The terrain of Cliff Island is not as rugged as Xia Nan's first impression.
Vertiginous black-brown cliffs are located on the northern part of the island, gradually giving way to gentler slopes towards the south, where they suddenly open up near the sea to form a wide natural rocky terrace.
Qiao Yan Village is situated in this place.
The surrounding farmland is composed of thin soil mixed with seabird droppings and decaying plants, cultivating salt-resistant crops; most of the houses are built from the island's black-brown rocks, with thick stone walls, clay-filled gaps, and roofs covered with dried grass bundles and discarded charred planks.
On the southern side of the terrace, occupying the flattest piece of land, stand dense wooden racks hung with cod and herring, the air pungent with a strong fishy smell; further ahead is an old small pier, where a few simple fishing boats are bobbing with the waves.
