Wandering the World (1543): Tuoshan Paishi

One day in early September 2021, I took a self-driving trip with friends to enjoy Tuoshan Paishi. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Tuoshan Paishi is located in Tuoshan Township, Wafangdian, Dalian, within the eastern part of Longfengtan Scenic Area of the coastal forest park. It is a typical sea erosion landform, with continuous stone walls, layered and steep rock formations, clear, beautiful and奇妙 rock layers, like walls and cliffs. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Because a row of rocks resembles an open fan stretching into the sea, the locals call it Paishi (Stone Row), also known as Fan-shaped Rock, and the nearby village is named after it. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Tuoshan Paishi is located in the middle section of the west coast of the Liaodong Peninsula. We set off from Dalian and exited the Shenyang-Dalian Expressway at the Wafangdian exit. The picture shows the Shilipu Service Area where we took a break along the way.

Tuoshan Paishi scenic area currently does not charge an admission fee, so there is no main gate or dedicated shuttle bus. Most visitors come by self-driving, and some even come by bicycle.

These cycling enthusiasts are taking photos.

There are also people who come here in RVs for picnics and camping.

They brought homemade dishes, fruits, and beer.

The sea breeze brushes the face, bringing waves of coolness. The sea in front, shrouded in light mist, looks like a fairyland. We stood on a cliff dozens of meters high extending into the sea at Paishi Village, Tuoshan Township, Dalian. In the distance, the Tuoshan Paishi cliffs stand steep, as if carved by a knife or split by an axe.

At the edge of the seaside cliff, there is a warning sign saying "Cliff Depth Danger."

Along the nearly 100-kilometer western coastline of southern Liaoning, the mountains and sea have been blending since ancient times. The picture shows wind turbines in Tuoshan Township.

The undulating land and the sometimes calm, sometimes unruly Bohai Sea have created countless wonderful landscapes. Among them, the various Paishi (stone rows) in Tuoshan Township, Wafangdian, are particularly breathtaking! Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

The undulating land and the sometimes calm, sometimes unruly Bohai Sea have created countless wonderful landscapes. Among them, the various Paishi (stone rows) in Tuoshan Township, Wafangdian, are particularly breathtaking! Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Over millions of years, the collision, scouring, erosion, and integration of mountains and sea have finally revealed to the world a unique sea erosion landform. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Over millions of years, the collision, scouring, erosion, and integration of mountains and sea have finally revealed to the world a unique sea erosion landform. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

In the Tuoshan Paishi scenic area, the characteristic forms of sea erosion landforms—cliffs, beaches, platforms, caves, pillars, bridges, etc.—are almost all present, making it comparable to a natural display window of sea erosion landforms, truly rare. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

In the Tuoshan Paishi scenic area, the characteristic forms of sea erosion landforms—cliffs, beaches, platforms, caves, pillars, bridges, etc.—are almost all present, making it comparable to a natural display window of sea erosion landforms, truly rare. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Tuoshan Paishi is a typical sea erosion landform: continuous stone walls, layered and steep rock formations, clear, beautiful and奇妙 rock layers like walls and cliffs, plus the sea view, making it very spectacular. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Tuoshan Paishi is a typical sea erosion landform: continuous stone walls, layered and steep rock formations, clear, beautiful and奇妙 rock layers like walls and cliffs, plus the sea view, making it very spectacular. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

The weather was uncooperative, and we encountered an autumn rain.

The weather was uncooperative, and we encountered an autumn rain. Tourists were taking photos in the rain.

Tourists were taking photos in the rain, enjoying themselves.

On the cliff, there is a notice: "This is an aquaculture area, no beachcombing."

Unknown wildflowers bloom at the edge of the cliff.

You can follow a winding path down to the bottom of the cliff. Pedestrians are free, vehicles cost 10 yuan each time. There is the Fluorescent Sea Resort here, which should offer accommodation.

Tuoshan Paishi photographed from the seaside at the bottom of the cliff.

