Reporters have long had a wish to visit the real estuary of the Yangtze River. Why do you say this? It started in August 2012. After watching the spectacular scene of the Yellow River entering the sea in Kenli, Dongying, Shandong Province, the reporter then went to Paotou Wetland Park in Wusongkou, Shanghai in early December of that year to search for the landscape of the Yangtze River entering the sea. At that time, it was thought that it was the estuary of the Yangtze River. In fact, it was just the place where the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River converged, and it was not the real estuary of the Yangtze River.

Setting off for Qidong, Jiangsu (Photography; Feng Ganyong)

On the morning of November 26, 2018, after the reporter ended the interview activity of "Cultural Renaissance-Shanghai Center Guan Baocong Ceramic Art Exhibition", he had a period of free time. So through a careful investigation by his Shanghai friend Wang Guojian, he had confirmed the real destination of the Yangtze River estuary. After the reporter and his Shanghai friends Huang Qiaomei, Xu Heyin, Jin Fukang, Zhang Youshi, Qiu Zelian, Liu Feng, Ye Renmin, Zeng Weixin, Luo Jianqing, Yao Huiqin, Xia Qiangying and other 13 people. Drive together to the Yuantuojiao Scenic Area in Qidong, Jiangsu Province, where the real Yangtze River estuary is located.

Crossing the Yangtze River Bridge (Photography; Feng Ganyong)

The three cars of the reporter's party set out from different places in Shanghai and agreed to meet before arriving in Qidong. The reporter's car started from Anting Villa Garden Hotel in Xuhui District, where he stayed, followed the Outer Ring Road out of Shanghai and entered the G40 Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway. It successively crossed the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge and the Chongqi Yangtze River Bridge. After more than three hours and more than 140 kilometers, it successfully arrived at Yuantuojiao Scenic Area in Qidong, Jiangsu Province near noon that day.

Arriving in Qidong (Photography; Feng Ganyong)

Qidong is located in the easternmost part of Jiangsu Province. To the east and south are the sea, and to the north is the Yangtze River that is about to flow into the sea. It faces Chongming Island in Shanghai across the river. It is surrounded by water on three sides and is shaped like a peninsula. It integrates golden waterways, golden coast, and golden land roads. Because it is the place where thousands of miles of Yangtze River enter the sea, it is an important gateway to and from rivers and seas, and it is also the earliest place for sunrise in Jiangsu.

Corner by the sea (Photography; Feng Ganyong)

When I arrived at Yuantuojiao Scenic Area, I just happened to be in time for the all-round overall renovation construction. It is reported that Yuantuojiao, Qidong, located at the intersection of the Yangtze River, Yellow Sea and East China Sea, will soon emerge as a world-class Yangtze River estuary tourist resort. And this "Xinhu Qidong Yuantuojiao Project" is also in full swing.

Scenic spots under renovation (Photography; Feng Ganyong)

Although it is impossible to enter the scenic spot, the reporter's ultimate goal is to see the spectacular scene of the Yangtze River entering the sea, so he has to try to reach the seaside first. So, after many inquiries, our car finally found a road leading to the bank of the sea. After turning left and right, finally a motorcade of three of our cars came to the highway around the sea. It was really exciting to look at the endless sea. At this time, the positioning of our mobile phone showed that the blue dot in the location map where we were located was the intersection of the Yangtze River estuary.

Location map of the estuary (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Along the highway around the sea, our car stopped and inquired while walking. Finally, we saw the clear water color of the muddy yellow river water and the blue sea water. We saw the vast expanse of smoke in our vision, and on the sparkling sea, from right to left, the Yangtze River, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea meet here in turn. The spectacular scene of three waters competing and salty and fresh tides sharing is really exciting.

Photo taken by the sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In fact, there is a towering monument to the Yangtze River entering the sea in the Yuantuojiao Scenic Area. The overall shape is that of a ship that is about to set sail. The cursive script "Thousands of Miles of Yangtze River enters the sea here" selected from Mao Zedong's words is vigorous and powerful, implying that thousands of miles of Yangtze River Crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, facing the sun and merging into the sea. But we didn't see it because we didn't enter the scenic spot.

Photo taken by Jianghai No. 1 sentry (Photography; Wang Guojian)

However, the two landscapes of "Jianghai No. 1 sentry","Sea Gate" and "River Tail and Sea Head" located on the bank of the river and sea, as well as the statue of the goddess of the sea, were all witnessed one by one and were forever fixed by our camera. After that, we left a group photo of intimate contact.

Tourist attractions sign (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

On the road around the sea, a worker who was under construction learned that we had come from afar to explore the estuary of the Yangtze River and enthusiastically told us the story of the statue of Dayu. In the middle of Yuantuojiao Scenic Area, there is a stone statue of Dayu, which is 19.99 meters high. It is the largest stone statue of Dayu in the country. The statue of Dayu is thick and simple, with bright eyes facing the south, reflecting the strong will of the ancient people of our country to conquer nature.

Statue of Dayu (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

It turns out that there is a very legendary story surrounding this statue. It is said that raging super typhoons often occur here. According to data, after the formation of Tropical Storm No. 9 in 2011, it was upgraded to a super typhoon twice, with the maximum wind force near the center of 14. At that time, Typhoon "Plum Blossom" was heading all the way in the direction of Qidong, but it turned north at the last moment. Why did the people of Qidong believe that it was Dayu's divine power that protected them?

