Dongshan Island

Dongshan is joined to the mainland by a causeway and has beaches better than most of the Fujian coast, with Machiao and Jinluan bays holding fine sand and clear water. Its landmark is the Fengdong Stone, a boulder of some two hundred tonnes resting on a rock platform at a point of contact small enough that the stone rocks visibly in a strong wind and can be moved by hand pressure, a balance that has held through typhoons and earthquakes. Beside it stands the Guandi Temple, a Ming building of carved timber that is the ancestral temple for Guan Yu worship in Taiwan, drawing pilgrims from across the strait.

History

In 1387 Zhou Dexing of the Ming dynasty built the stone castle of Tongshan at Tongling, on the north-east of the island, to guard against pirates; its gate tower still stands, and inside it lanes and corridors lead to the temple of Guan Yu, beside the old houses where the Ming official Huang Daozhou was born. The Ming generals Qi Jiguang and Zheng Chenggong were both based at the old town of Dongshan (Wikipedia, Dongshan County).

What to look for

• The Fengdong Stone - a two-hundred-tonne boulder balanced so finely it rocks.
• The Guandi Temple - the Ming temple that is the ancestral source for Taiwan.
• The beaches - fine white sand at Machiao and other bays.
• The fishing harbours - working ports around the island.

When to go

October to May for the mildest weather; summer is hot and typhoons hit this coast between July and September. Beaches are busiest in summer holidays despite the heat.

Good to know

The island is developing quickly and construction is visible. Scenic sites charge separately. Typhoon season can bring closures and cancelled transport. Public transport around the island is limited.

Nearby

Zhangzhou lies north; Xiamen is northeast along the coast.