Duration: 2 days. Companions: Friends. Activities: Photography, Self-driving, Cultural exploration, Freestyle travel.
Destinations visited by the author: Shanghai Huangpu River, Yuantuo Cape Scenic Area, Anting Villa, Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge, Chongming Island, Tropical Storm Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Beach, Sea Venice. Published on 2021-08-27 11:48.
For a long time, the author has had a wish to explore and visit the true estuary of the Yangtze River. Why say this? It stems from August 2012 when the author watched the spectacular scene of the Yellow River flowing into the sea in Kenli, Dongying, Shandong. Then in early December of the same year, the author visited the Pao Taiwan Wetland Park in Shanghai Wusongkou to look for the landscape of the Yangtze River flowing into the sea. At that time, it was thought to be the estuary of the Yangtze River, but in fact, it was just the place where the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River converge, not the true estuary of the Yangtze River.
Setting off for Qidong, Jiangsu (Photography by Feng Ganyong)
On the morning of November 26, 2018, after concluding the interview at the ‘Cultural Renaissance – Shanghai Center Guan Baoxun Ceramic Art Exhibition’, the author had some free time. Therefore, after Shanghai friend Wang Guojian had carefully researched and confirmed the destination strategy for the true Yangtze River estuary, the author, along with Shanghai friends Huang Qiaomei, Xu Heyin, Jin Fukang, Zhang Youshi, Qiu Zelian, Liu Feng, Ye Renmin, Zeng Weixin, Luo Jianqing, Yao Huiqin, Xia Qiangying, and 13 others, drove together to the true Yangtze River estuary – Qidong Yuantuo Cape Scenic Area in Jiangsu, for exploration and sightseeing.
Crossing the Yangtze River Bridge (Photography by Feng Ganyong)
The three cars of the author’s group set off from different places in Shanghai and agreed to meet just before arriving in Qidong. The car the author was in started from the Anting Villa Garden Hotel in Xuhui District, took the outer ring road out of Shanghai city, and entered the G40 Shanghai-Xi’an Expressway. After crossing the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge and Chongqi Yangtze River Bridge, it took more than three hours and more than 140 kilometers of driving to arrive at the Qidong Yuantuo Cape Scenic Area in Jiangsu near noon that day.
Upon arriving in Qidong (Photography by Feng Ganyong)
Qidong is located in the easternmost part of Jiangsu Province, with the sea to the east and south, and the Yangtze River to the north that is about to flow into the sea, facing Chongming Island in Shanghai across the river. Here, surrounded by water on three sides and shaped like a peninsula, it has the golden waterway, golden coast, and golden land passage. Because it is the place where the ten-thousand-mile Yangtze River flows into the sea, it is an important gateway for entering and exiting the river and the sea, and also the place where the sun rises earliest in Jiangsu.
A corner by the sea (Photography by Feng Ganyong)
When arriving at the Yuantuo Cape Scenic Area, it happened to coincide with the comprehensive overall renovation and construction underway here. It is reported that Qidong Yuantuo Cape, located at the confluence of the Yangtze River, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea, will soon rise to become a world-class Yangtze River estuary tourist resort area. The ‘Xinhu Qidong Yuantuo Cape Project’ is currently underway with great vigor. Although the scenic area under renovation is closed to visitors, the ultimate goal of the journalists is to witness the spectacular sight of the Yangtze River flowing into the sea, hence the necessity to find a way to the seaside. After inquiring around, our vehicles finally located a road leading to the vast coastline. After several twists and turns, our convoy of three cars reached the coastal highway, gazing at the boundless ocean with great excitement. At this moment, the mobile phone’s positioning showed that the blue dot on our location map was precisely at the confluence of the Yangtze River. Following the coastal highway, our cars stopped and inquired along the way until we finally saw the distinct yellowish river water and the azure sea water, with the vast misty waves and the sparkling sea surface. From right to left, the Yangtze River, the Yellow Sea, and the East China SeaOn the coastal road, a worker who was under construction learned that we had come from afar to explore the confluence of the Yangtze River and enthusiastically told us a story about the Great Yu statue.
In the middle of the Yuantuo Cape scenic area, there is a stone statue of Great Yu, standing at 19.99 meters tall, which is the largest Great Yu statue in the country. The Great Yu statue is simple and ancient, with bright eyes looking directly to the south, reflecting the strong will of the ancient Chinese people to conquer nature.
It turns out that there is a very legendary story surrounding this statue. It is said that this place often experiences rampant super typhoons. Records show that after the 9th tropical storm ‘Meihua’ in 2011 formed, it was upgraded twice to a super typhoon, with the maximum wind force near the center reaching 14 levels. At that time, the trajectory of typhoon ‘Meihua’ was heading directly towards Qidong, but it changed direction at the last moment and went north. Why? The people of Qidong firmly believe that it was the divine power of Great Yu that protected them.