The embankment separating the river and sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

So how did this statue of Dayu come about? It is said that a county and city in Shandong introduced a jar of Dayu statue from Zhejiang. Unexpectedly, the car carrying the statue could not start on the way, and no problem could be found during inspection. It was suspected that the gods were around, so they burned incense and prayed to ask for the gods 'intentions. However, a series of place names were reported, but the car did not start. When reporting to Qidong, the car suddenly started. Qidong, it started.

Photo taken at the tail of the river and the head of the sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Later, people in Qidong heard about this and complied with the oracle of God's will and built the current statue of Dayu in Yuantuojiao Scenic Area to protect the Baili Haitang in Qidong. Ten years later, Typhoon "Plum Blossom" hit, and finally bowed his head in front of Dayu and left obediently.

The Yangtze River enters the sea with clear divisions (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Locals introduced to reporters and their party that standing at Yuantuo Kok, the vast Yangtze River flows into the sea. The East China Sea and the Yellow Sea are divided here. The three waters meet, making it spectacular. Coupled with the unique natural landscape of watching the sun in the sky, many literati and scholars It is a pleasure to go to Yuantuo Kok to watch the sunrise.

Haizhimen (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The most ideal way to view the Yangtze River entering the sea at Yuantuojiao is to climb the Jianghai embankment or go up the Yinyang Tower in the morning. The red sun shines brightly with the blue waves, and the sunset shines in the west. Golden dragons surge across thousands of miles of rivers; at night, stars and bright moon, fishing fires shine, sparkling, leisurely and contented, or take a boat to the intersection of the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Yangtze River to watch the spectacular scene of the three waters blending and meeting. All of them are filled with emotion and amazement.

Goddess of Sea God faces the sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The coastal beaches of Yuantuo Kok are wide. In the three seasons of spring, summer and autumn, tourists sit on oxcarts and go sightseeing along the beach. Tourists pick up mud snails and step on clams here, and their beautiful movements are like dancing "disco on the sea." In addition, the unique conditions of the intersection of three rivers have created high-quality seafood, river fresh and river fresh delicacies here. Enjoying delicious food, observing the sea view and blowing the sea breeze has become a combined feast of taste, vision and touch at Yuantuo Kok.

Scenery of rivers and seas (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

It is reported that the new plan of Yuantuo Kok will deeply explore the land potential here, position the Yangtze River Estuary Tourist Resort Project from a high starting point, and plan to build a large-scale comprehensive resort integrating tourism, business, leisure, entertainment, sports and high-end residential buildings.

Coastal Wharf (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the near future, a Yangtze River theme park and museum, Fisherman's Wharf, Temple Cultural Park, Sun Lake Leisure Area, Golf Course and Resort will be built here. Among them, the Yangtze River Theme Park will build a miniature landscape of the Yangtze River for thousands of miles. From the source of the Yangtze River to the corresponding section of the Chongming estuary, it will imitate landmark buildings such as Lhasa, Yushu, Chongqing, Three Gorges, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Shanghai to reproduce the characteristic landscapes of various regions and cities in the Yangtze River Basin., historical culture and local cuisine.

Ping An Bell (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Yuantuojiao Resort will take the river breeze and sea charm as its core characteristics, and follow the overall image of "bright moon on the sea, vacation paradise, river breeze and sea charm, leisure resort" and the standards of a national-level tourist resort to create an international-level river breeze and sea charm experience base and Yangtze River Delta leisure tourism destination that integrates ecological tourism, sports and leisure, science education, conferences, exhibitions, holiday residences and other functions, providing tourists with unparalleled tourism experience.

Water reflects the sunset (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Coming out of the Sea Highway is Evergrande Sea Venice Seafood City. At noon, the reporter and his party enjoyed an inexpensive and affordable lunch with crab roe buns, fresh meat wontons and steaks, beef noodles, etc. In the evening, the Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant here allowed us to enjoy a sumptuous and happy dinner composed of many dishes.

Corner of seafood city (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The successive construction of Evergrande Sea Venice and various tourism projects such as Xinhu Yangtze River Park, Blue Sea and Silver Sand Two-Color Sea, Coastal Leisure and Entertainment Base, Golden Beach Wetland Park, Binjiang Coastal Landscape Avenue, Lianxing Port Fisherman's Wharf, World Farm Expo Park, etc., not only provides various types of tourism service facilities, but also adds luster to the complete supporting facilities of Yuantuojiao Scenic Area.

Venice on the Sea in the Dawn (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Evergrande Sea Venice here is planned and designed based on the concept of the water city of Venice, Italy. 40 world-famous bridges run through the inland sea waters, and 58 residential islands are built into private houses, sea-viewing mansions, and ocean houses. It is home to the royal gardens of five European countries, ten luxurious top-level facilities, and 3.5 kilometers of world-style beaches.

Seaside Building (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

That night, the reporter and his party stayed at the Haiting (Heng) Bay Hotel in Venice on the sea. An independent three-story villa is located in the Venice Water City. The buildings are connected by beautiful waters in the middle, and the scenery is pleasant. The reporter and his party booked all the guest rooms in the entire hotel. The room is fully equipped with all the facilities and is extremely comfortable. The breakfast the next day was very rich.

Night view of Venice at sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At night, the lights and night scenes in Venice on the sea are even more dazzling and charming. The reflection of small bridges and scattered buildings decorated with colorful lanterns is intoxicating in the rippling water. Here, people can enjoy the multiple styles from the Renaissance to the modern avant-garde. The long scroll of scenery arranged in sections on a Timeline allows people to travel through it at any time and have a dream time travel. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)