Changdao County


The Changdao County ) is a county in Yantai, a prefectural area of Shandong in the People's Republic of China. It consists of the Changshan Islands within the Bohai Strait, directly north of Penglai. They are known for their sandy beaches and picturesque limestone cliffs. The total land area is only, but the coastline is long.

Geography

The Changshan Islands, also known as the Temple Islands or Miaodao Archipelago are an archipelago of 32 islands located across the southern portion of the Bohai Strait, the waterway connecting the Bohai Sea to the Yellow Sea, collectively named after the two largest islands. In Chinese, they are also known as the "Long Islands", and anciently as the "Sandy Gate Islands".

Administrative Divisions

The Changdao County has jurisdiction over one subdistrict, one town and six townships:
There are 32 islands in Changshan Islands, and 10 of them have permanent residential settlements. These islands are mostly formed by Proterozoic low-grade metamorphic rocks, with smaller amounts of Tertiary igneous rocks and Quaternary sedimentary rocks.
NameChinese NameLength Width Area Shoreline Maximum elevation
South Changshan Island南长山岛7.22412.820.02156.1
North Changshan Islands北长山岛5.12.67.8713.8195.7
Greater Heishan Island大黑山岛4.222.77.4712.03189
Lesser Heishan Island小黑山岛1.90.851.295.395.1
Miao Island 庙岛2.651.11.436.798.3
Tuoji Island砣矶岛4.753.97.0517.68198.9
Greater Qin Island大钦岛4.926.4414.55202.44
Lesser Qin Island小钦岛20.851.116.44148.9
South Huangcheng Island南隍城岛3.11.61.8312.09100.9
North Huangcheng Island北隍城岛2.851.92.6210.32159.8
Yulin Island 鱼鳞岛0.170.10.010.3819.5
South Tuozi Island南砣子岛0.860.40.1382.3115.1
Niutuozi Island 牛砣子岛0.550.350.111.3826.4
Yangtuozi Island 羊砣子岛0.550.350.111.3826.4
Shaobing Island 烧饼岛0.140.10.020.3819.6
Lijupa Island犁犋把岛0.190.080.010.422.4
Xie Island 蝎岛0.10.0450.0040.219.8
Houji Island猴矶岛1.10.470.282.7592.9
Lesser Houji Island小猴矶岛0.040.0250.00090.2223.3
Gaoshan Island高山岛1.30.70.463.55202.8
Lesser Gaoshan Island小高山岛0.0350.0250.00080.2212.6
Greater Zhushan Island大竹山岛2.11.21.495.2194.5
Lesser Zhushan Island小竹山岛0.80.40.24297.2
Cheyou Island车由岛0.640.10.051.2573.5
Tuozi Island砣子岛0.420.150.051.0660.3
Dongzuishi Island东嘴石岛0.050.040.0020.157.2
Shanzuishi Island山嘴石岛0.0650.020.00130.1716.7
Biegaishan Island 鳖盖山岛0.20.110.020.5742.8
Pojiao Island坡礁岛0.0850.020.00170.1512
Tanglang Island 螳螂岛0.970.250.152.0154.7
Danglang Island 挡浪岛0.50.40.131.8635.9
Maqiangshi Island马枪石岛0.10.0160.00150.148.9

Demographics

Ten of the islands are occupied, and there are twenty-two uninhabited islands, some little more than sand spits. There is one large town, Tuoji Town and seven smaller towns with forty villages, with a total population in the county of 52,000.

Economy

The major occupation is aquaculture, producing products such as sea cucumbers, abalone, sea urchins, bivalves, kelp, scallops, prawns and fish. Tourism is also important; many of the villages sport resort hotels.

Transportation

The islands are regularly served by both a passenger and vehicle Roll On, Roll Off ferry from Penglai. There is a small military airport on the largest island, South Changshan Island.

Tourism

Both Changdao National Forest Park and Changdao National Nature Reserve are located on the islands, which are on a cross-Bohai Sea flyway.
Temple Island got its name from the large number of temples that were built there. Xianying Palace is a temple that was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, starting in 1122. It was originally a Taoist temple to the sea goddess Matsu, but became Buddhist later. At the present time the local government has restored the temple to its Ming Dynasty appearance, although many additions had been made during the Qing.