil, brownish-yellow. It reflects that in ancient times, there were dense forests and island dung, but at present, most seabirds do not stay here, so the surface layer is piled up by white gray sand sent by wind and waves. There is a well, the water of the well can eat, and there are coconut trees by the well. On the south side of the sand embankment there are two small stone temples, about l meters high and about 50 meters from the sea. On the slope of the nearby beach, Xiaoping money during the Hongwu period was also found, with the character Fu on its back. It can be seen that in the Ming Dynasty, fishermen from various countries were already looking for activities on various islands. In 1947 and 1983, it was announced as Guangjin Island to commemorate the warship "Guangjin" that Li Zhun patrolled the sea. Mainland fishermen call Sanjiao Yu and Xiaosangyu Island. In 1947, the Chinese Government approved and promulgated the geographical names of Nanhai Zhudao, and the two islands of Chenhang and Guangjin were called the "Daoqian Islands." It is called Guangjin Island in English.
Hirojin Island, Paracel Islands
Lingyang Jiao, commonly known as "Basket Island", is located in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, 3.5 nautical miles east of Treasure Island and 0.5 nautical miles south of Ganquan Island, at 16°28′N 111°35′E. 3 nautical miles long from north to south and 2 nautical miles wide, is an approximately triangular atoll, no access to the sea, belongs to a closed atoll, Hainan fishermen call it "basket boy", that is, small atoll meaning, a "circle boy". The reef flat of Antelope Reef is about 30 meters wide, most of which can be exposed at low tide, and the southeast corner of the reef has been exposed to the sea, which is white coral debris, about 2 meters above the water surface, and covers an area of 0.01 square kilometers. The sandbar has a crescent-shaped shape and a curve to the southwest, indicating that the blowing of the northeast monsoon is strong and persistent. In 1935, 1947 and 1983 , the name was published as Antelope Horn. Mainland fishermen call baskets and baskets. It is called Antelope Reef in English.
Kuangzai Shazhou, located in the South China Sea, Yongle Islands, west of the Paracel Islands, is a small sandbar in the southeast corner of Antelope Reef, west of Guangjin Island, latitude 16°27'N, longitude 111°36'E. It is 2 meters above sea level and has an area of 0.01 square kilometers. It is actually a small sand island on the antelope reef plate full of white coral reef debris. Mainland fishermen call it Basket Island. In 1983, the standard name of Basket Sandbar was announced. It is called Little Basket Sandbank in English.
Huaguang Jiao, commonly known as "Big Circle", is located in the South China Sea Paracel Islands, south of Yongle Islands, 7 nautical miles north of Panshi Island, is the largest typical oval-shaped large atoll in the Paracel Islands, located at 16°13′N 111°41′E. Huaguang Reef is 31 kilometers long from east to west and 12 kilometers wide from north to south. It is relatively well developed, and only the north and south gates are connected to the sea. At low tide, a reef 300-450 meters wide emerges, hugging the lagoon. The lagoon is 30 nautical miles long from east to west and 7 nautical miles wide from north to south, with water depths ranging from 4 meters, 10 meters to 45 meters, and the bottom of the lake is comparable to that of the second level of underwater terraces. The atoll has a gap in the north and south, and two in the south, which can accommodate 100-ton ships. The northern gap can only enter small boats of tens of tons. However, there are many reefs on both sides of the gap, which is not conducive to navigation. Although Huaguang Atoll has a vast reef formation, there are still no continents and islands in Tan, and only huge massive coral reefs (such as brain corals, etc.) can be more than l meters above the water surface on the reef, indicating the location of the reef. The wave zone around the reef is obvious, the entire reef can be exposed at low tide, and the shallow lagoon is 50-72 meters deep. This atoll is a good fishing ground in winter, from the first month of the lunar calendar to May there are fishermen to work here, the reef plate has many parrotfish (native name Shuangman Gong), hundreds of birds, each tail 50-100 kg, easy to round up, with purse seine operations, can catch 2000 kg at a time. In addition, there are a large number of turtles on the reef, as well as various snails, shellfish, sea cucumbers and so on. In the antlered coral area, due to the ease of epiphysis of marine plants, unicorn vegetables are taught to thrive. In 1935, the name was announced as Finding Out Reef. In 1947 and l983, the name was announced as Huaguang Reef. Mainland fishermen think that the largest atoll in the Paracel Islands is called the big basket, the big pond and the big circle. It is called Discovery Reef in English.
Huaguang Reef and Panshi Island
Huaguang Reef, Paracel Islands
Huaguang Reef
Huaguang Reef
Panshi Yu, commonly known as "Baizhi Tsai", is located in the South China Sea, west of the Paracel Islands, southeast of Huaguang Reef, 35 nautical miles northeast of Zhongjian Island, at 16°02′N, 111°45′E. Composed of coral atolls, the reef is about 10 kilometers long, the reef is developed, the water can be slightly exposed at low tide, and it is submerged at high tide, and there is a small white low-flat sandbar in the north of the reef, 2.5 meters above sea level, which is a white low-level sandbar with an area of 0.4 square kilometers. When a strong typhoon passes through (Category 10), it is flooded, so no trees grow. Dig two feet of sand, you can get fresh water, slightly salty, barely drinkable. Grass grows on the sandbar from time to time, but as soon as the typhoon passes, the sandbar deforms and the grass disappears. When typhoons hit, they are often submerged by the sea. The entrance to the lagoon is in the southwest corner, which can be accessed by 10-ton boats and has a depth of up to 15 meters. In 1928, the Guangxi East-West Sand Expedition arrived here on the ship "Hairui", which was named Hairui Island. In 1935, the name was announced as Baxuzaki. In 1947 and 1983, the name was promulgated as Panshi Yu. Mainland fishermen call Bai Shu Tsai, Bai Zhi Tsai, and White Jiao. It is a foreigner who records the name of the mainland fisherman "Baishuzai" (Hainanese pronunciation Besuigia). It is called Passu Keah in English.
