東(dong)海(hai)(hai)(hai)島(dao)是一個(ge)平坦而開闊的大海(hai)(hai)(hai)島(dao),以(yi)擁有(you)世界第二、中國第一長沙灘而聞名(ming),海(hai)(hai)(hai)灣呈新月(yue)形,沙細且白(bai),海(hai)(hai)(hai)灘全長28公里,寬(kuan)100至(zhi)300米(mi),僅次于澳大利亞的黃金(jin)海(hai)(hai)(hai)岸(an),是廣東(dong)地(di)區海(hai)(hai)(hai)濱度假的好去處。島(dao)上(shang)(shang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)沙粗細適中無(wu)泥,其松軟度可與(yu)北戴(dai)河、芭提雅媲美,獨具(ju)南國海(hai)(hai)(hai)濱風(feng)情和特(te)色的椰林清吧園,是度假區的又(you)一景觀(guan)。游人在這里乘涼、觀(guan)海(hai)(hai)(hai)、品(pin)嘗多種美味(wei)小食,會令(ling)人頓覺心曠神怡,困意全無(wu)。在蔚為(wei)壯觀(guan)的海(hai)(hai)(hai)灘上(shang)(shang),你(ni)不但可以(yi)享受到輕型(xing)航空(kong)飛機(ji)、海(hai)(hai)(hai)上(shang)(shang)摩托艇、空(kong)中拉(la)(la)傘、沙灘跑車等各式各樣的游樂項目的樂趣,還可以(yi)與(yu)當地(di)漁(yu)民一道齊(qi)齊(qi)拉(la)(la)大網,品(pin)嘗海(hai)(hai)(hai)鮮,或到海(hai)(hai)(hai)中沖浪,盡情盡興,令(ling)你(ni)回味(wei)無(wu)窮。
是航船(chuan)進出湛江港的(de)(de)(de)咽喉之地,是天然的(de)(de)(de)“綠標”。其(qi)地下(xia)有(you)被遺(yi)棄的(de)(de)(de)軍事工程,洞(dong)穿山(shan)腰,機關巧沒(mei),詭不(bu)可(ke)記。現(xian)擬開發(fa)為多功能(neng)的(de)(de)(de)娛樂(le)場所——“地下(xia)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)宮”。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)嶺海(hai)(hai)拔不(bu)高,相形于平(ping)均自然標高約20米(mi)的(de)(de)(de)東海(hai)(hai)島(dao)(dao)(dao)有(you)“登龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)嶺而(er)小東海(hai)(hai)”之感。站立山(shan)頂,東海(hai)(hai)島(dao)(dao)(dao)的(de)(de)(de)自然風(feng)光盡收(shou)眼(yan)(yan)底。向(xiang)西注目,田疇干里,翠綠點(dian)綴,云蒸霞(xia)蔚(yu),面東遠眺,瀚海(hai)(hai)無涯,一(yi)(yi)碧萬頃,漁帆(fan)點(dian)點(dian),片云天遠;近看,白浪層層,銀沙如練;側耳傾聽,林海(hai)(hai)颯颯,濤聲(sheng)陣陣。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)玲的(de)(de)(de)得名沒(mei)有(you)文字可(ke)考,但在(zai)民間卻流(liu)傳(chuan)(chuan)著種種傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)。一(yi)(yi)說(shuo)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)嶺原(yuan)是當地龍(long)(long)(long)(long)家祖先選葬的(de)(de)(de)風(feng)水(shui)(shui)寶地,后遭朝廷(ting)的(de)(de)(de)破(po)壞而(er)堆(dui)土成山(shan)。另一(yi)(yi)說(shuo)很久很久以前,王(wang)母娘娘下(xia)凡(fan),不(bu)慎遺(yi)失香(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)珠一(yi)(yi)顆在(zai)香(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)港。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)王(wang)派(pai)遣(qian)十條小龍(long)(long)(long)(long)看守(shou)香(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)珠,其(qi)中一(yi)(yi)條白龍(long)(long)(long)(long)貪戀(lian)東海(hai)(hai)島(dao)(dao)(dao)的(de)(de)(de)美麗風(feng)光,擅離職守(shou),飛到東海(hai)(hai)島(dao)(dao)(dao)游玩,樂(le)而(er)忘返而(er)定居于此這些(xie)美麗的(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)都給(gei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)嶺增添(tian)了幾許(xu)神奇的(de)(de)(de)色彩。傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)寄(ji)托著人(ren)們美好的(de)(de)(de)愿(yuan)望,而(er)眼(yan)(yan)前的(de)(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)水(shui)(shui)嶺確象一(yi)(yi)條龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭昂起的(de)(de)(de)巨龍(long)(long)(long)(long)。
