Legendary Journey - A Review of Dalian Paishi Scenic Area - In Memory of the Recently Vanished "Table Leg"

Recommended by a friend, I first visited Paishi Village with my family on September 13, 2019. I only intended to enjoy a fisherman's meal, but the stunning beauty of the seaside stone rows truly amazed me.

On June 30, 2021, I accompanied friends from Jilin to visit Paishi Village again, and everyone was amazed.

On August 7, 2021, I took colleagues to Paishi Village once more. After returning, some colleagues told me they had a great time. But it was a bit regrettable that out of more than twenty colleagues, only four made it to the scenic area's most famous attraction, the "Table Leg"; the others thought it was too far.

On December 13, 2021, a friend told me that the most famous attraction in Paishi Village, the "Table Leg," had collapsed. I felt really upset.

Unable to sleep tonight, and needing to drive early tomorrow, I decided to write something to commemorate the "Table Leg," recommend the stunning Paishi Scenic Area to friends who have never been, and also remind everyone to cherish the beauty around us—once it's gone, only regret remains.

The most beautiful scenery is sometimes right beside you, but you never notice it. When you lose it, you may sigh and wonder why you didn't cherish it.

Let me take you on a tour of the Paishi Scenic Area in chronological order. First, let me show you what it was like in September 2019:

The Paishi stone rows are located along the coastal highway of Dapaishi Tun, Tuoshan Township, Wafangdian, Dalian. The entire coastline is studded with strange rocks, among which a row of reefs stretches into the sea like a fan, resembling the tail of Godzilla. Standing there, one cannot help but marvel at the wonders of nature. This formation is also the origin of the name "Paishi" (stone rows). Nearby, the Tuoshan stone cliffs, also known as the Sutra Rock, are typical sedimentary rock formations. Their neatly layered appearance resembles stacked Buddhist scriptures, hence the name. Beside the Sutra Rock, there are many sea-eroded caves and stone pillars, the most famous of which is a stone pillar called "Table Leg." This was also the cover photo of China National Geographic in January 2020. In addition to the Paishi stone rows, there is also Wafangdian Jiangjunshi (General Rock) about 5 kilometers away, which is also worth a visit.

The nearby beach has fine sand, which is especially rare along the Dalian coast, where most beaches are pebbly.

Here are some photos from June 30, 2021, to see if the scenery differs by season:

Below are photos from my most recent visit on August 6–7, 2021:

The local farmhouse accommodations are very good, especially the food, which is excellent and not expensive. Including accommodation, it costs about 200 yuan per person for three meals a day.

Paishi is located at the eastern headland of the Longfengtan Scenic Area within the Luotuoshan Coastal Forest Park in Wafangdian. A row of reefs extends into the sea—this is Paishi. The nearby village is also named after it. Along the shore near Paishi, there are attractions such as Stone Monkey Watching the Tide, Tuoshan Stone Cliffs, Old Dragon Head, Fisherman Going to Sea, Goddess Gazing at the Sea, Crescent Bay, Sun Gathering Stone, Seahorse Stone, Crouching Ox Stone, and the Paishi Beacon Tower. These form a complete set of themed landscapes combining ocean, marine erosion landforms,奇特 rocks, and historical sites.

The Paishi Scenic Area is one of Dalian's most similar scenic spots to the stone rows in Tibet. It is located near the coastal highway in Wafangdian, Dalian, Liaoning Province. If you have altitude sickness and cannot go to Tibet, come to Dalian to see the Paishi stone rows.

Dalian Paishi, also known as Tuoshan Paishi, is located within Tuoshan Township, Wafangdian, Dalian, on the central section of the west coast of the Liaodong Peninsula. Tuoshan Paishi is a typical marine erosion landform, with continuous stone cliffs, layered and steep rock formations, clearly defined and wonderfully beautiful, like walls. Combined with the icy sea scenery, it is truly magnificent.

The Tuoshan stone cliffs are layered and neatly arranged, resembling stacks of Buddhist scriptures, hence also called "Sutra Rock" or "Thousand-Layer Wall."

Some cliff faces have been eroded by seawater to form sea caves that run through from top to bottom, as well as variously shaped rock formations.

The so-called "Table Leg" was a pillar holding up the sky—the classic and heart of the Paishi landscape. Unfortunately, it collapsed on December 12, 2021.

In the past, during peak tourist season, people had to line up to take photos here; patience was essential.

The Paishi in winter is spectacular in many ways. Whether at dawn or dusk, scenes with ice and snow have a unique charm. You can search online to see them; I didn't go during the ice and snow season on my three visits.

The reefs here are colorful, with various minerals giving the rocks a vivid palette.

On a winter day at high tide, the Paishi beach is covered with ice and snow, creating a different world.

Overall, it's the kind of pure natural landscape I love to see.

I don't know if anyone maintains it, but it is definitely not overdeveloped—in fact, hardly developed at all. I think it's a natural landscape, very rare.

Near the lodging, I met a villager selling apples who was using crutches. Without a second thought, I bought a bag—life isn't easy for him.

Besides the beautiful scenery, the local fisherman's meals will definitely satisfy your appetite, and they are astonishingly cheap.

The entire scenic area does not charge an entrance fee. Unfortunately, after the pandemic, the Jiangjunshi scenic area no longer receives tourists, which is a bit regrettable.

It takes less than two hours to drive from downtown Dalian to the Paishi Scenic Area. I recommend staying overnight to fully enjoy the scenery and food.

I've already been there three times and still miss it. I will go again. Trust me, Dapaishi will not disappoint you!

The most beautiful scenery is right beside you...