Haimen Island is located at the mouth of Jiulong River, adjacent to Haicang in Xiamen in the north and Longhai in Zhangzhou in the west. The Xiamen-Zhangzhou Cross-sea Bridge spans Haimen Island, and the whole island is spindle-shaped, with an area about twice that of Gulangyu Island. Historically, Haimen, Xiamen and Jinmen were known as the "three gateways" along the coast of southern Fujian. They face each other from a distance, forming a unique triangular geographical position, supporting each other and being indestructible.
There are two villages in Haimen Island, one is Haishan Village with mangroves and the other is Pinghai Village with Little Beach. Before the Xiamen-Zhangzhou Cross-sea Bridge was opened, it was necessary to enter Haimen Island by boat, so the villagers living on the island mainly fished, supplemented by farming and planting. Haimen Island was originally three adjacent islands. In the 1970s, it was connected by artificial reclamation during the agricultural Dazhai period, forming a landscape of hills and marine plains.
Haimen Island seafood is far more popular than Haimen Island itself. When I first met Haimen Island, I thought most of them came for seafood. I didn't know there was not only affordable seafood here, but also another side you didn't know. Haimen Island is also a paradise for all kinds of birds. There are more than 40 species of birds on the island, including grey heron, myna, heron, brown-backed shrike and kingfisher.
When you come to the seaside, you will find endless mangroves growing on the beaches and shallows of Haimen Island. This mangrove forest is a provincial nature reserve, with a wide variety, such as Kandelia candel, Tung oil tree, white bone soil, rat music, Xiamen rat music and so on. Mangrove is a shrub-like jungle that grows on the beach. It is green all the year round, and has extremely high requirements for water quality and surrounding environment, and it can only survive in beaches. )
Besides seafood, bird watching and mangroves, the ancient houses on the island are also worth tasting and appreciating. Most of the ancient houses here were built in the Qing Dynasty, which is the traditional architectural style of southern Fujian with red brick dovetail saddle ridge. After vicissitudes of life, they give people a simple aesthetic feeling.
Waves, beaches, ancient buildings, docks and fishing boats constitute the unique fishing village style of Haimen Island. Walking among them, I don't think it is to find beautiful scenery and delicious food, but more to find long-lost peace and nature.