If you were to time-travel over a thousand years ago and embark on a DIY trip to the Xisha Islands, where would you choose to stay? When living on an island, the most important thing is to find a freshwater source! Ganquan Island stands out as the only island in this area with a natural freshwater supply, reflecting its historical significance. Over a century ago, Chinese naval commander Li Zhun, while patrolling the South China Sea, located two wells on the island, giving the island its name.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, ancient mariners had already been replenishing supplies and taking respite on this island. According to the customs of Hainan fishermen, whoever built the first temple on the island gained priority in the distribution of fishing yields. The coral-stone temple not far from the ancient wells bears witness to this tradition. Its entrance faces northeast, as if anticipating the arrival of fishermen, guiding them home.

Since 1974, archaeologists have unearthed artifacts from the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties on Ganquan Island. Discoveries include ceramics, copper coins, farming tools, iron knives, chisels, dishes as well as bird bones and seashells left from meals. Numerous building foundations, arranged around the freshwater well, display features like hearths, stone tables, and distinct functional zones. This indicates that the Chinese people of that time not only considered Ganquan Island a stopover on the Maritime Silk Road but also established roots here to lead an idyllic life. In 1991, the discovery of burial urns, stone tools, and other relics pushed the island’s developmental history back to prehistoric times. As of June 2021, a total of 62 historical and cultural relics have been discovered on the island, making it perhaps the southernmost cultural heritage preservation site in China.

Today, on this most recently formed island in the Nansha Archipelago, the well water remains sweet. Below the island’s surface, there are over a hundred species of coral polyps, which account for almost half of China’s polyp species; thousands of tropical fish create a mesmerizing spectacle ... These inhabitants, predating humans, seem poised to unfold the island’s ancient tales even further.