Taohua Island of Zhoushan

Taohua Island

The island's name conjures up images of peach trees, their fruit a symbol of long life, their blossoms a symbol of love. But in fact, the island took its ancient name not from real peach trees but from natural black patterns on stones that resemble delicate branches of peach trees. These are fossil-like imprints of ancient branches, though folk legend attributes the black patterns to the ink accidentally spilled by a hermit named Anqi, who was practicing alchemy on the island in the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). The stones appear throughout the island and locals say that touching them will bring luck in seeking love, because in Chinese lexicology, the words "peach blossom" (taohua) suggest romantic encounters. Real peach trees have been planted on the island only in recent years.

Most Chinese learn of Taohua Island from a contemporary novel of martial arts, "The Eagle-Shooting Heroes", by Louis Cha (Jin Yong). Although the real Taohua Island is by no means Cha's fictitious island in the novel, it served as the archetype.

No wonder the island has been the most popular site for shooting movies and TV series based on Cha's novels. Four Chinese TV serials - "The Eagle-Shooting Heroes", "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "Duke of Mount Deer" - were filmed on the island.

Sets based on the novels were built on the island and have formed a theme park, the "City of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes", licensed by Cha whose calligraphy is to be found everywhere. The site is charming and peaceful; the buildings, shaded by ancient trees, rise into the hills. The rooms of some beloved characters in the novels are tastefully furnished.

Starting from 2004, the Jin Yong Martial Arts (Wuxia) Culture Festival is held here every other year around summer. It offers dazzling martial arts performances and competitions, all thrilling for Cha's fans.

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