Lincoln Island, Bombay Reef, and Vuladore Reef, Paracel Islands
Updated May 23, 2025
Lincoln Island, Xishadong Island, Dongdao, China
Lincoln Island, a.k.a., Dong Dao in Chinese and Dao Linh-Con in Vietnamese, is administered by PRC.
The Copernicus Browser shows it marked as East Island Atoll in Chinese, and Lincoln Island in English.
At the eastern edge of the Paracel Islands, we see a brush covered island that according to the NGA Pub. 161, lies 40 miles W of the main Hong Kong-Singapore route. It is reported there is fresh water on the island.
The island has a small settlement and several towers.
We see a protected quay with port facilities on the southwestern side of the island. At a distance, this looks like an idyllic fishing island, and is labeled a Protected Area Experiment, for Marine and aquatic species to be protected (Maxar Xpress).
With a closer look, we see camouflaged guard towers and some defensive infrastructure around the outside of the island. We also see a few buildings, radomes, recreational facilities, roads, and a protected harbor and port on the Western side of the island. Most of the development is on the Southern side of the island. We notice the protected bay with port, and what looks like a great jogging or hiking path around the outside of the island. Finally, some of the buildings are camouflaged and it is hard to see much with the extensive tree coverage.
Location: 16°40'11"N 112°44'11"E
Satellite imagery from 05/19/2023.
Lincoln Island, Xishadong Island, Dongdao, China
Lincoln Island, a.k.a., Dong Dao in Chinese and Dao Linh-Con in Vietnamese, is administered by PRC.
The Copernicus Browser shows it marked as East Island Atoll in Chinese, and Lincoln Island in English.
At the eastern edge of the Paracel Islands, we see a brush covered island that according to the NGA Pub. 161, lies 40 miles W of the main Hong Kong-Singapore route. It is reported there is fresh water on the island.
The island has a small settlement and several towers.
We see a protected quay with port facilities on the southwestern side of the island. At a distance, this looks like an idyllic fishing island, and is labeled a Protected Area Experiment, for Marine and aquatic species to be protected (Maxar Xpress).
With a closer look, we see camouflaged guard towers and some defensive infrastructure around the outside of the island. We also see a few buildings, radomes, recreational facilities, roads, and a protected harbor and port on the Western side of the island. Most of the development is on the Southern side of the island. We notice the protected bay with port, and what looks like a great jogging or hiking path around the outside of the island. Finally, some of the buildings are camouflaged and it is hard to see much with the extensive tree coverage.
Location: 16°40'11"N 112°44'11"E
Satellite imagery from 05/19/2023.
Lincoln Island, 5/19/2023, Google Earth
Upon closer analysis, we see what appears to be potentially defensive infrastructure on the island, including radomes.
Lincoln Island Details, Google Earth, 5/19/2023
Lincoln Island, More Details, Google Earth 5/19/2023
Lincoln Island, Protected Bay, Google Earth, 5/19/2023
As we revisit Lincoln Island in 2025, it is very well developed, showing completely red in the Falst Color reading at 200m resolution, using Copernicus Browser, 5-23-2025.
Copernicus Browser 4-23-2025 (to eliminate cloud cover), True Color, 200m resolution. No clearer resolution available to us.
Copernicus Browser, 4-23-2025 False Color 200m resolution. Good definition of the military emplacements on the Western half of the island.
We notice two big changes. First, there is more white infrastructure by the protected bay, and the two clearings on the western side of the interior island look clearer, more well defined. Not sure about the gun emplacement on the North central part of the island as the resolution is too weak to see it. Google Earth has 2023 imagery, same as above.
Bombay Reef, Langhuajiao, China
Langhua jiao, Chinese and da Bong Bay, in Vietnamese, is an atoll. It is also called Pengbojiao and Qilianyu in Chinese, according to Wikipedia.
At the far Southeast corner of the Paracel islands, we see a stand-alone reef that appears to be fully submerged. it is 10.9 miles in diameter. This is still on the eastern edge of the Paracel Islands. Location: 16°40'11"N 112°44'11"E. New Google Earth Imagery 2/29/2024. We still see what appears to be a fully submerged reef with a navigation channel in the Southwest corner, a lighthouse, and possibly some early reclamation work in the northeast corner.
We focus in on the NE corner and see some blurring, obscuring, and possible reclamation work underway. That location is 16°04'57"N 112°35'07"E.
Langhua jiao, Chinese and da Bong Bay, in Vietnamese, is an atoll. It is also called Pengbojiao and Qilianyu in Chinese, according to Wikipedia.
At the far Southeast corner of the Paracel islands, we see a stand-alone reef that appears to be fully submerged. it is 10.9 miles in diameter. This is still on the eastern edge of the Paracel Islands. Location: 16°40'11"N 112°44'11"E. New Google Earth Imagery 2/29/2024. We still see what appears to be a fully submerged reef with a navigation channel in the Southwest corner, a lighthouse, and possibly some early reclamation work in the northeast corner.
We focus in on the NE corner and see some blurring, obscuring, and possible reclamation work underway. That location is 16°04'57"N 112°35'07"E.
Bombay Reef, Google Earth 2/29/2024, seems to be an underwater reef.
Bombay Reef, northeast edge, with blackouts, and possible obscuring of the satellite imagery. Google Earth, 2/29/2024.
Bombay Reef 5-23-2025 Copernicus Browser, 500m False Color. Still looks undeveloped.
Vuladore Reef
West of the island and underwater reef, we see another underwater reef with no signs of man-made development.
Location: 16°22'12"N 111°57'06"E. Satellite Imagery 7/10/2023 and it looks like two satellite images placed side by side.
West of the island and underwater reef, we see another underwater reef with no signs of man-made development.
Location: 16°22'12"N 111°57'06"E. Satellite Imagery 7/10/2023 and it looks like two satellite images placed side by side.
Google Earth
Copernicus Browser, 5/23/2025, False Color, 500m resolution. You can see the sand cay in the SW corner.
Area
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Paracel Islands
Eastern Island
China
227
16°40'02"N 112°43’54"E
1.5
5/19/2023
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Not Sure
No
No
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Paracel Islands
Eastern Island
China
227
16°40'02"N 112°43’54"E
1.5
5/19/2023
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Not Sure
No
No