Ling Mountain Island is located in the Yellow Sea 20 nautical miles southwest of Qingdao City, Shandong Province. Surrounded by the sea, it has an area of 7.68 square kilometers and an altitude of 513.6 meters. The coastline around the island is 20 kilometers long. The island is high in the south and low in the north, undulating continuously. It is shaped like a huge turtle and floats in the water. In ancient times, it was called Shuiling Mountain Island. There are 12 villages on the island with more than 3,000 people. At present, the main occupations are marine fishing, aquaculture and fishing. There is a mountain-ring road on the island, and you can drive around the island and reach the top directly. Ling Mountain Island is a naturally formed marine park. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was listed as one of the eight scenic spots of Jiaozhou and was called ‘marine painted screen’. Jiaozhou Annals records: ‘Ling Mountain Island is in the middle of the South Sea of Weicheng. It is more than forty miles square and forty miles from the north to the shore. It is inlaid with exposed carvings and is beautiful. It is just like a painted screen and stands firmly above the world’s immersion. The grass color and mountain light are dazzlingly green. The forest is dense and there are no poisonous insects. According to ‘Leishu’: Prepare in advance before it rains. It turns white first and then dawns. If there is a spirit, it is named so. The annals were revised in the 25th year of Daoguang’. Zhou Yu Zhi, a poet in the Qing Dynasty, once visited Ling Mountain Island and wrote a poem for it: ‘The mountain color and wave light cannot be distinguished clearly. Looking at the islands in the middle of the flow, they are jagged. Penglai and Fangzhang should be connected. It is good to ask for directions from the residents.’ Since ancient times, people have highly summarized Ling Mountain Island from eight aspects and sixteen characters: natural, spectacular, clean, beautiful, leisurely, comfortable, peaceful and safe. Ling Mountain Island has the same advantages as other islands: surrounded by the sea and located in the embrace of the sea. But Ling Mountain Island has its own special advantages that no island in the country can compare with. First, Ling Mountain Island is an island that fully has the charm of a sea island. After Taiwan Island and Hainan Island, it is listed as the third highest island in the country. However, due to the high mountains and small area, the peaks rise straight from the sea surface and pierce the sky. It is just like a painted screen and is dazzlingly green. If an isolated island in the sea is too small, it will become a solitary boat, desolate and dreary. If it is too large, it will lose the characteristic meaning of a sea island. The majestic high mountains and the size of Ling Mountain Island are very reasonably laid out, fully reflecting the charm of the’marine kingdom’. Second, viewing the sea from high mountains. Climb to the Sea View Tower on the peak and look around. You can see everything at a glance. Looking at the sea and sky, the scenery is magnificent. It is as if you are in the clouds beyond the nine heavens. The high mountains and the sea are all under your feet. The troubles of the world disappear with the clouds. You can imagine a beautiful life. It makes people enter the supreme realm… Looking down at the surrounding mountains: 56 mountain peaks on the whole island are surrounded by the sea. The mountains undulate, thousands of trees grow, mountain flowers are like brocade, and wild fruits are abundant. The whole island is full of vitality. Then look around the shore: The fishermen’s houses are facing the sea against the mountain. Red tiles and cooking smoke are set off by green trees. The countable sightseeing cars are circling on the island-ring road like small toys. The blue ocean is billowing with waves. Surging from all directions, it turns into thousands of white waves surrounding the whole island. The unceasing rhythm brings infinite romance to Ling Mountain Island… Looking up and looking into the northern mainland from afar: Qingdao, a modern metropolis, comes into view. Along the entire northern coast, thousands of skyscrapers stand in the sea clouds, resembling a magnificent scene of a mirage.
Looking across to the west coast: Langyatai and Wangyue Tower, where Emperor Qin Shihuang ascended three times in the past, have beautiful scenery, bringing people to the ancient Qin Dynasty. The magnificent scene of Xu Fu’s eastward voyage seems vividly before our eyes… On the vast sea surface, thousands of boats set off, presenting a vibrant and prosperous scene. Fishermen sail out to sea, catch fish and shrimp, and are fully loaded with delicious treasures from the sea… Looking east is the international ‘high seas’. The ocean stretches for thousands of miles, majestic and mighty. The morning sun bursts forth, sea clouds shine, the sea and sky merge into one color, stretching endlessly without bounds. The sound of waves is magnificent and the atmosphere is ever-changing. The scenery of ‘viewing the sea from high mountains’ on Lingshan Island is very spectacular.
