People were buried here during the Zhou dynasty, including Duke Kang of Qi, who died on the island in 379 BC.

Because of a legend of a Mountain of Immortality, China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang visited the island three times looking for the elixir.

After performing a ceremony in the Yangzhu Temple, Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty also left an inscription in 94 BC: "Arrived at Zhifu, which floats on Great Ocean.

Originally, the island was disconnected from the mainland, but for a period of millennium of years, the sand and soil in the ocean floor built up a 600-metre wide pathway.

The Old Lady Stone (婆婆石 Pópó Shí) is on a cliff, at 43.49 metres above sea level, named because of its resemblance to a woman hugging the ocean waves.