Baofeng Lake Scenic Area is located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. It is part of the Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which is a World Natural Heritage site, a World Geopark, and one of the first national 5A-level tourist attractions. The scenic area is known as the "Classic of World Lakes". It integrates mountains and waters with folk customs, featuring a variety of landscape characteristics such as a 1,000-meter-high gorge, a 10-li jasper lake, exotic peaks and waterfalls, cliff plank roads, ancient temples in deep mountains, charming folk customs, and passionate singing and dancing. Baofeng Lake, in the southeast of the scenic area, is situated on a mountain top with a relative height of over 80 meters. The lake is 2.5 kilometers long, with an average water depth of 72 meters. The core scenic area of the lake is 2.5 kilometers long, and the widest part of the water surface is more than 150 meters. Covering a total area of 4,100 mu, Baofeng Lake Scenic Area consists of two major parts: Baofeng Lake and Yingwo Village.
History and Culture
Baofeng Lake is an artificial lake formed in the 1970s when local villagers built a dam for power generation. It gets its name from leaning against Baofeng Mountain. Baofeng Chan Temple was first built in the Song Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,000 years, and was renovated in the Qing Dynasty. According to local historical records, its founder was Zen Master Tiechan. During the more than 40 years when he founded and presided over Baofeng Chan Temple, he saved countless sentient beings, and there were more than 80 resident monks, making Baofeng Chan Temple one of the important famous temples in the Wuling Mountains of western Hunan. Zhao Heng, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, a calligrapher among emperors in Chinese history, once wrote a commendation for Baofeng Chan Temple with his imperial brush. When Emperor Qianlong went on a tour to the south of the Yangtze River in 1755, he personally inscribed "Baofeng Immortal Mountain" with his imperial brush and allocated official funds for large-scale renovations of the temple. After the renovation, the temple, with iron tiles and brick walls as well as carved beams and painted rafters, looked very magnificent. Since then, it has been a place with prosperous incense, known as "Surpassing Wudang Mountain", and more than 1,000 pious men and women came to burn incense and worship every day.
Major Attractions
Baofeng Lake
Hailed as the "Classic of World Lakes", Baofeng Lake is a rare flat lake in a high gorge. Surrounded by green mountains and with a blue lake, it boasts beautiful scenery. There are two small islands covered with green vegetation in the lake, and exotic peaks stand tall along the shore, with the lake winding around the peaks. When cruising on the lake, you can see a lake of green water and half a lake of reflections, filled with poetic and artistic charm. You can also enjoy scenic spots such as "Jade Vase Blooming", "Ten Maidens Dressing Up", "Golden Turtle Playing in Water" and "Frogs Celebrating Spring" on the central island of the lake.
Baofeng Waterfall
This is the location for the outdoor shooting of the Water Curtain Cave in Journey to the West, and it is a perfect combination of nature and man-made art. Originally, there was a waterfall pouring down, and after artificial improvement, it roars loudly, leaps and plunges, presenting a magnificent momentum.
Baofeng Temple
Located near Yingwo Village on a cliff in the southwest of Baofeng Lake, Baofeng Temple has a long history. In the center of the main hall, there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, with his disciples standing on both sides. The four characters "Thousands of Buddhas in Manifestations" are carved on the upper part of the hall. On both sides of Sakyamuni Buddha, there are statues of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Bodhisattva Manjushri respectively. The scenic area restored and built this main hall on the original site of Baofeng Chan Temple in 1999.
Baofeng Goddess Peak
There is a graceful and slender stone peak on the lake. Looking up from 2 meters above the lake surface, the flat part of the peak resembles the left profile of a beautiful woman, as if she is dressing up in front of the huge mirror of the lake. The upper part of the peak is like her highly coiled hair bun. Therefore, it is called "Baofeng Goddess Peak", also known as "Fairy Looking in the Mirror".
Yingwo Village (Eagle's Nest Village)
It is the first of the 48 villages in the Wuling Mountain area. Its name implies that only strong eagles can build nests and survive there, metaphoring its steepness and danger. Now it is the most beautiful outdoor hiking route in Zhangjiajie City, and is deeply loved by outdoor hiking enthusiasts.
Yixian Tian (One-Line Sky)
The gorge is more than 200 meters long and over 100 meters high, with an average width of less than 2 meters. There is a small stream in the gorge, and stone steps along the stream wind upward. The place is extremely quiet and full of subtle wonders.
Tour Route
Entrance of Baofeng Lake Scenic Area — Environmental Protection Bus to the Mountain Top — Cruise Ticket Checkpoint — Baofeng Lake — Environmental Protection Bus Down the Mountain — Chinese Giant Salamander (Baby Fish) Spot — Waterfall Entrance — Haohan Slope (Hero Slope) — Xingfu Bridge (Happiness Bridge)
Travel Suggestions
- Check the opening hours and ticket information of the scenic area in advance to plan your trip properly.
- It is recommended to reserve at least half a day for the tour to fully experience the beautiful scenery.
- Wear comfortable shoes to facilitate walking in the scenic area.
- You can choose to tour with a scenic area guide to better understand the culture of the attractions.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area regulations, protect the environment, and do not litter randomly.
- Pay attention to safety during the tour, especially when engaging in activities on the lake.
- Some areas in the scenic area may require additional fees; please learn about the relevant information in advance.
- If you plan to stay for a long time or carry out activities at night, you need to make preparations in advance and bring necessary equipment and food.
Transportation
- There are direct tourist buses to Baofeng Lake from the urban area of Zhangjiajie.
- You can first take a minibus to Wulingyuan, with a ticket price of 13 yuan, which takes about 1 hour. After arriving in Wulingyuan, you can take a taxi to Baofeng Lake, which costs about 10 yuan, or take Bus No. 2, with a ticket price of 2 yuan.
- For self-driving, you can navigate to Baofeng Lake Parking Lot, and the parking fee is 10 yuan per time.
Opening Hours
Peak tourist season: 7:00 — 18:00; Off-peak tourist season: 7:30 — 17:00
Tickets
The ticket price is 110 yuan per person, including the fees for the scenic area's environmental protection bus and cruise. Other fees need to be paid separately.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "张家界国家森林公园" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
