Nanxiao Dao

Nanxiao Dao lies at latitude 25°43.4′N and longitude 123°33′E. The islet covers an area of approximately 0.40 square kilometers and reaches a maximum elevation of 139 meters. Its topography consists of erosional hills, generally forming an elliptical shape. The island's main landforms are Quantou Ling (Fist Ridge, ) and Muzhi Feng (Thumb Peak, ), the latter being a sharp rock formation connected via a marine erosion platform. To its immediate north lies Beixiao Dao, separated by a strait known as the Gǎnlǎn Mén Strait ("Olive Gate"), approximately 150 meters long and 200 meters wide. During periods of heavy seas in the East China Sea, fishermen from Taiwan and Fujian have historically used this strait as a natural harbor to seek shelter from storms. == Topography and Ecology ==

Nanxiao Dao, also nicknamed "Snake Island" (due to its abundant snake population), is uninhabited. It forms part of a natural strait with Beixiao Dao, collectively creating a unique geological formation. Geomorphologically, these two islets were originally one landmass that later split due to faulting and tectonic activity. The island is notable for its dense snake population. Snakes range in size from as thick as a rice bowl to as small as a pinkie finger. They are predominantly yellow and black in color and are non-venomous. Because of this high snake population, birdlife is nearly absent on Nanxiao Dao, in contrast to Beixiao Dao, which is known for its birds. Additionally, the harsh wind conditions and lack of freshwater on the island make it unsuitable for mosquitoes or other insects. The island's terrain includes contrasting features: a flat sandy shore stretches for over 100 meters before sharply rising into slopes as steep as 300 meters high. This results in a dramatic landscape of coastal cliffs and sea-facing ridges. == Survey and Reports ==

On April 26, 2021, China's Ministry of Natural Resources released a report titled Survey Report on the Topography and Landforms of the Diaoyu Islands and Their Affiliated Islets (), which included detailed geographical and geological data on Nanxiao Dao. == See also ==