Qiandao Lake Scenic Area - Zhejiang Tourist Attraction

Qiandao Lake Scenic Area is located in Chun'an County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of China's first batch of national scenic spots. Known far and wide as the "No.1 Beautiful Water Under Heaven", the scenic area is an artificial lake formed in 1959 due to the construction of the Xin'an River Hydropower Station. With 1,078 islands of various sizes scattered across the lake, it gets its name "Qiandao Lake" (which means "One Thousand Islands Lake").

The total area of the scenic area is 982 square kilometers, with the lake area covering 573 square kilometers. The water storage capacity is 17.84 billion cubic meters, equivalent to the storage capacity of 3,184 West Lakes. The water transparency reaches 12 meters, belonging to the national first-class water body, and its visibility ranks among the top in freshwater lakes in China. Surrounded by rolling mountains, the forest coverage rate is over 95%, creating an excellent ecological environment, and it boasts the unique landscape of "half the city's scenery being the lake". There are more than 30 various scenic spots in the area, including natural landscapes, cultural relics, and leisure and entertainment spots, with the annual number of visitors ranking among the top in Zhejiang Province.

History and Culture

The Qiandao Lake area has a long history, with traces of human activities as early as the Neolithic Age. Under the lake, there are two thousand-year-old ancient cities - Hecheng and Shicheng, which were the old counties of Chun'an and Sui'an. Built during the Han and Tang dynasties, they sank to the bottom of the lake in 1959 due to the completion of the reservoir. The ancient cities retain a large number of architectural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as city walls, memorial archways, and dwellings, making them important material for studying ancient urban planning and architectural art. In 2011, an underwater archaeological team explored part of Shicheng and discovered well-preserved stone roads, brick walls, and other relics.

The Chun'an area is a meeting place of Huizhou culture and Wu-Yue culture. Throughout history, many talented people have lived or worked here, such as the Tang Dynasty poet Huangfu Shi and the Ming Dynasty statesman Hai Rui. During his tenure as the county magistrate of Chun'an, Hai Rui was honest and upright, built water conservancy projects, and was deeply loved by the people. The Hai Rui Temple in the scenic area was built in his memory. In addition, there are many ancient villages, ancient bridges, and cliff carvings around the lake area. For example, Qinchuan Ancient Village retains more than 300 Huizhou-style buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, making it one of the best-preserved ancient villages in western Zhejiang.

The local folk culture is rich and diverse. "Chun'an Bamboo Horse" is a national intangible cultural heritage, originating from the Southern Song Dynasty. During the performance, riders hold bamboo horse props and dance to the rhythm of gongs and drums, creating a lively scene. "Mu Opera" is a local opera popular in western Zhejiang, with a history of more than 100 years. It was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. These cultural heritages, combined with the natural scenery of Qiandao Lake, form a unique cultural landscape.

Main Attractions

Meifeng Island

Meifeng Island is one of the most representative attractions of Qiandao Lake. Located in the central lake area, it has an altitude of 215 meters and gets its name because the island is covered with wild bayberries. Climbing to the top, you can overlook more than 300 islands in the lake area, and there is a saying that "if you don't go to Meifeng to watch the islands, you can't know the true face of Qiandao". There are 2 viewing platforms on the island, among which the main viewing platform covers an area of about 500 square meters, allowing a 360-degree view of the lake. There are two ways to get from the dock to the top of the mountain: cableway and footpath. The cableway is 600 meters long, with a one-way running time of about 8 minutes; the footpath has 1,300 steps, and it takes 30-40 minutes to reach the top. Every year when bayberries ripen from May to June, a "Bayberry Festival" is held on the island, attracting a large number of tourists to pick and taste.

Yueguang Island

Yueguang Island, formerly known as Wulong Island, is located in the central lake area. It consists of four islands: Suodao (Lock Island), Niaodao (Bird Island), Zhenquyuan (Fun Garden), and Qishidao (Strange Stone Island), connected by floating bridges, with a total area of about 0.7 square kilometers. Suodao is the core of the scenic area, with more than 100,000 locks from all over the world hanging on the island, including safety locks, concentric locks, friendship locks, etc. Among them, the largest copper lock weighs 2 tons and is engraved with the words "the first lock in the world". Niaodao is home to more than 50 species of birds such as lovebirds, mynas, and swans, allowing tourists to interact with the birds at close range. Zhenquyuan is equipped with water entertainment facilities and children's play areas, making it a popular destination for family trips.