Yuduo Jiao, commonly known as "Second Circle", is located in the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, southeast of the Xishande Islands, 8.7 nautical miles northeast of Huaguang Reef and 10 nautical miles northeast of Panshi Island, located at 16°29′5"N 112°81′5"E, which is an atoll. It is 7 nautical miles long from east to west and 2.5 nautical miles wide from north to south, and the reef is surrounded by cliffs, and there are two or three huge coral reefs on the reef that emerge from the sea, so it is called "Yuzhuo Reef". Yuzhuo Reef and Huaguang Reef are shaped like baskets, and are called big baskets and two baskets in turn. Because of their abundance of seafood, they are also called "money baskets". It is a closed atoll without islands and sandbars, surrounded by a lagoon with a water depth of 2-15 meters and scattered reefs within the lake. Beyond the lagoon is the deep sea, with a difference of thousands of meters between the waters and the reef. The Jade Reef reef is beautiful, full of vitality and vitality, and layers of huge waves rush from afar, where they meet, clamour, stir, and make noise, surging dizzyingly, and blooming thousands of white waves. It has two ends of the east, the sun is shining, the waves hit the reef, the waves are splashing, and there are a lot of mackerel. Fishermen come to Xishado to catch mackerel here, often catch one, must catch hundreds, sometimes their hands are tired, mackerel continue to hook, catch thousands. In 1935, it was named Woldor Reef. In 1947 and 1983, the name was announced as Yuzhuo Jiao. Mainland fishermen believe that it is the second largest atoll in the Paracel Islands without islands and sandbars, so they call it Erbasket, Ertang and Erhuan. It is called Vuladdore Reef in English.
Zhongjiandao, commonly known as "Banluzhi", is called Snail Island by fishermen, and is famous for producing horseshoe snails. Located in the South China Sea, southwest of the Xisha Islands, and on the way to the Nansha Islands, it is also known as the "half-way standoff". It is located at 15°47′N, 111°12′E. In 1946, China sent the warship "Zhongjian" to receive the island, and only then did it change its name to Zhongjian Island. Located at the southwest end of Yongle Islands, 37 nautical miles northeast of Panshi Island and 50 kilometers southwest of Huaguang Reef, Zhongjian Island is a nearly quadrilateral platform reef, about 5 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, extending in a north-east-east direction, forming a gray sand island in the middle of the reef. Zhongjian Island is a sandy island developed on a reef, surrounded by a high sand bank, with a lagoon in the south-central part, and often stagnant water, with a depth of 0.5 meters. The whole island is not large in altitude, averaging only 2 meters, and the sand island rises 3 meters above the sea at low tide and 1 meter above the sea at high tide. The island is slightly circular, the whole island is not large, the average is only 2.7 meters, slightly circular, 1850 meters long, 800 meters wide, the land area is about 1.5 square kilometers, and the area at high tide is 0.86 square kilometers. It is the largest island in the Yongle Islands. There is a lagoon in the south-central part of the river with a depth of about 0.5 meters. The whole island is coral shell sand. The average temperature is above 31°C, and the sea breeze exceeds 4 in all seasons. Severe typhoons are often flooded by the sea, some of which are now raised, and the island has no grass, and in recent years the trial of coconut trees, casuarina and olive kernel trees (commonly known as loquat trees) has been successful. The island is home to a large number of seabirds from March to July every year, making it the largest number of seabirds in the Paracel Islands. Digging a hole 2 feet on the island provides fresh water, which is barely edible. The reef around Zhongjian Island is 2--3 nautical miles wide, the water depth is 2 meters, for a variety of seafood breeding places, in addition to the famous horse snail, plum ginseng, turtles are many, the sea around the reef is rich in plankton, attracting a lot of fish, plus the outer edge of the reef is deep and large, so it is conducive to towing, fishing operations, a boat daily 100 quintals of mackerel is very common. In 1935, it was announced as Tulai Tang Island. In 1947 and 1983, the name was announced as Zhongjian Island. It is named to commemorate the 1946 Chinese government sending the warship "Zhongjian" to receive the Xisha Islands. Mainland fishermen believe that fishing in Nansha has gone half the way here, so Xiangxiang called Halfway, Halfway, also known as Luo Island, is named for the production of various conch. It is called Triton Island in English.
Zhongjian Island
Aerial photo of Zhongjian Island
Aerial photo of Zhongjian Island
A view of Zhongjian Island
Resources:
Paracel Islands
North reef of the Paracel Islands
Xisha Yongle Islands
Xisha Coral Island
Xisha Ganquan Island, Antelope Reef
Xisha Treasure Island
Xishachen Navigation Island, Guangjin Island
The island is built in the middle of the Xisha Island
Xisha Jinqing Island
Xisha Quanfu Island, Ap Kong Island, Hamshe Island, Yinyu Island
Huaguang Reef, Panshi Yu and Yuzhuo Reef in Xisha Islands
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