南海诸岛 The South China Sea Islands 

　　在中国的南海海面上，散布众多的岛礁暗沙，总称为南海诸岛。 

　　南海诸岛由东沙群岛、西沙群岛、中沙群岛、南沙群岛及黄岩岛组成。 

　　The South China Sea is scattered with many islands, reefs and submerged shoals to which the general name South China Sea Islands is given. 

　　The South China Sea Islands are made up of the East Sand Islands, West Sand Islands, Middle Sand Islands, South Sand Islands and Yellow Rock Island. 

　　南海诸岛处于太平洋和印度洋、亚洲和大洋洲海上航运的要冲位置，在交通和国防上都有重要的意义。很早以前，中华民族的祖先就在南海诸岛上开始活动并修筑了相应的建筑，中国对南海诸岛拥有主权。  

　　东沙群岛 

　　东沙群岛由东沙岛及南卫滩、北卫滩组成。附近海域水产丰富，有海蔘、海胆、海星、蚌蛤和海人蔘草等。中国很早就在岛上建立了观象台和灯塔。  

　　西沙群岛 

　　西沙群岛是南海诸岛中岛屿最多的群岛。岛上生长多种热带植物，如棕榈、椰子、木瓜、香蕉等。附近海域出产海龟、海蔘、金枪鱼等水产品，每到鱼汛期，广东、海南一带的渔船便云集于此进行捕捞。  

　　中沙群岛 

　　中沙群岛是一群尚未露出海面的珊瑚礁滩，距海平面约有一二十米。由于珊瑚礁映衬的结果，这一带的海水呈现微绿的颜色。  

　　南沙群岛 

　　南沙群岛由分布很广、数量很多的岛、礁、暗沙组成，主要有太平岛等。岛上生长椰子、木瓜等多种热带植物，附近海域也是南海重要的渔场之一。南端的曾母暗沙位于北纬4度附近，是中国领土最南的地方。 

　　The South China Sea Islands stand at the crossroads of the shipping lanes between Pacific and Indian oceans, Asia and Oceania, and are of great importance to transportation and national defense. Long ago, the ancestors of the Chinese people began to live there so that China has always had sovereignty over the area.  

　　East Sand Islands 

　　East Sand Islands comprise East Sand Island, Nanwei Shoal and Beiwei Shoal. The surrounding waters are rich in aquatic products, such as sea cucumber, sea urchin, starfish, mussels, clams and sea ginseng weeds, etc. China has an observatory and beacon on the islands.  

　　West Sand Islands 

　　West Sand Islands form the largest such group in the South China Sea. Various tropical plants, such as palm, coconut, pawpaw and banana grow there, while the local waters produce turtles, sea cucumbers, tunny and other aquatic products. Every fishing season, boats arrive from Guangdong and Hainan.   

　　Middle Sand Islands 

　　The Middle Sand Islands are a group of coral reef shoals lying 10 to 20 m below the sea surface. Against the background of the coral reefs, the seawater looks slightly green.  

　　South Sand Islands 

　　The South Sand Islands form a widely distributed, large group of islands, reefs and submerged shoals. The major island is called Taiping Island. On the islands grow coconuts, pawpaw and many other tropical plants, while the surrounding seas are an important fishing ground. The Zengmu Reef are located close to the 4th parallel of northern latitude, the most southern point of Chinese territory.