Thirdly, the mountain on Lingshan Island is a very vivid Buddha statue. Looking at Lingshan Island from west to east on the sea surface by boat, the outline of the mountain is a very lifelike Buddha statue. It lies supine on the sea surface with its head facing north. There is a golden tower (small island) on its broad forehead. Its high nose bridge, wide jaw, and the Adam’s apple on its neck are even more vivid. Its eyes seem half-closed and very serene, as if it is concentrating on chanting sutras. Shifting the line of sight to the south, a small hill is its navel. The overall structure is very reasonable. When the sun rises above its head, it is as if the Buddha’s light shines everywhere, with thousands of golden rays, very spectacular. People can’t help but sigh and be moved by the magical creation of nature!
Fourthly, the air is fresh and the climate is pleasant. Lingshan Island is located in the warm temperate zone. The summer temperature is between 20-25 degrees Celsius, and the high temperature can reach 29-30 degrees Celsius for only more than ten days. The normal temperature in winter is about 8 degrees Celsius. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, and the climate is pleasant. Around the island, the ocean is vast and the sea water is pure. The environment inside the island is clean, with birds singing and flowers blooming, and thousands of trees growing. The air is fresh without any pollution or infectious diseases. It is a paradise for leisure tourism and summer resort and convalescence.
Fifthly, there are numerous natural scenic spots. Elephant Trunk Mountain, Tiger Mouth, Dinosaur Stone, Crooked Peak, Sea-Watching Tower, Back-Carried Stone, Diaoyu Island, Knife-Testing Stone and other famous scenic spots are vivid and beautiful, magnificent, making tourists linger and return. Natural fishing platforms are all over the island. Strange mountains and rocks, steep cliffs like cuts, forests growing, mountain flowers like brocades. In spring and summer seasons, the mountain top is surrounded by clouds and mist, and thousands of rays of sunlight shine below the mountain, just like a fairyland. Historical records state that it has the reputations of ‘Emerald Floating on Lingshan Island’ and ‘Painting Screen on the Sea’.
Sixthly, Lingshan Island is in a natural ecological environment. People living on the island are mostly long-lived. Islanders mainly engage in fishing and cultivating precious marine products. They work at sunrise and return at sunset, row boats and play in the water, and anchor boats and fish. After coming ashore: drink fine wine, eat seafood, meet friends, play chess, and talk about the past and present. The atmosphere and public security are good and safe. Doors are not locked at night and lost articles are picked up and returned. People are simple, kind-hearted and hospitable. They live a self-sufficient and peaceful natural life. It is a ‘peach blossom spring’ that people yearn for.
Seventhly, the sea products are abundant, high-quality, and of high grade. Multiple investigations by national and scientific departments from Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Qingdao have concluded that Lingshan Island is a natural treasure island. The even distribution of the seawater gradient around the island is unparalleled in the country. Coupled with an excellent climate and suitable water temperature, and the absence of any pollution, the sea products around the island are of high quality and high grade. Precious varieties of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and other marine life naturally grow around the island. The island’s seafood processing methods still adhere to natural techniques, without any adulteration, colorants, or chemical additives, ensuring purity, authenticity, and delicious taste. On the island, visitors can not only enjoy the natural charm of Lingshan Island but also savor high-grade seafood delicacies. Eighthly, the island boasts excellent freshwater quality and ample water sources. In ancient times, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang ascended Langya Terrace three times (opposite the island), the tribute from Lingshan Island was the island’s ‘sugar spring water’, which never forms scale in kettles and is beneficial to health when consumed regularly. Supplementary policy details: 1. Free ticket policy: Children under 1.2 meters in height enter for free. 2. Discount policy: Elderly people over 75 years old with a senior citizen card can purchase discounted tickets at the scenic area (the above discount policies need to be purchased at the scenic area). 3. The above information is for reference only; please refer to the actual information disclosed on the day of your visit to the scenic area.
Lingxian Stone Scenic Area
Ling Mountain Island is located in the Yellow Sea 20 nautical miles southwest of Qingdao City, Shand[...]
