View source for Pingtan Island

{{Short description|Island in Fujian, China}}
{{infobox Chinese
|pic=File:Pingtan Beach - panoramio.jpg|piccap=Pingtan Beach
|t={{linktext|平潭|島}}
|s={{linktext|平潭|岛}} 
|w=P‘ing-t‘an Tao
|p=Píngtán Dǎo 
|poj=Pêng-thâm Tó
}}
{{infobox Chinese |title=Other names
|altname=Haitan Island
|s2={{linktext|海坛|岛}} |t2={{linktext|海壇|島}}
|poj2=Hái-tân-tó
|p2=Hǎitán Dǎo |w2=Hai-t‘an Tao
}}
{{Location map
 |China Fujian
 |label=Pingtan Island
 |lat_deg=25|lat_min=32|lat_sec=48
 |lon_deg=119|lon_min=46|lon_sec=36
 |position=right
 |width=220
 |float=right
 |caption=Location of Pingtan Island
}}

'''Pingtan Island''' or '''Haitan Island'''<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/12/442/pdf|title=Coordination of Marine Functional Zoning Revision at the Provincial and Municipal Levels: A Case Study of Putian, China|author=Faming Huang, Yanhong Lin, Huixin Liang, Rongrong Zhao, Qiuming Chen, Jie Lin and Jinliang Huang|journal=[[Journal of Marine Science and Engineering]]|date=3 December 2019|volume=7 |issue=12 |access-date=10 February 2020|page=5|doi=10.3390/jmse7120442 |quote=Haitan Island |doi-access=free |bibcode=2019JMSE....7..442H }}</ref> is an [[islands of China|island]] of [[Fuzhou]] off the east coast of mainland Asia in [[Pingtan County]], [[Fujian Province]], [[China]] (PRC), south of the complex estuary of the [[Min River (Fujian)|Min River]]. It is the largest island in Fujian and the fifth-largest island administered by the People's Republic of China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Pingtan|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/home/2012-07/24/content_15612106.htm|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>

==History==
In June 1955, there were considerable road and military constructions across the Haitan Island, including roads leading to possible artillery positions on the mainland. These positions might have been used to protect the Haitan Strait, which was thought of as a favorable staging area for further amphibious operations against the [[Matsu Islands]], and even Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79-00927A000500120003-3|title=Current Intelligence Weekly Summary|date=30 June 1955|publisher=[[CIA]]|via=[[Internet Archive]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79-00927A000500120003-3/page/n11 2]}}</ref>

The site was added to the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage]] Tentative List in 2001, under Haitan Scenic Spots, in the Mixed category (Cultural & Natural).<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1633/ Haitan Scenic Spots - UNESCO World Heritage Centre]; added to Tentative List on November 29, 2001.</ref>

==Geography==
Administratively, the island is part of [[Pingtan County]], which also includes several smaller islands and part of the nearby mainland. Most of the county's towns, including its seat of government at [[Tancheng, Pingtan County|Tancheng]], are on the island. Large areas of the island's coast have undergone [[Land reclamation in China|land reclamation]], along with major building and infrastructure projects.<ref>Cf. especially the historical imagery timeline available for [[Google Earth]].</ref>
Pingtan is separated from [[mainland China]] by the Haitan Strait. Most of the nearby mainland is the [[county-level city]] of [[Fuqing]], administered as part of the [[prefecture-level city]] of [[Fuzhou]].

Pingtan is separated from [[Taiwan Island]] by the [[Taiwan Strait]]. Following the completion of its bridge to the mainland in 2010, Pingtan may be considered as the closest part of the Chinese "mainland" to the Taiwan Island.

Under current international agreement, the island's southernmost extremity forms the boundary between the [[East China Sea|East]] and [[South China Sea]]s.{{sfnp|IHO|1953|loc=§49}} In the still-unapproved draft of the new edition of the [[International Hydrographic Organization|IHO]]'s ''[[Limits of Oceans and Seas]]'', {{nowrap|Cape Xiang}}{{mdash}}the ''northernmost'' extremity of the island{{mdash}}forms the boundary between the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, with the South China Sea having its northern boundary moved to the south end of the strait.{{sfnp|IHO|1986|loc=[https://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/S-23WG/S-23WG_Misc/Draft_1986/S-23_Draft_1986_North_Pacific.pdf Ch. 7.2]}}

