Leizhou ancestors placed the carved stone dogs along the roadside, at village entrances, or other exits protecting the borders of their villages to ensure the safety of the people.

Although the stone dogs of the Leizhou Peninsula are now considered precious cultural relics left behind by local ancestors and unique folk art creations, many of them were demolished during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). Due to many changes and the movement of villages, as well as the construction of new roads, other ancient stone dogs were abandoned in remote mountains and boondocks, or submerged in sands and rivers.

In recent years, folklore scholars, historians and experts from around the world have dubbed the Leizhou stone dogs as an "exotic flower of Leizhou folk custom and culture that is unparalleled anywhere in the world." They call for the protection and excavation of Leizhou stone dogs and more research into the stone dog culture on the peninsula.

In 2001 the nation's historical and cultural city of Leizhou had nominated its museum as the keeper of the stone relics. Until September 2003, the museum had collected more than 200 stone dogs from different periods, some of which are considered very precious. Currently, the treasures are displayed in the city museum, attracting endless streams of visitors.

In 2002, Leizhou city set aside an over 200 mu (13.3 hectares) of land near the Lei Ancestral Temple to construct a large-scale Leizhou Stone Dog Park.

Stone dog legends

Dogs are often associated with human beings. While they are usually regarded as loyal friends, sometimes dogs can be construed as a symbol for evil or loneliness. However, the stone dogs in Leizhou go far beyond this general relationship: The unique, lifelike stone dogs are actually the epitome of human civilization of different periods. According to officials from Zhanjiang Museum and Leizhou Museum, the Leizhou stone dog is the only existent stone carving discovered in the Leizhou area.