China, Kwangsi province: 20 cents, 1949 - Elephant nose rock at Kueilin

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China, Kwangsi province.

2 jiao / 20 cents.  Year 38 / C.E. 1949.

Image © NGC.

Elephant nose rock at Kueilin.

The rock formation known for its likeness to an elephant drinking water.

It is situated at the confluence of the Taohua and Lijiang Rivers.

See:  Elephant Trunk Rock (Shen'ao) 象鼻岩(深奧).

[Figleaf]

You had me scurrying for information there. Decades ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Yehliu geopark. I was greatly amused, so when I heard a natural rock formation in China (a term often used loosely) had collapsed, I wanted to find out if it was at Yehliu. Long story, but the kernel is that I got distracted and forgot, until you posted the coin (TFP, never seen it pictured before). It jogged my memory. Yes, this is the rock that collapsed and no, it's not in Yehliu. Yehliu is on Taiwan.

Fun detail: have you noted the boat with the basket, rower and two birds in the foreground? It refers to a spectacular fishing technique practiced on Li river (Jiang means river). Fishermen will use trained Corcoran birds to catch fish. The Corcoran is known for catching fish so big it can't swallow it. The trained birds will try anyway, but when they fail, they will bring the fish to the fisherman, who will take out the fish, stuck in the beak of the Corcoran, give the relieved bird part of the fish and put the rest of the big fish in a basket, to bring it to market.

Peter

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Nice story. I can't find this collapse when googling for it, though.

Did you mean a cormorant rather than a Corcaran bird?

[Figleaf]

Nice story. I can't find this collapse when googling for it, though.

My wife told me about it. Don't know where she got the info, but it's confirmed in your link in the OP. Just scroll down to the bordeaux red coloured text.

Did you mean a cormorant rather than a Corcaran bird?

Yes. Flipping spelling checker

Peter

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"Elephant Trunk Rock eroded away and fell into the sea on December 16th, 2023."

Thanks, I missed that bit.