Meizhou (Xiuyu)
Meizhou (Xiuyu) | ||
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Waters | East China Sea | |
Geographical location | 25 ° 4 '32 " N , 119 ° 7' 19" E | |
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surface | 16 km² | |
Statue of the goddess Mazu , Mazu Temple on Meizhou Island |
Meizhou ( Chinese 湄洲島 / 湄洲岛 , Pinyin Meizhou dǎo ) is an island in the Meizhou Bay in the district Xiuyu the prefecture-level city Putian the Chinese province of Fujian . It has an area of 16 square kilometers and a sandy beach with a length of 20 kilometers. The most famous attraction is the Matsu Temple, which was built in 987.
The island is dominated by a 14.5 meter high Matsu statue made of 365 stones (one for each day of the year). Since Matsu's birthday is on the 23rd day of the 3rd month of the Chinese calendar , 323 steps lead from the temple to the statue.
Administratively, the island of Meizhou is identical to the large community of Meizhou ( chin.湄洲 鎮 / 湄洲 镇Pinyin Méizhōu Zhèn), one of nine large communities and two communities that make up the district of Xiuyu .