Where is Weizhou Island from?

Central Beibu Gulf, Haicheng District, Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Weizhou Island is located in the middle of Beibu Gulf in Haicheng District, Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It borders Beihai City in the north, Leizhou Peninsula in the east, Xieyang Island in the southeast, Hainan Island across the sea in the south and Vietnam in the west.

Location context

Weizhou Island is located in the middle of Beibu Gulf, bordering Beihai in Guangxi in the north, Leizhou Peninsula in the east, Xieyang Island in the southeast, Hainan Island across the sea in the south and Vietnam in the west. The latitude and longitude range is 20 54'-210' north latitude and 0/0' east longitude, with a total area of 24.74 square kilometers.

Geological landform

Weizhou Island is located on the continental shelf along the coast of Guangxi. This used to be the sea of Wang Yang 300 million years ago, and there was land 285 million years ago. Until the Early Tertiary 50 million years ago, it was still in a dry and hot continental climate. It was not until 25 million years that the Beibu Gulf area began to sink on a large scale, forming a shallow continental shelf. By 3 million years, the seawater in the northern part of Beibu Gulf gradually receded. Until 900,000 years ago, Weizhou Island became land again, showing a state of weathering and erosion. The climate is still warm and humid, with occasional droughts. In the early Middle Pleistocene, 900,000 years later, Weizhou Island was below sea level again, and it was not until the late Late Pleistocene, 230,000 years later, that Weizhou Island completely surfaced and appeared. From 2.5 million to 7,000 years, there were at least four basic volcanic eruptions in Weizhou Island, forming the main strata on the island. During this period, Weizhou Island experienced many marine storms, earthquakes and tsunamis. The interaction between seawater and coast at ordinary times resulted in the colorful marine erosion, marine accumulation and beach landforms in Weizhou Island today.

Humanistic customs

Like fishermen in other coastal areas of China, most residents of Weizhou Island worship Mazu (known locally as "three old ladies" because Mazu ranks third among brothers and sisters) as a god. Weizhou Island Sanlao Temple (also known as Mazu Tempel and Tianhou Palace) is located in the south of Weizhou Island and the north of Nanwan Port. The temple is built under a volcanic cliff, surrounded by mountains and seas, with unique architecture. Because the original Tianhou Palace was very dangerous because it was under the cliff, a new Tianhou Palace was built in front of it. The temple is dark red and there is an old banyan tree in the yard. On New Year's Day in China, when fishing boats go home, residents will worship them with chickens, ducks, fish and jewels. Every year, on the 23rd of March, Mazu's birthday, and during the harvest season in the lunar calendar 10, fishermen will hold a grand celebration ceremony to thank the three old ladies for their safe harvest. This move was called "happiness" for the three old ladies by the locals. The trip to Weizhou Island is held once a year, usually at the end of the year.

Travel information

Admission to Weizhou Island Scenic Spot is 98 yuan/person, and children, students, servicemen, the disabled and the elderly who are over 1.2m but under 1.4m can enjoy the 49 yuan/person discount, while children, journalists, tour guides and island residents who are under 1.2m are free. Geological museum Weizhou Island to the crater of the battery car fare 20 yuan/person (round trip).