全長68公里(li),是近萬名農民、戰士、工人、學生(sheng)和機關干部(bu)苦戰22個(ge)月建成的,它與南三島共(gong)同(tong)構成湛(zhan)江港的門戶。自從1958年修建跨海(hai)大堤之(zhi)后,東海(hai)島不再是孤島。
俗稱龍(long)海(hai)灘(tan),長(chang)28公里,寬(kuan)150-300米,僅次(ci)了澳(ao)大利亞的黃金海(hai)岸,是中國第(di)一長(chang)灘(tan),世界第(di)二長(chang)灘(tan)。
在霞山(shan)火車(che)(che)站附近(jin)有(you)直達(da)東(dong)海(hai)島的旅游(you)專線(xian),或(huo)坐“霞山(shan)→東(dong)南”的車(che)(che)途徑東(dong)海(hai)島。
從湛江市區出發,驅(qu)車23公里可到達島如(ru)心(xin)的東山鎮,再往東走20公里,便到達“東海島省級旅游度(du)假區”。
東(dong)海(hai)島地處雷州(zhou)半(ban)島東(dong)部,位(wei)于北(bei)緯20°55′-21°55′,東(dong)經(jing)110°11′-110°21′。其東(dong)出(chu)太平(ping)洋,南(nan)下(xia)東(dong)南(nan)亞,西(xi)(xi)倚大西(xi)(xi)南(nan),是我(wo)國(guo)與印(yin)度洋、太平(ping)洋沿岸國(guo)家和歐洲海(hai)陸的(de)重要交匯(hui)點,是中(zhong)國(guo)大西(xi)(xi)南(nan)金三角(jiao)經(jing)濟(ji)區的(de)進出(chu)口咽(yan)喉。
傳說在宋恭帝向蒙古人投降被蒙古人擄走之后,為了支撐南宋的半壁江山,文天祥、張世杰等忠臣又擁戴益王趙昰繼位做皇帝。可(ke)是(shi)(shi),蒙古(gu)鐵騎很快又殺(sha)了(le)(le)(le)回來(lai)(lai),正危(wei)(wei)難(nan)之(zhi)(zhi)際(ji),忽然(ran)飛(fei)(fei)來(lai)(lai)一(yi)只大(da)蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die),聲(sheng)稱(cheng)(cheng)要救(jiu)駕(jia)。你道這蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die)是(shi)(shi)從(cong)哪里(li)(li)來(lai)(lai)的(de)(de)(de),原來(lai)(lai)是(shi)(shi)從(cong)吳道子(zi)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)“美女撲蝶(die)(die)(die)圖(tu)”上飛(fei)(fei)下來(lai)(lai)的(de)(de)(de)。吳道子(zi)人(ren)稱(cheng)(cheng)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)圣,他(ta)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)是(shi)(shi)很有靈氣的(de)(de)(de),只因(yin)當年宋徽(hui)宗趙信也(ye)是(shi)(shi)好(hao)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)之(zhi)(zhi)人(ren),他(ta)見這只蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)得傳(chuan)神,心生憐愛之(zhi)(zhi)意,便(bian)用御筆在撲蝶(die)(die)(die)的(de)(de)(de)撲字之(zhi)(zhi)上加上了(le)(le)(le)一(yi)個小(xiao)小(xiao)的(de)(de)(de)“免”字,成了(le)(le)(le)“美女免撲蝶(die)(die)(die)”。蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die)銘感(gan)皇恩,一(yi)直(zhi)未能報答(da),今見趙家有難(nan),使現身來(lai)(lai)救(jiu)駕(jia)。趙昰(shi)(shi)等人(ren)見形勢危(wei)(wei)急,便(bian)顧(gu)不(bu)了(le)(le)(le)許多(duo),紛(fen)紛(fen)爬(pa)上蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die)的(de)(de)(de)背脊逃(tao)命。蝴(hu)蝶(die)(die)(die)振翅(chi)一(yi)飛(fei)(fei),沖(chong)(chong)出重圍,為了(le)(le)(le)逃(tao)離(li)蒙古(gu)鐵騎的(de)(de)(de)追(zhui)趕,它拼命地(di)飛(fei)(fei)呀飛(fei)(fei),不(bu)知越過千山萬(wan)水,也(ye)不(bu)知飛(fei)(fei)了(le)(le)(le)多(duo)長時間。飛(fei)(fei)到一(yi)處海(hai)(hai)灣,已經(jing)筋(jin)疲力盡,再也(ye)飛(fei)(fei)不(bu)動了(le)(le)(le),便(bian)一(yi)頭(tou)栽到大(da)海(hai)(hai)里(li)(li),度成一(yi)個海(hai)(hai)島(dao)。再說(shuo)小(xiao)皇帝趙昰(shi)(shi),他(ta)睜開眼睛,見四面(mian)是(shi)(shi)海(hai)(hai)水,心里(li)(li)納悶,不(bu)知是(shi)(shi)什么地(di)方,但(dan)心里(li)(li)又想,剛才從(cong)臨(lin)安城逃(tao)出來(lai)(lai);如今見到大(da)海(hai)(hai),莫(mo)不(bu)就是(shi)(shi)臨(lin)安城東(dong)面(mian)的(de)(de)(de)東(dong)海(hai)(hai)。于是(shi)(shi)便(bian)沖(chong)(chong)日(ri)說(shuo)出:“哈(ha)哈(ha),我們逃(tao)到東(dong)海(hai)(hai)島(dao)了(le)(le)(le)。”由于皇帝開了(le)(le)(le)金口,從(cong)此就將錯就錯,把這里(li)(li)叫做“東(dong)海(hai)(hai)島(dao)”。
