Winding stone weir displays a curved beauty.

Stacked up with only stones, the stone weir of Pingtan island is the revelation of ancient wisdom of this island’s forefathers. The man-made enclosure is built at the intertidal zone to raise the level and flow of the waterway to trap fish when the tide ebbs. Without any concrete, the structure is strong enough to withstand the scouring tides. Pingtan is an island off E China’s Fujian Province as well as the closest place on the mainland to the island of Taiwan. 

How did such manmade grandeurs end up in the vast sea? What are the mysteries behind these structures? Reporters from Pingtan CMC followed Fujian writer Xiao Chunlei and the Party secretary of Shamei Village, Li Zhunshun, on an adventure to unravel the mystery of the ancient stone weirs on Xiaoxiang Islet. 

"The stone weir is a man-made fishing structure. The forefathers of Pingtan Island lived off the sea. They used local bluestone and stacked them one by one in the turbulent inlet. The embankment is called a 'stone weir',” said Xiao Chunlei. “A display of great wisdom by the fisherfolks.”

Stone weir covered with marine creatures

In recent years, Xiao has been searching for stone weirs across Fujian for his works. He further explained how a weir works. Two arc-shaped embankments are usually stacked, extending from shallow water to the deep and forming a hook inward at the end. The elevated stone structure works as a water barricade in the inter-tidal zones. At high tide, fish swims into the weir. As the tide recedes, the fish gets trapped.

There are five stone weirs on Xiaoxiang Islet. They are similar in size, two or three hundred meters long each. But their shapes are varied. Xiao called it “the art of the earth.”

Born in 1961, Li Zunshun grew up on Xiaoxiang Islet. He introduced that islet ancestors moved in around three hundred years ago. Later on, the stone weir appeared. “They did not have advanced fishing boats, so they all relied on the stone weir for fishing. 

The sudden increase of fishing nets and motorized fishing boats brought problems such as overfishing and marine pollution in the 1980s. The catch from the stone weir dropped sharply, and stone weir fishing gradually faded out.

Eventually, the entire population relocated, making way for development. But at the turn of every spring and summer, many villagers go back to the village to fish in the stone weirs. The stone weirs are well-preserved due to regular maintenance. “The stone weir is a cultural relic passed down from generation to generation. It’s imperative to preserve it for future generations,” said Li. 

Fishermen pictured catching fish and collecting sea conches

The stone weir is also ideal for recreational marine activities such as beach combing and crabbing. “We have collected a lot of sea conches in the stone weir. So much fun!” said Mr. Lin, a tourist.

According to historical documentation, the stone weir originated in the Neolithic Age. Archives have traced stone weirs to Fujian and Taiwan. "Pingtan Island was one of the most active places known for its stone weir fishing activities in Fujian." Chen Zunci, an associate professor of the Department of Sociology at Jimei University revealed that beside 81 stone weirs, the “Pingtan County Chronicle” in 1932 records weirs made of bamboo.

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