=== Climate ===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Pingtan has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. Over the course of the year, the average temperature is about 66.92&nbsp;°F. The hottest day of the year is between July and August, with an average 82.4&nbsp;°F. The coldest day of the year is between January and February, with an average 51.8&nbsp;°F. Pingtan has never experienced an extreme temperature under 32&nbsp;°F. Because Pingtan is located between Haitan Strait and [[Taiwan Strait]], the windspeed is high with annual average 4.8&nbsp;m/s (10&nbsp;mph).<ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭 - 气象数据 -中国天气网|url=http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101230108.shtml|access-date=2021-04-20|website=www.weather.com.cn}}</ref>

=== Environment ===
[[File:發光的藍眼淚.jpg|thumb|Blue tears]]
"Blue tears" is a phenomenon caused by a bloom of the plankton [[Vargula hilgendorfii]]. This animal radiates light when disturbed in turbulent water, thus creating a blue glow. This usually occurs in summer, during April to August. "Blue tears" attracts many tourists to Pingtan. However, a large outbreak of the phenomenon may harm the environment, as it depletes oxygen and releases toxins in the sea. This may cause a [[red tide]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carey|first=Jonathan|date=2019-06-14|title=China's Bioluminescent Blue Tears Are Beautiful and Associated With Toxic Blooms|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/china-blue-tears-red-tides|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
The island relies on tourism and anticipates that foreign investment will spur economic growth. The first major bridge to cross the Haitan Strait was completed in November 2010, connecting the island to [[Fuqing]] on the mainland. Spanning 4,976 meters (3 miles), it cost 1.4 billion RMB (about US$200 million) to build.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pingtan Island, a before and after story in the making|url=http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news14842.html|publisher=Whats On Xiamen , Inc.|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930003100/http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news14842.html|archive-date=30 September 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

An 88.5-km (55 mile) long [[Fuzhou]]-Pingtan Railway (the [[Fuping Railway]], [[:zh:福平铁路|福平铁路]]), connecting 
[[Fuzhou]] to Pingtan Island, via [[Changle]] and a series of bridges, is under construction. The project was approved in November 2012. It was expected that the work would start by the end of the year, and was completed on December 26, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=福平铁路正式开通运营|url=http://www.sasac.gov.cn/n2588025/n2588124/c16324946/content.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142604/http://www.sasac.gov.cn/n2588025/n2588124/c16324946/content.html|archive-date=October 10, 2023|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In early 2012, it was announced that a large cloud computing center would be built in Pingtan.<ref>{{cite web|title=China to Build Cloud Computing Center in Pingtan Near Taiwan|url=http://www.hostingtecnews.com/china-build-cloud-computing-center-pingtan-near-taiwan|publisher=Hostingtecnews|access-date=6 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415170333/http://www.hostingtecnews.com/china-build-cloud-computing-center-pingtan-near-taiwan|archive-date=15 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture==
A {{convert|430000|sqft|adj=on}} museum, the Pingtan Art Museum, is currently under construction in the island. The museum, designed by the Chinese-American firm [[MAD Studio]] on an artificial island, is scheduled for completion in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title= China - The museum is an island | url=http://www.inexhibit.com/case-studies/china-museum-island-pingtan-art-museum-mad/ |publisher=[[Inexhibit]]|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Longfengtou Beach.jpeg|thumb|Longfengtou Beach]]

== Places of interest ==

Because of Pingtan's location, it experiences strong sea winds throughout the entire year. To combat the weather, villagers build their houses with rocks. The old traditional stone-built houses are resistant to wind and roaring waves.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Colorful castles of stone in Pingtan|url=http://en.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2014-12/22/content_587222_2.htm|access-date=2021-04-21|website=en.chinaculture.org}}</ref> Moreover, the house are comfortable to live in. This special architectural style attracts many tourists and boosts economic growth. Beigang village is a famous fishing villages, featuring a large number of stone houses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭石头屋{{!}}文章{{!}}中国国家地理网|url=http://www.dili360.com/article/p543bc9b1c086a19.htm|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.dili360.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brief introduction to Beigang Village|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/fujian/pingtan/2017-02/09/content_28146502.htm|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> Pingtan has a large ancient cultural building named Haitan Ancient City, a popular vacation site.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pingtan's Top 10 Must-See Scenic Sports|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/fujian/pingtan/pingtantop10mustseescenicsports.html|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>

