The sandy dunes on which Nankunshen temple was originally located are, in traditional feng shui terms, the abode of a ‘floating golden lion’. Three important ‘treasures’ are to be found here.

The first of these is the date palm tree. The spirit of Jishui Stream was fabled to be a blind dragon unable to find its own way to the sea. Date palms that sprung up behind Nankunshen Temple, the earthly protrusion of the tail of the floating golden lion, pointed the way and, after 9,981 turns, the dragon finally found open waters. The stream protected the temple from floods through the centuries. The second treasure, the white beach morning glory, is a vine that springs from sea waters. It protects fragile soils from erosion and makes brackish waters fresh. The third is ‘Wujin’, the glistening black rocks that surround Nankunshen’s freshwater well. Its mineral properties are said to reduce humidity in the air and prevent saltwater contamination.