東海島特(te)產“民安灶(zao)(zao)蟹(xie)”,馳名遐邇,聲譽(yu)很高。灶(zao)(zao)蟹(xie)本也是(shi)蟹(xie),它(ta)是(shi)以(yi)(yi)捕捉于(yu)“灶(zao)(zao)”而得(de)名,這(zhe)“灶(zao)(zao)”便是(shi)人為的(de)蟹(xie)洞(dong)。蟹(xie)肥了要入灶(zao)(zao)“脫殼”,人們在(zai)這(zhe)人為的(de)蟹(xie)洞(dong)中(zhong)捕獲(huo)它(ta),便稱“灶(zao)(zao)蟹(xie)”。灶(zao)(zao)蟹(xie)也許是(shi)入灶(zao)(zao)以(yi)(yi)后得(de)以(yi)(yi)“自我(wo)完善”的(de)機會(hui),所以(yi)(yi)跟別的(de)蟹(xie)有很大的(de)差別,它(ta)具有“肥、香、甜、脆”以(yi)(yi)及“長命”的(de)特(te)點,蟹(xie)肉豐(feng)滿,蟹(xie)膏殷紅干(gan)實,味道芳香、甜美可口。
香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua),因其形狀似蘋果(guo),所以叫蘋果(guo)香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua),它是(shi)東海(hai)島的(de)(de)(de)特(te)產。東海(hai)香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)成熟(shu)后表皮(pi)呈白色(se),光滑鮮嫩(nen)。透過表皮(pi)隱隱可(ke)見瓜(gua)玉(yu)內(nei)部有一(yi)(yi)些青色(se)的(de)(de)(de)“瓜(gua)筋”。鼻子靠近香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)時,可(ke)聞到一(yi)(yi)股芬芳的(de)(de)(de)水果(guo)香(xiang)(xiang)味。香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)具(ju)有水分(fen)多,清(qing)甜脆(cui)口的(de)(de)(de)特(te)點(dian)。在(zai)藥用上(shang),它清(qing)熱解(jie)暑,利尿健(jian)脾胃(wei),是(shi)夏日(ri)食用的(de)(de)(de)南國(guo)佳(jia)果(guo)。香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)的(de)(de)(de)品種(zhong)不多,在(zai)東海(hai)島基本上(shang)是(shi)蘋果(guo)香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)。它的(de)(de)(de)大小因季節種(zhong)植的(de)(de)(de)先后、種(zhong)子的(de)(de)(de)優劣(lie)、管理的(de)(de)(de)不同而有差異.小的(de)(de)(de)香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)一(yi)(yi)般(ban)是(shi)0.1公斤,最大的(de)(de)(de)香(xiang)(xiang)瓜(gua)可(ke)達l公斤多。
是東(dong)海島的(de)特有民間藝術,是人(ren)搭(da)人(ren)構(gou)(gou)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)長(chang)龍(long)(long)(long),被譽為“東(dong)方一(yi)(yi)絕”,1992年“五一(yi)(yi)”節曾應中央電(dian)視臺的(de)邀請上京演(yan)出。人(ren)龍(long)(long)(long)舞(wu)是一(yi)(yi)項(xiang)大型的(de)民間娛樂活動,因而得以(yi)保存至今。東(dong)海之人(ren)龍(long)(long)(long)舞(wu)與內地之“龍(long)(long)(long)舞(wu)”不同(tong),“龍(long)(long)(long)”全部由(you)人(ren)組成(cheng)(cheng),而不是用物(wu)構(gou)(gou)成(cheng)(cheng),因之稱“人(ren)龍(long)(long)(long)”。龍(long)(long)(long)身巨長(chang),一(yi)(yi)般由(you)五六十人(ren)組成(cheng)(cheng),有的(de)達數百人(ren),氣(qi)勢雄(xiong)偉(wei)壯觀。人(ren)龍(long)(long)(long)舞(wu)分“龍(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)”、“龍(long)(long)(long)身”、“龍(long)(long)(long)尾”3個部分,“龍(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)”是最重要部分,演(yan)龍(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)者必須身高力(li)大,基本功好,表演(yan)技(ji)巧熟練,其身負3個孩(hai)童(tong),分別飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)舌、龍(long)(long)(long)眼(yan)(yan)、龍(long)(long)(long)角。飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)眼(yan)(yan)孩(hai)童(tong)兩手(shou)各持一(yi)(yi)燈籠或(huo)電(dian)筒,閃閃發光。