Tuoshan Paishi photographed from the seaside at the bottom of the cliff.

In front of us, a stone cliff about 20 meters high and 1000 meters long unfolds like a wall, layer upon layer.

In front of us, a stone cliff about 20 meters high and 1000 meters long unfolds like a wall, layer upon layer.

In the light mist, the stone cliff looks like piles of accumulated poetry books, some neatly arranged, others seemingly randomly stacked. This kilometer-long forest of books—is it something immortals accidentally left in the human world, or a classic intentionally left for mortals?

The mist receded, the rain cleared, and the book forest revealed its clear appearance: the earthy yellow layered cliff body looks like yellowed ancient books. This is the locally famous "Sutra Rock," also called "Thousand-Layered Wall" or "Stone Book Cliff."

The mist receded, the rain cleared, and the book forest revealed its clear appearance: the earthy yellow layered cliff body looks like yellowed ancient books. This is the locally famous "Sutra Rock," also called "Thousand-Layered Wall" or "Stone Book Cliff."

Strange landscapes and beautiful things are often accompanied by beautiful legends. Local people say that these rolls of "stone books" were sent by the sea god through immortals walking on the waves, one page each day, recording the secret recipe for the people's happiness and well-being. Over time, they weathered into stone and stood on the shore. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Strange landscapes and beautiful things are often accompanied by beautiful legends. Local people say that these rolls of "stone books" were sent by the sea god through immortals walking on the waves, one page each day, recording the secret recipe for the people's happiness and well-being. Over time, they weathered into stone and stood on the shore. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

In fact, geologically speaking, Paishi is a typical sea erosion landform. The rocky coast of the Tuoshan area faces a vast sea area, with deep water close to the shore. The tides and waves have long caused strong impact, scouring, and dissolution of the coastal rocks. Combined with rock weathering and the rock's own properties and structure, this has formed a "sea erosion cliff" on the seaward side of the stone wall. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

In fact, geologically speaking, Paishi is a typical sea erosion landform. The rocky coast of the Tuoshan area faces a vast sea area, with deep water close to the shore. The tides and waves have long caused strong impact, scouring, and dissolution of the coastal rocks. Combined with rock weathering and the rock's own properties and structure, this has formed a "sea erosion cliff" on the seaward side of the stone wall. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Near Tuoshan, due to seawater erosion, not only Paishi but also many sea erosion caves that penetrate up and down, as well as various oddly shaped rocks, have been formed.

Some parts of the cliff have also formed sea erosion caves that penetrate up and down, and various oddly shaped rocks due to seawater erosion.

Walking among them feels like entering a natural museum of stone sculpture: landscapes such as "Stone Monkey Watching the Tide," "Fisherman Going Out to Sea," "Crescent Bay," and "Paishi Beacon Tower" are bizarre in shape, vivid in form and spirit, and indescribably wonderful. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

On one side is the vast blue sea, with waves crashing against the shore, rolling up thousands of piles of snow; on the other side is the landform landscape created by nature's uncanny workmanship under the cliff.

Reading the beauty of the sea spreading over the cloudy cliffs, understanding where the joy of life lies. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

At this time, someone reminded everyone to hurry as the tide was rising. When visiting Tuoshan to see the cliff rocks, you need to check the tide times. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Around Wafangdian Paishi, there are other sea erosion landform landscapes such as Phoenix Rock and Turtle Rock. To fully enjoy the wonders of sea erosion landforms like the Tuoshan stone cliffs, you need to catch the low tide so you can go down to the seaside for a close view. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

To see the Tuoshan stone cliffs, you need to go down to the seaside during a big low tide, so check the tide schedule before you go. You can refer to the tide table of Changxingdao Port. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.

Many sea erosion landform areas in the scenic spot are always at risk of collapse. Moreover, the infrastructure such as food, accommodation, roads, and communication in the scenic area also urgently needs improvement and upgrading. Photo taken at Tuoshan Paishi.