The flat beach in Pingtan is also an attractive destination, featuring a long coastline and pristine beach. Longfengtou Beach is a famous beach, covering about 21 hectares (52 acres), at 9.5 kilometers (6 miles) long. It is located next to [[Haitang Bay|Haitan Bay]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Longfengtou Beach[1]|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/fujian/pingtan/2017-02/17/content_28238121.htm|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>
[[File:Longfengtou Beach.jpg|thumb|Longfengtou Beach]]
[[File:Haitan Ancient City.jpg|thumb|Haitan Ancient City]]

== Sports ==
At the 2017 [[China Sports Culture: Sports Tourism Expo]], Pingtan was nominated as "2017 [[China's Top Ten Sports Tourism Destinations]]". In recent years, Pingtan has made use of its policy advantages, location advantages and natural resources advantages to successfully host several International Kite Surfing Festivals, International Cycling Opens, [[Open water swimming|Open Water Swimming Championships]], International Sailing Tournaments, [[National Beach Volleyball Tournaments]], and [[World Fight Tournaments]]. Pingtan Sports Tourism Project has attracted widespread attention from the industry and tourists.<ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭大力发展体育旅游 打造国际海上休闲基地和国际时尚运动基地|url=http://www.pingtan.gov.cn/jhtml/ct/ct_2925_65564|access-date=2021-04-22|website=www.pingtan.gov.cn}}</ref>

=== Kiteboarding ===
Because of the location, Pingtan is the region with the best wind conditions in China. The average annual wind reaches 20 [[Knot (unit)|knots]]. The best time for [[kiteboarding]] in Pingtan is from May to November. With the ideal wind condition and flat water, the [[LV beach]] becomes the most popular practice place in Pingtan. For people who come from afar, learning kitesurfing in Pingtan saves not only a lot of time and economic costs, but also could find the fun of kitesurfing in a short term. In Pingtan, most clubs adopt the IKO International Kite Surfing Association's teaching specifications. All training courses uses [[Ozone Gliders|Ozone]], Airush, and [[North Sails|North]] kite surfing equipment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭风筝冲浪中心丨中国风力条件最好的地区|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/236851311_655081|access-date=2021-04-22|website=www.sohu.com|language=en}}</ref> There are also many kiteboarding competition in Pingtan. In 2019 [[International Kiteboard Championship]] (Pingtan Station), there are nearly 150 contestants from 20 countries and regions. This is the largest kite surfing event held in Pingtan so far with the largest number of participants. 2019 International Kiteboard Championship (Pingtan Station) is authorized by the [[International Sailing Federation]] (WS) and the [[International Kite Surfing Association]] (IKA). The international competition level is divided into 200 points, and the total prize money of the competition reaches 50,000 US dollars.<ref>{{Cite web|title=第八届平潭国际风筝冲浪节今日开幕！_比赛|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/340723543_194873|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.sohu.com|language=en}}</ref>

A leading Chinese exponent of [[Formula Kite]],  [[Jingyue Chen]], was born here and she competed in the 19th Asian Games here and took the gold medal.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/china-daily-usa/20231002/281809993531911 |access-date=2024-07-13 |via=PressReader}}</ref> She is China's contestant for the event at the 2024 Olympic Games.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=12 January 2024 |title=Formula Kite: the 40 qualified athletes for Paris 2024 |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/the-formula-kite-road-to-the-paris-2024-olympic-games |journal=Surfer Today}}</ref>

=== Cycling ===
There are many cycling competitions held in Pingtan, including the "Ocean Cup" China Pingtan International Cycling Open, founded in 2014 as one of the series of events of "[[6.8 World Ocean Day and National Ocean Promotion Day]]". The number of participants set a record for domestic cycling single-day events for three consecutive years.<ref>{{Cite web|title="海洋杯"中国•平潭国际自行车公开赛 - 2020"海洋杯"平潭国际自行车公开赛官网|url=http://www.hycycling.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=17|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.hycycling.com}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
The transportation in Pingtan is rapidly developing. Since it is the closest place between [[mainland China]] and [[Taiwan]], the government attaches great importance to its transportation.

