Jiuduansha, Nature reserve and alluvial island in Zhuqiao, China
Jiuduansha is a nature reserve with intertidal wetland shoals where the Yangtze River meets the sea. The area contains four main mudflat formations that shift and change shape naturally over time.
The area formed from major Yangtze River floods in the middle of the 20th century that reshaped the rivermouth. These natural events separated and created the mudflat formations we see today.
The name Jiuduansha translates to Nine-Part Sands in Mandarin. This place holds importance as a breeding ground for hairy crabs, a prized ingredient in Chinese cooking and local tradition.
Access is limited since this is a protected nature area where wildlife comes first. The best time to visit is during migration seasons when birds and marine animals are most active.
The site shelters rare birds like spoonbills and also serves as a home for dolphins and finless porpoises in the river. Few visitors realize this mudflat reserve supports a surprising variety of marine and bird life in one place.
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