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The Lake of A Thousand Delights

Thousand Islets Lake, situated in Chun'an County, 160 kilometers west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province , is one of the 44 State-level scenic spots and presently China's biggest national park. Every year, millions of visitors both from home and abroad flock to the area to appreciate its unique scenery. With the ongoing developments in transportation, it is hoped Thousand Islets Lake will become one of the top tourist attractions in the world.

Reservoir & biological garden

As the first man-made reservoir of the new republic in 1958, Thousand Islets Lake was formed when the waters rose and the surrounding hills formed a total of 1,078 islets.

Covering an area of 580 square meters, the lake has become the largest freshwater fish-farming area, and one of the largest forest parks in the country.

It is also a habitat for 80 kinds of fish, 98 kinds of birds, more than 60 kinds of animals and 1,800 kinds of insects. Thousand Islets Lake teems with tea, mulberry, timber and bamboo and contains 1,786 species of plants and 87 species of freshwater fish in total.

Connected with the Qiantang-Fuchun river region, the Thousand Island Lake has forged its own particular attraction for visitors.

After passing through the misty woodland alongside the shores of the lake, the paths lead to the massive body of emerald water. The cool water makes travelers forget the oppressive heat of the cities.

The whole lake area is divided into five parts, the northeast, the southeast, the northwest, the southwest and the central area. After large-scale reconstruction in recent years, the lake has six sections containing 14 scenic spots, including the Screen Peak, the Plum Peak, the Dragon Hill, the Animal-Series and the Stone Forest .
The landforms of the islands include limestone and granite. Various plant species, such as mulberries and bamboo, are scattered among the islands. The lake is also famous for its fruit and nuts, harvested in the four seasons - persimmon, sweet-spun golden jujubes, mountain walnuts and dried wild brake.

Floating about in a boat after the morning mist has lifted is one of the most enjoyable experience on Thousand Island Lake. Visitors who are fond of watching wild animal will have plenty to see. Around 90 species of birds inhabit the islands and their birdsong marks the beginning of each day on Thousand Island Lake. Wild animals living in the surrounding mountains come down to the lake to drink.

Monkeys are the most active in the lake area and can be seen crouching in the trees eating fruit. For photography enthusiasts, the islands are full of pictorial opportunities and cameras have to be always at the ready.

Thousand Islets Lake is enveloped by steep mountain ranges where visitors can enjoy bird songs, the smell of wild flowers and taste fresh seasonal fruits. In addition, there are various kinds of local products, such as non-core persimmon, sweet dates, hickory nuts and sun-dried fish.

Enchanting scenery

Created by the construction of the Xin'an River Reservoir in 1959, the lake is now ranked as a state-level scenic spot along with Hangzhou's West Lake , also in the east, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the west.

Today, Thousand Islets Lake is a tourist resort for holidaymakers. Tour activities programmed on Deer Island, Snake Island and other natural and historical sites, attract hundreds and thousands of people yearly. The region is a perfect stopover for the best Water-and-Mountain Tour, offering good accommodation.

Thousand Islets Lake is a beautiful lake with a total of 1,078 islets, each with its own formation. (This is where the lake gets its name.) Thousand Islets Lake is grand like Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and exquisite like West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It features verdant hills, elegant waters, queer caves, and odd stones. In the spring, flowers spring up everywhere, adorning the lake with many vibrant colors; in the summer, visitors enjoy long boat rides on the pure green lake; in the autumn, they are drawn to the hills, topped with multicolored trees; and even in the winter, although blanketed in snow, Thousand Islets Lake warmly welcomes visitors from all over the world. Thousand Islets Lake is magnificent and inviting any time of year.

Thousand Islets Lake is surrounded by hills with green trees and scores of scenic spots, such as Huihua Isle, Mishan Isle, Fengping Hill, Bijia Hill, and the Lesser Stone Forest . Dotted with dozens of rocky islets, its bluish waters, with Banner Peak as the background, create a perfect setting for taking pictures.

The lake from different perspectives

Thousand Islets Lake is a young lake which took shape as a reservoir for the Xin'an River Waterpower Plant in 1959.

Thousand Islets Lake is a crystal pure lake, covering an area of (143, 321 acres), with a storage capacity of 17.8 billion cubic meters. The average depth of its waters is 34 meters (112 feet) and visibility can be reached to 7-9 meters (23-30 feet). According to national water-evaluation standards, Thousand Islets Lake water is perfect for drinking.

Thousand Islets Lake is a pleasant lake. In recent years, it has been developed to include over 20 travel sites that can be divided into four types: nature, wild life, historic sites and entertainment. In the middle of the lake, an islet in the shape of a plant blossom is famed for its beautiful natural scenery and perfect environment; it is also regarded as the best place to enjoy the surrounding landscape. Here, one can also spot many wild animals, such as swans, mandarin ducks, mandarins, and bitterns. For those wanting more, there are animal shows and ostrich feeding at Ostrich Islet. In addition, various traditional activities are offered depending on the season: Muju (local drama) in the spring, the Dragon Lantern show in the fall, and Tiao Zhu Ma (a local dance party) in the summertime.

As the home of several great figures in history, Thousand Islets Lake is also a lake of historical value. Some of its most famous people included Chen Shuozhen, the first empress of the Tang Dynasty (618-907); Fang La, a famous peasant revolutionary of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127); and Sun Quan, the King of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265BC). Hundreds of years later, some of their descendants still live there, and visitors are encouraged to drop in for a visit in their homes to listen to their moving tales.

Thousand Islets Lake is like a dream, an enchanting dream. Matching the ocean-blue sky, snow-white clouds, and golden sunlight, Thousand Islets Lake, with its pure waters, is poetic. The region features a cornucopia of colors, where green is most attractive, symbolizing life.