Longshan Island

Longshan Island is located in the central lake area, covering an area of 0.45 square kilometers. It gets its name because the island is shaped like a lying dragon. The most famous building on the island is Hai Rui Temple, which was first built in the 41st year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1562). The existing building was rebuilt in 1985, covering an area of 625 square meters. The temple displays Hai Rui's life story and related cultural relics. On the west side of the island, there is the site of Shixia Academy, which was built during the Jiading period of the Southern Song Dynasty and is one of the most famous academies in Chun'an's history. The island is covered with dense vegetation and towering ancient trees, among which there is an 800-year-old ancient camphor tree with a trunk circumference of 5.8 meters, requiring 4 people to embrace it. Climbing to the top of Longshan, you can overlook the panoramic view of the lake area, making it an excellent place to watch the sunset.

Huangshan Peak

Huangshan Peak is located in the southeast lake area, with an altitude of 266 meters, and is one of the high points in the lake area. Overlooking from the top viewing platform, you can see more than 30 islands connected to form the Chinese character "公" (gong, meaning public), which is a marvelous work of nature and is called "the first 'gong' in the world". The vegetation on the mountain is mainly masson pine and Chinese fir, with a forest coverage rate of 98%. There is a footpath winding up the mountain, 1.5 kilometers long, with 5 viewing pavilions along the way. The scenic area also has amusement projects such as grass skiing and cable car. The cable car is 800 meters long, with a height difference of 150 meters between the upper and lower stations, and the running time is about 10 minutes. The sunrise at Huangshan Peak is particularly spectacular. In the early morning, the sun shines on the lake, making it shimmering and extremely beautiful.

Underwater Ancient City Ruins

The underwater ancient city ruins include Hecheng and Shicheng, located in the southeast lake area of Qiandao Lake, about 20-40 meters deep from the water surface. Shicheng was built in the 18th year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (730), with a circumference of about 2.7 kilometers and 5 city gates. There are main streets such as East Street, West Street, and Main Street in the city, retaining a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2012, the scenic area launched the "Underwater Ancient City Diving Exploration" project, allowing tourists to dive underwater under the guidance of professional instructors to watch the ancient city relics at close range. To facilitate tourists' viewing, an "Underwater Ancient City Museum" was built on the shore, displaying the historical style of the ancient city and underwater archaeological results through objects, pictures, images, etc. The museum also displays more than 200 cultural relics such as ancient steles and porcelain fished out from the water.

Qinchuan Ancient Village

Qinchuan Ancient Village is located in Langchuan Township, Chun'an County, about 40 kilometers away from Qiandao Lake Scenic Area. It was built at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, with a history of more than 800 years. The village is distributed along both sides of Qinxi River, 1 kilometer long, and retains more than 300 Huizhou-style buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, among which more than 100 are well-preserved. The architectural style is mainly brick-wood structure, mostly two-story buildings with features such as patios and carved beams and painted rafters. There is a saying of "seven bridges and eight lanes" in the village. Seven ancient bridges span Qinxi River, among which the oldest "Jiyun Bridge" was built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. There are many cultural relics in the village, such as Wang's Ancestral Hall and Guangyu Hall. The wood carvings and stone carvings in Wang's Ancestral Hall are exquisite and of high artistic value. The ancient village still retains the traditional way of life, with villagers mainly engaged in farming and handicrafts, making it an ideal place to experience ancient village culture.

Food

Qiandao Lake Fish Head

Qiandao Lake Fish Head is the most famous specialty dish in the local area, made of the lake's specialty bighead carp (also known as fathead fish). This kind of fish grows in high-quality water with a long growth cycle. Generally, adult fish weighing 3-5 kilograms are selected, and the fish head accounts for more than one-third of the body weight. The most classic way is to make fish head tofu soup: fry the fish head until golden on both sides, add water to boil, then add tender tofu and simmer slowly over low heat, resulting in a milky white soup with a delicious taste. In addition, there are also styles such as chopped pepper fish head and braised fish head in sauce. In restaurants within the scenic area, a serving of fish head tofu soup costs about 120-180 yuan, depending on the size of the fish head. September to October every year is the season when the fish head is the most plump, with tender meat and rich colloid.

