Luodousha Island, also known as Xinsha Island by locals in Xuwen, is located on the sea about 50 kilometers east of Xuwen County, Leizhou Peninsula. It is shaped like a dustpan and a golden hairpin and also resembles a seahorse. According to legend, during the Kangxi period (1662 – 1722), there was a sand island one kilometer to the east of the island. Due to crustal changes, it sank under the sea water or is said to have moved westward to here. At first, it was hidden under the sea water, and only when the tide ebbs would a long sandbar be exposed. Later, due to tidal action, the sandbar became higher and higher, forming an island called Xinsha Island. Xinsha Island is 7,750 meters long, 1,500 meters wide, and has an area of 4.9 square kilometers. It runs from northeast to southwest. The east is high and wide, while the west is low and narrow. The sea sand on the island is soft and contains black minerals. Stepping on it makes a sound. There are成片 of casuarina forests. Horseshoe vine and nutgrass flatsedge grow luxuriantly. Seabirds inhabit here, and their chirping is pleasant. The environment is quiet and secluded, just like a fairy island. Living on Luodousha is like being on a fairy boat on the sea. Looking around, the vast sea and sky are boundless. Listening to the tide is like listening to drums, and the wind singing is like strings. It has a special charm. Xinsha Island originally had two harbors. Ships of 40 tons can take shelter and dock here.The island, once abandoned due to sediment encroachment and filling, has transformed over time. In 1979, the Qianshan Protection Forest Farm, a state-owned entity in Xuwen, planted over 100 mu of casuarina forests, which now provide a thick canopy of shade. Surrounding the island, the sea is dotted with peculiar reefs, and the tidal sounds resonate like drums. The area is a rich fishing ground, particularly for species such as yellow croaker, grouper, large yellow croaker, pomfret, moray eel, and prawns, making it one of Guangdong Province’s primary yellow croaker fishing areas. During the spring fishing season, the scene is bustling with fishing boats casting nets and reeling in their catches.
Deep in the South China Sea, this island offers a spectacular view of the ocean’s grandeur and the power of its waves, providing a refreshing experience for the body and soul. Visitors can indulge in seawater baths, sunbathing, and beachside relaxation. Running along the white sandy beach, one can hear the unique sounds it emits, earning it the name “sounding beach.” Mirages are also a wonder to behold here.
Picnics on the beach are a delightful experience, especially with the addition of delicious yellow croaker. The island is also a haven for birdwatching, as it is home to a variety of seabirds that inhabit and breed year-round. Luodousha, also known as Xinsha Island, is renowned as a seabird island in the Leizhou Peninsula area. Each year, particularly in May and June, seabirds congregate to lay eggs, creating a sight of sandpits filled with eggs of various colors and sizes, a charming spectacle indeed.This is an ecological highlight and adds a bit of charm to ecological tourism. Xinsha Island is not small. However, in the face of strong typhoons and extremely high tides, it still has the danger of being submerged by the waves. As it is deep in the belly of the South China Sea, so far, there are no permanent residents on Xinsha Island. Only seabirds can be regarded as islanders. In addition, only fishermen who occasionally stop by temporarily.
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