I didn’t know there was such a place before I came here. My impression of Yantai, Shandong is the endless sea. I never thought that there would be a place with a special name, just by the sea. This is where I am about to go, Yangma Island. Before I went, I kept thinking why it’s not called a more beautiful name, why Yangma Island? To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to come here and see for myself.
Some people stop here, some scenery stops here. More than 5,000 years ago, Yangma Island was already inhabited, and it was called Elephant Island at that time.
More than 2,000 years ago, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of Qin dynasty, made several trips to this area. Once, his five favorite horses fell ill and couldn’t move forward. Shi Huang decided to find a quiet place with abundant grass for his horses to recover.
After searching, he found that Elephant Island, surrounded by the sea, had fertile soil and fragrant grass, making it the perfect place.
The next year, Qin Shi Huang came here again. He saw his five horses on Elephant Island full of life and vigor.
Shi Huang changed the name of the island to Yangma Island (Horse Raising Island) to commemorate the resurrection of his five horses.
Since then, it has had a new name – Yangma Island.
Along the east coast of Yantai, all the way east, enjoying the pleasant seaside scenery, after half an hour, you will see a red and blue rainbow-like cross-sea bridge, which is Yangma Island.
The island is very big. Once you get to the island, you will immediately feel relaxed, as if you have come to a paradise.
The seawater here is as blue as gems, making people intoxicated and enamored.
For 5,000 years, time has changed, wars and waves have come and gone, but it seems none of it has affected this place.
It is like a solitary island far away from the world, hidden behind the prosperity, with blue sky and blue sea, just being its ordinary self.
I have been here many times, and I always choose to ride a bike, because there is a flat and beautiful ring road around the island.
The ring road cycling is about 11 kilometers. Play some music, look at the sea, and feel the wind blowing all over your body. On the left is a hill, on the right is the sea. Occasionally, you can see a few friends enjoying the sea, so leisurely.
Although it is a 4A-level scenic spot, it is not crowded. There are a few farmhouses scattered on the island. Perhaps because there are nearby prosperous cities with decent sea areas, few people come here to find peace.
At the beginning of the ride, you will pass by the horse farm. There are children riding horses with staff, and a little horse left outside the fence is quietly eating grass. However, it was touched by a tourist and disturbed its meal. Finally, it ran away helplessly, wagging its tail.
Along the way, you can see many sculptures on the island, mostly about soldiers, horses. No matter how times change, the person who first discovered you left the deepest mark on you. Year after year, later generations can’t replace it. The warhorses roaring on the island, as if they were howling at those who have left long ago.
There are many fragrant flowers growing here, with the gentlest wind.
However, until now, the blue sea here still has few sailboats, and there are more tourists by the pier. The further you go to the back sea, the fewer people there are, but the sea becomes bluer, as if it is deliberately avoiding people.
Looking out, there are fishing boats sailing on the sea, slowly, like time flowing slowly.
If Shi Huang buried some treasure somewhere here, I wouldn’t be surprised. It deserves it.
After cycling around Yangma Island, looking back at the road I came from, I found a shallow beach washed by the seawater, accompanied by the blue sky, it was beautiful.
The sea breeze blows on my face. Looking at the blue water, butterflies fluttering, flowers swaying in the wind.
Lay down a piece of cloth, bring two or three friends, sing by the sea, have a picnic and drink. Everyday sadness, grievances, setbacks, the confusion of the future, all of them are not important.
At this moment, at this time, this sea is the only thing that matters.
May you have a place worth staying when you look back on the road you have traveled, and a sea waiting for you to come.
In the afternoon, I went to the seaside bathing area, facing the sea, the autumn air was fresh and clear. There are four big characters on the stones by the sea, “The sea bears witness.” I wonder how many couples have come here and made vows facing the sea. Coincidentally, the song “The sea turns into wasteland, true love never dies” by Xu Song is playing in my earphones. I wish all lovers can stay together forever.
Actually, Yangma Island is not that big. You can ride a bike and see most of the attractions on Yangma Island in less than half a day, but I don’t want to leave so soon after coming. I want to sit quietly by the sea in the afternoon when the sun sets, and let my mind go blank. It would be great.
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