Approaching Antarctic Village

The Origin of Zhanjiang Dengloujiao and Waterline (Heshui Line) 1. The Origin of Dengloujiao Geographical Naming and Historical Evolution Dengloujiao is located in Jiaowei Township, Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, and is the southernmost geographical landmark of the Chinese mainland (20°13'14" N, 109°55' E)19. Its name comes from the construction of the lighthouse: Qing Dynasty Lighthouse: In the 16th year of Guangxu (1890), the Qing government built the earliest navigation lighthouse on the Leizhou Peninsula, the Guanjiaowei Lighthouse, as a navigation aid for trade routes between China and Southeast Asia19. Modern Lighthouse: In 1994, to commemorate the centenary of the lighthouse, Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office built a new 36.6-meter-high hexagonal modern lighthouse, with the words "Southernmost Point of the Chinese Mainland" on the tower, which became a landmark building1810. Strategic and Historical Significance Military Stronghold: Dengloujiao was the starting point of the PLA's crossing of the Qiongzhou Strait in 1950, and the site of the command post and memorial hall for the crossing of the Qiongzhou Strait still exist129. Colonial Ruins: France and other powers once built Western-style houses and baths here, and some of the ruins still exist810.   2. The Formation and Characteristics of Heshui Line Geographical Boundary and Natural Landscape Heshui Line is a unique natural wonder of Dengloujiao, formed by the confluence of the Qiongzhou Strait and the Beibu Gulf: Confluence of Tides: The tide of the Qiongzhou Strait flows from east to west, and the tide of the Beibu Gulf flows from north to south. The two currents collide at the sandbar of Dengloujiao, forming a V-shaped wave158. Sandbar Appears: At low tide, a sandbar about several kilometers long appears, resembling a horn extending into the sea, known as the "Kissing Tide" or "Love Scale"5915. Ecological and Cultural Significance Coral Reef Group: The surrounding waters are home to the largest coral reef reserve in China (10,867 hectares), covering 82 species of coral68. Tourism Value: Heshui Line presents different landscapes due to tidal changes, making it an excellent place for photography and sightseeing, especially at sunrise and sunset, which are the most poetic times1314.