Chun'an Braised Pork

Chun'an Braised Pork is a traditional local preserved food with a history of more than 100 years. Select fresh pork belly, marinate it with soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine and other seasonings for 7-10 days, then hang it in a ventilated place to dry. When eating, cut it into thin slices and steam. It is characterized by a bright red color, a salty-sweet taste, and being fatty but not greasy. Chun'an Braised Pork is mostly made in winter, and there is a local custom of "curing in winter to prepare for the cold". In farm restaurants around the scenic area, a plate of braised pork costs about 40-60 yuan, and it is often stir-fried with spring bamboo shoots for a better flavor.

Rice Soup

Rice Soup, also known as "Hulatai", is a traditional snack in Chun'an area. It is made by grinding rice into powder, then adding ingredients such as green vegetables, tofu, dried bamboo shoots, and minced meat to cook, with a thick texture and a fresh and fragrant taste. Rice Soup has a long history in the local area. It is said that it was invented by ancient people to save food, and now it has become a must-have food during festivals. In breakfast shops in Chun'an County, a bowl of rice soup costs about 5-8 yuan, and you can add chili, chopped green onions and other seasonings according to personal taste.

Qiandao Jade Turtle

Qiandao Jade Turtle is a dish made from Qiandao Lake's specialty stone chicken (spiny-chested frog), so named because the stone chicken looks like a turtle. Stone chickens grow in mountain streams around the lake area, with tender meat and rich protein. The common cooking methods are braising or steaming. Braised stone chicken is cooked with soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine and other seasonings, simmered slowly over low heat to make the meat tasty; steamed stone chicken retains its freshness to the greatest extent. Since stone chickens are protected wild animals, "Qiandao Jade Turtle" in the scenic area is now mostly replaced by bullfrogs, with a similar taste, and a serving costs about 80-120 yuan.

Surrounding Foods

In addition to the specialty foods of the lake area, there are many delicious local snacks worth trying in the surrounding areas of Qiandao Lake. For example, Jiande Tofu Bun, with tender tofu as the filling, thin skin and full filling, tastes delicious; Tonglu Rice Cake, made of glutinous rice flour for the outer skin, wrapped with fillings such as dried bamboo shoots and minced meat, steamed, with a soft and glutinous taste; Lin'an Hickory, a famous specialty in western Zhejiang, with plump grains and a rich fragrance, is an excellent choice for snacks. These foods can be tasted in the snack street of Chun'an County, with affordable prices, and a per capita consumption of about 30-50 yuan is enough to eat well.

Tickets

The ticket for the central lake area is 195 yuan per person (including boat ticket), and the ticket for the southeast lake area is 195 yuan per person (including boat ticket).

You can search for the official WeChat public account "千岛湖旅游股份有限公司" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.

Opening Hours

It is open all year round, and the specific opening hours are adjusted according to the season. In the peak season (March 1 - November 30), the opening hours are 8:00-17:00, among which the boat departure time is 8:00-10:30, and the last boat returns to the dock at 17:00; in the off-season (December 1 - February 28 of the next year), the opening hours are 8:30-16:30, the boat departure time is 8:30-10:00, and the last boat returns to the dock at 16:30.

Each attraction's opening hours are the same as the lake area. Among them, the Underwater Ancient City Museum is open from 9:00-16:30, and entry is stopped at 16:00; Qinchuan Ancient Village is open all day, but some ancient buildings in the village are open from 8:00-17:00.

It should be noted that the boat departure time may be adjusted according to the number of tourists and weather conditions. It is recommended that tourists arrive at the dock 1 hour in advance to go through the boarding procedures to avoid missing the flight. In case of extreme weather (such as typhoons, heavy rains, etc.), the scenic area may be temporarily closed. Tourists can pay attention to the official website or public account for the latest information.

Tour Routes

The Qiandao Lake Scenic Area is quite large, so it is recommended to plan your route reasonably according to the number of days you plan to visit. For a one-day trip, you can choose to visit either the Central Lake District or the Southeast Lake District. For a two-day trip, you can visit both districts to experience the lake scenery in depth.

