There is an attraction on Shepan Island in Sanmen, Zhejiang – Pirate Village. The castle-like city wall encloses the entrance to Pirate Village. On the iron anchor in the center of the city wall, the three powerful characters ‘Pirate Village’ are strikingly visible. The top ring of the anchor handle has been corroded and damaged. Like a残缺 claw, it struggles to reach upward into the sky, seemingly still recounting the glorious struggles and battles of the past.
Directly in front of the scenic area’s main entrance is a group of rock sculptures. Sun En, Lu Xun, Fang Guozhen, Wang Zhi, and Zheng Zhilong, the five pirate heroes, are vividly portrayed. They are all elite figures in Chinese pirate history. What originally set off these elites was a stretch of green mountains. Later, due to the islanders’ quarrying from top to bottom in a shaft-hole style, and the subsequent blasting for stones in ancient rock caves by later generations, the mountain was flattened. The quarrying remains of ancient manual excavation and modern drilling and blasting intertwined to form the unique landscape before our eyes. On the cave wall on one side of the statue is inscribed a slogan: ‘When the Way does not prevail, one takes a raft and floats on the sea; the misfortune of man is to stand in court wearing a sash.’ The general meaning is that when there is no justice in the world and political corruption prevails, people rise up and go to sea; wearing official robes and being loyal to a fatuous monarch is the misfortune of life. In feudal Chinese society at that time, especially after the Ming Dynasty, the government’s maritime bans and persecutions drove fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants to a dead end. The heroes on land and the heroes in the East China Sea on the ocean convened between mountains and seas. One after another, they staged tragic and heroic episodes again and again in the history of the East China Sea.Opening hours: From January 1st to April 29th, open from 08:00 to 16:00 on Mondays to Fridays; from January 1st to April 29th, open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays; from April 30th to May 4th, open from 07:30 to 17:00; from May 5th to December 31st, open from 08:00 to 16:00 on Mondays to Fridays; from May 5th to December 31st, open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Preferential policies: Children: Those aged 6 years old (inclusive) or below or with a height of 1.2m (inclusive) or below are free; children with a height between 1.2m (exclusive) and 1.5m (inclusive) are eligible for preferential tickets. Minors: Minors aged 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive) (with valid certificates) are eligible for preferential tickets. Students: Full-time students from primary schools, middle schools, and universities (with student ID cards) are eligible for preferential tickets.
Supplementary note: The above information is for reference only. For specific information, please refer to the disclosure on the same day at the Shepan Island scenic area.