=== Ferry === 
Pingtan is linked with [[Taichung]] and [[Kaohsiung]] in Taiwan by [[Haixia (ferry)|Haixia ferry]], departing from Aoqian Wharf.

=== High-speed rail ===
[[Pingtan railway station|Pingtan High-speed Railway Station]] in Zhonglou township opened in December 2020 as the terminus of the [[Fuping Railway]], incorporating the  [[Pingtan Strait Road-Rail Bridge]], China's first road-rail bridge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭高铁中心站已动工 计划2019年完工|url=http://www.pingtan.gov.cn/jhtml/ct/ct_2925_63956|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.pingtan.gov.cn|archive-date=2021-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427214841/http://www.pingtan.gov.cn/jhtml/ct/ct_2925_63956|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=祖国大陆离台湾岛最近的铁路开通了！|url=http://detail.ptnet.cn/cnurl/new/ptnews/2020-12-27/477562-cn.html|access-date=2021-04-24|website=detail.ptnet.cn|archive-date=2021-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424202106/http://detail.ptnet.cn/cnurl/new/ptnews/2020-12-27/477562-cn.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Roads    ===
[[File:Pingtan.jpeg|thumb|Pingtan]]
14 bus routes operate in the area, with the Pingtan New Automobile Passenger Terminal as the main hub since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=再见旧汽车站！搬迁背后看平潭交通巨变_工作|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/443700828_120206874|access-date=2021-04-25|website=www.sohu.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=平潭新汽车客运枢纽站主体框架全部完工-闽南网|url=http://www.mnw.cn/news/pingtan/1988778.html|access-date=2021-04-25|website=www.mnw.cn|archive-date=2023-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142541/http://www.mnw.cn/news/pingtan/1988778.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Bicycles ===
A bus rental scheme, the Pingtan Public Bicycle Project, with 52 bicycle stations and 2,000 cycles, has been in operation since May 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=欧耶！平潭公共自行车投用啦！52个站点2000辆车（附详细站点及攻略大全）！１小时内免费哦！|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/142881749_194873|access-date=2021-04-25|website=www.sohu.com|language=en|archive-date=2022-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401160949/https://www.sohu.com/a/142881749_194873|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Maps==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:Map of Taiwan (Formosa) in 1880, from- Stanford's map of the empires of China and Japan with the adjacent parts of the Russian Empire, India, Burma etc. LOC 2006458442 (cropped).jpg|Map of the area including Haetan (1880)
File:Taiwan_Strait.png|Map including Pingtan Island (labeled as Haitan Dao)
File:Txu-oclc-10552568-ng50-12.jpg|Map including Pingtan Island (labelled as P'ING-T'AN {{lang|zh|平潭}}) ([[Army Map Service|AMS]], 1954)
File:Operational Navigation Chart H-12, 5th edition.jpg|Map including Pingtan Island (labeled as HAI-T'AN TAO) ([[Defense Mapping Agency|DMA]], 1972)
File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-22834566 h-12c.jpg|Map including Pingtan Island (labeled as HAITAN DAO) ([[Defense Mapping Agency|DMA]], 1996)
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Islands}}
* [[List of islands of Fujian]]
* [[Niushan Island]]
* [[Fuzhou–Pingtan railway]]

== References ==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=''S-23:'' Limits of Oceans and Seas |edition=3rd |date=1953 |location=Monaco |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |ref={{harvid|IHO|1953}} |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho-ohi.net/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S23_1953.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-08 }}.
* {{citation |url=https://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/S-23WG/S-23WG_Misc/Draft_1986/Draft_1986.htm |title=''S-23:'' Limits of Oceans and Seas |edition=4th (draft) |date=1986 |location=Monaco |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |ref={{harvid|IHO|1986}} |access-date=2019-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412231804/http://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/S-23WG/S-23WG_Misc/Draft_1986/Draft_1986.htm |archive-date=2016-04-12 |url-status=dead }}.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
*[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1633/ UNESCO World Heritage Centre: tentative Haitan Scenic Spots World Heritage Site]

{{Fujian topics}}

{{Coord|25|32|48|N|119|46|36|E|scale:250000|display=title}}

[[Category:Islands of Fujian]]
[[Category:Islands of the East China Sea]]
[[Category:Islands of the South China Sea]]
[[Category:Taiwan Strait]]
[[Category:Populated places in Fujian]]