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Meizhou Island

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Meizhou Island, the second large island of Putian city, lies in 42 kilometers of southeast of Putian urban center and only 1.82 sea mile away from the main land. The area of the firm ground is 14.35 square kilometers, including more than 30 islands, islets, and reefs. Meizhou Island is 72 sea miles away from Taizhong Wharf of Taiwan It is 9.6 kilometers from the north to the south of the island, and 1.3 kilometers from the west to the east of the island. The middle part of the island is plain and the whole coastline of it is 30.4 kilometers. There are 13 sandy beaches of all kinds, which are more than 20 kilometers. The rock of marine abrasion amounts to 5 kilometers, the seabed of which is mainly made from granite and diabase. Meizhou Island boasts the typical maritime monsoon climate of subtropical zone, with average annual temperature 18-20℃, the average annual rainfall 1,000 millimeters. Meizhou Island yields numerous products. The industries of sea product catching and feeding are well developed; abound with prawn, lobster, conch, swimming crab, roach, sea Li, laver, etc.  

Meizhou Island has ever been named as "the Southern Penglai Island", which is a fabled adventurous Island for fairies living happily. On the island there are more than 30 places of interest such as attractive Sound of Mei Tide, Jiubao River Golden Beach with a name of Eastern Hawaii, Fantastic Stones in the shape of geese tail in the Little Stone Forest. What’s more, there is a Temple of the Sea Goddess Mazu, which is attractive for 200 million people with belief of the Sea Godess Mazu. On the 23^rd of the third lunar month and 9^th of the ninth lunar month, which are the dates when the Sea Godess Mazu was born and passed away respectively, people come on a pilgrimage amounts to the most. Meizhou Island therefore is praised as Eastern Mecca.

The southeast of Meizhou Bay faces the Taiwan Straits, opposite to Taiwan Island far away. Because it locates between the mainland and the sea in the shape of eyebrow, it is therefore named Mei Island. The Mazu Temple on the island is famous in and abroad. Mazu was called Linmo(AD 960-987). She was respected as Sea Goddess because she had ever saved many fishmen and business ships when she was alive. She was also granted the respectful titles such as Heavenly Princess, Heavenly queen and Heavenly Blessed Virgin Mary by the past dynasties imperial courts. Meizhou Island is the hometown of Mazu, where the Mazu Temple is called respectively as Heavenly Queen Palace Meizhou Temple. This temple was built at Song Dynasty Yongxi Forth year(AD 987), when Linmo passed away. The temple was originally only made of several rafters. It was rebuilt by several imperial governments to be grander day by day. Zhenghe, the famous navigator in Ming Dynasty who had travel to south pacific for seven times in his life, reported to the emperor that the Sea Goddess had appeared on the sea, and he was granted to give a pontifex on Meizhou Island and rebuilt the temple in a larger scale by the emperor. When Kangxi unified Taiwan, the general Shi Lang reported that the army had been helped by the Goddess. The Mazu Temple therefore was again rebuilt. At present, Mazu Temple has been renovated with carved beams and painted rafter. It is splendid and a holy land for all the oversea Chinese and Chinese sailors. It is said that Mazu temples amounts to more than thousand, more than 580 of which are in Taiwan province. Many people come to pay pilgrimage on 23^rd of the third lunar month which is Muzu’s birthday and on 9^th of the ninth lunar month which is the day when she passed away. How splendid and crowded the scenery is!

There are carvings such as Flying to the Heaven and Enjoying the Tide at the back of the temple. One can stand on the rock to appreciate the sea, white gulls flying, and boats traveling on the sea. The sea and the mountain connected here and there, and the sky kisses the sea far away from your sight. There is large stretch of diabase in sea bed of the rock in front of the temple, eroded by the wind and the great wave, and formed the natural groove. The tide up and down and the sound of it comes from far away to nearby. The sound of the tide is like that of the string instruments and later becomes that of drum and clock, and finally like the roar of dragon and tiger. Then it turns to be the huge thunder and as if the shower is rushing down. The exciting Sound of Tide on Mei Island is famous for this gorgeous scenery.

Location:

Ticket Price:

Opening Time:
7：00——19：00

How to get there:

taking the bus in Wenjia Wharf without getting out of the station to Meizhou Island Wharf, which will cost you only 6 RMB.

Tips:
1.The festival activities of Meizhou Island On 23rd of the third lunar month which is Mazu’s birthday and 9th of the ninth lunar month when Mazu flied to the heaven, memorial ceremonies are held according to the historical convention in spring and autumn. Mazu’s lantern festival is held from 17th of the first lunar month to 19th of the first lunar month. 2.Special Advice of Meizhou Island There are many sellers near the beach of the Meizhou Island. They will sell their products forcefully. Therefore you’d better not buy goods from them. If you can’t help eating the food they are selling, remember to bargain and said like Chairman Mao that price of everything should be cut for a half. 3.There are ferries travels between Meizhou Island and Zhongmen peninsular. On the island is Heaven Palace Hotel and the new Meizhou Grand Hotel, Meizhou Hotel, etc.