| Lian Island | |
| Map: | China |
| Area Km2: | 7.57 |
| Country: | China |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Jiangsu |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | City |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Lianyungang |
Lian Island is the largest island in Lianyun District, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China. The island is located inside Haizhou Bay in the Yellow Sea. It is 9km (06miles) long from east to west across the island and it has an area of 7.57km2. 80% of the island is covered with forests. The longest sea dyke nationally (6.7km (04.2miles) long) connects the island with the east of the city of Lianyungang. Lian Island is the only AAAA-class seashore tourist attraction in Jiangsu. The island was formerly known as Yingyou hill.[1] [2]
Lian Island is on the southern edge of the temperate zone, which results in its subtropical monsoon maritime climate. With distinct seasons and pleasant weather, climates here are humid due to the influence of the sea. The average annual temperature is 14 °C (57.2 Degrees Fahrenheit) with the highest average temperature in August at 26.8 °C (80.24 Degrees Fahrenheit) and the lowest in January at 1.1 °C. (33.98 Degrees Fahrenheit)
Throughout the year, there are approximately 223 days having an average temperature of 10 °C or even higher and an average rainfall of 882.6 mm.[3]
Dashawan (Chinese: 大沙湾), a natural beach, is situated in the middle of Lian Island. It is about 1800 meters long and averagely 150 meters wide, which makes it the largest beach in Jiangsu Province. Considering its fine sandy beaches, clean water and moderate temperature, Dashawan is regarded as one of the best beaches in eastern China.
The Seashore Boardwalk is 2000 meters long, stretching to Dashawan in the west and Sumawan (Chinese: 苏马湾) in the east. Along the Seashore Boardwalk orderly lies the Forest Park, the Peacock Garden, the Fishing Islands and some other attractions, including a scenic walk.
Sumawan (Chinese: 苏马湾) is also known as Valentine's Bay where couples prefer to take their wedding photos. It can be reached by walking along the Seashore Boardwalk till the end. Sumawan is surrounded by misty mountains except its side where lies the soft sandy beach as well as the clean blue sea. The singing of birds and the rustle of their wings add to Sumawan's natural charm.
Qiansan Islands (Chinese: 前三岛) lie in the north-east of Lianyun district, consisting of Pingshan Island (Chinese: 平山岛), Dashan Island (Chinese: 达山岛) and Cheniushan Island (Chinese: 车牛山岛). There is a distance of 24 miles between Qiansan Islands and Lian Island. Travelers can take yachts for 2 and a half hours from Lian Island to get to Qiansan Islands.
On the top of Lian Island stands a statue of Deng Xiaoping.
On February 19, 1997, Deng Xiaoping died in Beijing. Ocean is considered where the one with his whole lifetime full of miracles belongs to. On March 2, according to Deng’s the wishes, Present Hu Jintao, together with Deng’s wife Zhuo Lin, memorized this great man in a simple but solemn way by scattering his ashes into the sea the statue is facing.With a total weight of 6 tons, the statue which is made of high quality bronze is designed by Professor Li Xiangqun (Chinese: 李象群) from the Statues and Sculptures College of Tsinghua University.