Zhifu Island
Encyclopedia
Zhifu Island or North Island , is an islet
with historical significance in Shandong Province
, China
. The name of the islet Chefoo was generalized to mean the entire Yantai
region in older western literature.
, the island is 4 km from Downtown Zhifu and is 10 km x 1 km. Part of Public Road No. 26 connects the western end of the island and the north part of the mainland peninsula. Originally, the island was disconnected from the mainland, but for a period of millennium of years, the sand and soil in the ocean floor built up a 600-metre wide pathway. Thus the island is called the "Mainland-connecting Island" in Chinese (陸連島); it could even be considered a small peninsula.
The island's largest mountain
is Laoye Mountain (老爺山 Lǎoyé Shān) at 294.1m. The Old Lady Stone (婆婆石 Pópó Shí) is on a cliff, at 43.49 metres above sea level, named because of its resemblance to a woman hugging the ocean waves. The southern part of the island is forested.
dating indicated that the island has been settled since the Neolithic
period.
People were buried here during the Zhou Dynasty
, including Lord Kang of Qi State (齊康公), who died on the island. The ruins of the cemetery still exist today. Lord Yang Temple (陽主廟 Yángzhǔ Miào) was built during the early Zhou Dynasty
by the State of Qí (齊) to worship Lord Yang, the fifth deity of the Eight Divine Generals (八神將).
Because of a legend of a Mountain of Immortality, Qin Shi Huang
visited the island three times looking for the elixir. He left a couple of stone inscriptions still visible today:
Today, there are places like Shihuang Way (始皇道 Shihuang Dao), and Fish-shooting Tower (射魚台 Sheyu Tai) named after the emperor. Having failed to discover the elixir, he sent a Xu Fu
(徐福) off the mainland from Yantai
, to sail away and find the elixir of life
with hundreds of men and women.
After performing a ceremony in the Yangzhu Temple, Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty also left an inscription in 94 BC
: "Arrived at Zhifu, which floats on Great Ocean. Mountains call out 'Ten thousand years
!" (登芝罘，浮大海，山稱萬歲).
Now, the island is mainly a tourist attraction. In addition, clam
s and abalone
s can be fished here in abundance.
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
with historical significance in Shandong Province
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The name of the islet Chefoo was generalized to mean the entire Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
region in older western literature.
- AreaAreaArea is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
: 11.5 km² - Coast line: 22.5 km
- Average temperature: 11.40-13.50°C
Administration
Administratively, Zhifu Island is a part of Dàtuǎn Village (大疃村), Xingfu Sub-district, Zhifu District, Yantai City, Shandong Province. Dàtuǎn has a part on the mainland, where the offices and most residents are.Geography
Located in Bohai SeaBohai Sea
Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
, the island is 4 km from Downtown Zhifu and is 10 km x 1 km. Part of Public Road No. 26 connects the western end of the island and the north part of the mainland peninsula. Originally, the island was disconnected from the mainland, but for a period of millennium of years, the sand and soil in the ocean floor built up a 600-metre wide pathway. Thus the island is called the "Mainland-connecting Island" in Chinese (陸連島); it could even be considered a small peninsula.
The island's largest mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
is Laoye Mountain (老爺山 Lǎoyé Shān) at 294.1m. The Old Lady Stone (婆婆石 Pópó Shí) is on a cliff, at 43.49 metres above sea level, named because of its resemblance to a woman hugging the ocean waves. The southern part of the island is forested.
History
Archeological exhibitions discovered over 200 artifacts, including stone axes, and short axes (錛 : Bēn), pottery fragments, bone needles, and bone hairpin. These and Carbon-14Carbon-14
Carbon-14, 14C, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues , to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological...
dating indicated that the island has been settled since the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period.
People were buried here during the Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
, including Lord Kang of Qi State (齊康公), who died on the island. The ruins of the cemetery still exist today. Lord Yang Temple (陽主廟 Yángzhǔ Miào) was built during the early Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
by the State of Qí (齊) to worship Lord Yang, the fifth deity of the Eight Divine Generals (八神將).
Because of a legend of a Mountain of Immortality, Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
visited the island three times looking for the elixir. He left a couple of stone inscriptions still visible today:
- During his second visit in 218 BC218 BCYear 218 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Longus...
, he left the inscription: "Arrived at Fu, and carved the stone" (登之罘，刻石). - The last time (210 BC210 BCYear 210 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marcellus and Laevinus...
), "Came to Fu, saw enormous stone, and shot one fish" (至之罘，見巨石，射殺一魚).
Today, there are places like Shihuang Way (始皇道 Shihuang Dao), and Fish-shooting Tower (射魚台 Sheyu Tai) named after the emperor. Having failed to discover the elixir, he sent a Xu Fu
Xu Fu
Xú Fú ; was born in 255 BC in Qi, and served as a court sorcerer in Qin Dynasty China. He was sent by Qin Shi Huang to the eastern seas twice to look for the elixir of life. His two journeys occurred between 219 BC and 210 BC. It was believed that the fleet included 60 barques and around 5,000 crew...
(徐福) off the mainland from Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
, to sail away and find the elixir of life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
with hundreds of men and women.
After performing a ceremony in the Yangzhu Temple, Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty also left an inscription in 94 BC
94 BC
Year 94 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caldus and Ahenobarbus...
: "Arrived at Zhifu, which floats on Great Ocean. Mountains call out 'Ten thousand years
Ten thousand years
The use of the phrase "ten thousand years" in various East Asian languages originated in ancient China as an expression used to wish long life to the Emperor, and is typically translated as "long live" in English...
!" (登芝罘，浮大海，山稱萬歲).
Now, the island is mainly a tourist attraction. In addition, clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
s and abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
s can be fished here in abundance.
Etymologies
Possibilities include:- "A Barrier in the Shape of a Magical Plant"
- Zhi is a magical and powerful plant, which the island's shape resembles
- Fu a barrier of ocean
- A magical mountain name (significance unknown)
- From Qin Dynasty's Zhifu (之罘), officially changed to the present character in late Qing DynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
- From Qin Dynasty's Zhifu (之罘), officially changed to the present character in late Qing Dynasty