The Great Sea-River Separation Dam (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
How did this statue of Yu the Great come into being? It is said that a county in Shandong province introduced a statue of Yu the Great from Zhejiang, but the vehicle carrying the statue could not start no matter what. Upon inspection, no issues were found, leading to the suspicion that divine intervention was at play. Incense was burned and prayers were offered to seek the divine will. However, despite listing a series of place names, the vehicle would not start until the name ‘Qidong’ was mentioned, at which point the vehicle suddenly started. Qidong, meaning ‘to start’.
A photo at the confluence of the river and the sea (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
Later, upon hearing of this event, the people of Qidong built the current statue of Yu the Great in Yuantuojiao Scenic Area, as a guardian for the hundred-mile sea embankment of Qidong. Ten years later, Typhoon ‘Meihua’ fiercely approached, but ultimately bowed down before Yu the Great and left obediently.
The Yangtze River’s clear entry into the sea (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
Locals introduced to the journalists that standing at Yuantuojiao, the vast Yangtze River flows into the sea from here, with the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea dividing at this point, creating a spectacular convergence of three waters. Coupled with the unique natural scenery of watching the sunrise at the hour of Yin, many literati and poets take pleasure in visiting Yuantuojiao to watch the sunrise.
The Sea Goddess facing the sea (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
Along the broad beach and tidal flats of Yuantuojiao, during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, visitors can ride ox carts along the beach for sightseeing. The scene of tourists picking up clams and stepping on mussels here, with graceful movements resembling a ‘sea disco’. Moreover, the unique condition of the convergence of three waters has created superior quality seafood, river delicacies, and freshwater fish cuisine here. Enjoying the delicious food and watching the sea view, blowing the sea breeze has become a combination feast of taste, vision, and touch at Yuantuojiao.
River and sea scenery (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
It is reported that the new plan for Yuantuojiao will deeply explore the potential of the land here, positioning the Yangtze River estuary tourism resort project at a high starting point, and planning to build a large-scale comprehensive resort integrating tourism, business, leisure, entertainment, sports, and high-end residential areas.
Coastal wharf (Photographer: Feng Ganyong).
In the near future, a Yangtze River theme park and museum, Fisherman’s Wharf, Temple Cultural Park, Sun Lake Leisure Area, golf course, and resort area will be built here. Among them, the Yangtze River theme park will build a miniature landscape of the Yangtze River, from the source of the Yangtze River to the entry into Chongming, imitating landmark buildings such as Lhasa, Yushu, Chongqing, Three Gorges, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, and other places, to reproduce the characteristic landscapes, historical cultures, and local dishes of various regions and cities in the Yangtze River basin.
Ping’an Bell (Photographed by Feng Ganyong).
Yuantuojiao Resort Area will take the river breeze and sea charm as its core feature. According to the overall image of ‘Sea Moon, Holiday Paradise, River Breeze and Sea Charm, Leisure Resort’ and the standards of a national-levelComing out along the coastal highway is the Evergrande Venice Seafood City. At noon, crab roe buns, fresh meat wontons, pork chops, beef noodles and others allowed the journalists to enjoy an inexpensive and very practical lunch. And in the evening, the Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant here let us taste a sumptuous and joyful dinner composed of many dishes. A corner of the Seafood City (Photographed by Feng Ganyong).
The successive construction of various tourism projects such as Evergrande Venice, Xinhuhu Yangtze River Park, Bihai Yinsa two-color sea, coastal leisure and entertainment base, Golden Beach Wetland Park, Binjiang coastal landscape avenue, Lianxinggang Fisherman’s Wharf, and World Farm Expo Park here not only provides various types of tourism service facilities but also adds luster to the Yuantuojiao Scenic Area.
Dawn’s Venice on the Sea (Photographed by Feng Ganyong).
The Evergrande Venice here is planned and designed based on the concept of the Italian Venice Water City. Forty world-famous bridges run through the inland waters. Private seaside houses, luxury seaside mansions, and ocean-view townhouses form 58 residential islands. Here are gathered the royal gardens of five European countries, ten luxurious top-level supporting facilities, and a 3.5-kilometer international-style beach.
Buildings by the Sea (Photographed by Feng Ganyong).
That night, the journalists stayed at the Haiting (Heng) Bay Hotel in Venice on the Sea. An independent three-story small villa is located in the Venice Water City. The buildings are all connected by beautiful waters in the middle, and the scenery is pleasant. The journalists booked all the rooms in the entire hotel. The rooms are fully equipped with various facilities and extremely comfortable. And the breakfast the next day is very sumptuous.
Venice on the Sea at Night (Photographed by Feng Ganyong).
At night, the lighting night view in Venice on the Sea is even more bright and charming. The reflections of the small bridges decorated with colorful lanterns and the staggered buildings are intertwined in the rippling water, which is intoxicating. People can fully appreciate the multiple styles from the Renaissance to the modern avant-garde. The long scenic scroll laid out in sections according to the time axis allows people to travel through time and space at any time for a dreamy time-travel. (Text and pictures: Feng Ganyong)