One-day trip (Central Lake District): Board the boat at Qiandao Lake Town Tourist Wharf at 8:30 a.m. First, head to Meifeng Island, take the cable car up the mountain to enjoy the panoramic view of the lake area, and spend about 1.5 hours there. At 10:30 a.m., take the boat to Yueguang Island, visit attractions such as Suodao (Lock Island) and Niaodao (Bird Island), experience interactive activities, spend about 2 hours, and have lunch at the restaurant on the island. At 1:30 p.m., go to Longshan Island, visit Hairui Temple and the ruins of Shixia Academy, and spend about 1 hour there. At 3:00 p.m., take the boat back to the wharf to end the trip. The total boat ride time is about 3 hours, and the total distance is about 50 kilometers.

Two-day trip: Visit the Central Lake District on the first day (route as above) and stay in Qiandao Lake Town at night. On the second day, depart from the Southeast Lake District Wharf at 8:30 a.m., head to Huangshan Peak, climb to the top to enjoy the "No.1 'Gong' in the World" landscape, and spend about 1.5 hours there. At 10:30 a.m., go to Mishan Island, visit Mishan Temple to learn about Buddhist culture, and spend about 1 hour there. Have lunch on the island at 12:00 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., go to Osmanthus Island, enjoy the karst landform and monkey performances, and spend about 1 hour there. At 3:00 p.m., take the boat back to the wharf. If time permits, you can go to Qinchuan Ancient Village in the afternoon of the second day to experience the ancient village style. The drive takes about 1 hour, and after spending about 2 hours there, return to Qiandao Lake Town.

Transportation

External Transportation - Plane: The nearest airport to Qiandao Lake is Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, which is about 180 kilometers away from the scenic area, with a driving time of about 2 hours. There are direct buses from the airport to Qiandao Lake, 6 times a day, with departure times at 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:30, and 19:30. The fare is 85 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 2 hours.
External Transportation - Train: There is no direct railway station in Qiandao Lake. Tourists can take high-speed trains to Hangzhou East Station or Jiande Station. There are direct buses from Hangzhou East Station to Qiandao Lake Town, once every 30 minutes from 7:00 to 19:00 every day. The fare is 65 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 1.5 hours. Buses from Jiande Station to Qiandao Lake Town run 8 times a day, once every 2 hours from 8:00 to 18:00. The fare is 25 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
External Transportation - Long-distance Bus: Qiandao Lake Bus Terminal has buses to surrounding cities such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Suzhou. Buses from Hangzhou West Bus Station to Qiandao Lake run every 20 minutes from 6:00 to 18:30 every day. The fare is 60 yuan per person, and the journey takes 1.5 hours. Buses from Shanghai Hongqiao Long-distance Bus Station to Qiandao Lake run every 2 hours from 7:30 to 16:00 every day. The fare is 120 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 4 hours.
External Transportation - Self-driving: Qiandao Lake has convenient transportation, with Hangqian Expressway and Qianhuang Expressway passing through. Starting from Hangzhou, drive along Hangqian Expressway for about 120 kilometers, taking 1.5 hours. Starting from Shanghai, drive along Hurong Expressway and transfer to Hangqian Expressway, with a total distance of about 300 kilometers, taking 3.5 hours. Starting from Nanjing, drive along Changshen Expressway and transfer to Hangqian Expressway, with a total distance of about 350 kilometers, taking 4 hours. There are multiple parking lots in the scenic area, with a charging standard of 5 yuan per hour and a daily maximum of 50 yuan.
Internal Transportation - Cruise Ship: The main means of transportation in the lake area is the cruise ship. The Central Lake District and the Southeast Lake District each have special cruise ships. Cruise ships are divided into ordinary cruise ships and luxury cruise ships. Ordinary cruise ships are included in the ticket, and luxury cruise ships require an additional 30 yuan per person. Cruise ships travel along fixed routes, and tourists need to get on and off at the specified time.
Internal Transportation - Scenic Area Bus: There are shuttle buses running between Qiandao Lake Town and various scenic spots. The bus fare from the Central Lake District Tourist Wharf to the entrance of Meifeng Island Scenic Area is 5 yuan per person, and the departure times are coordinated with those of the cruise ships. There are 4 buses daily from Qiandao Lake Town to Qinchuan Ancient Village, with departure times at 7:30, 9:30, 13:30, and 15:30. The fare is 15 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
Internal Transportation - Taxi: The starting fare of taxis in Qiandao Lake Town is 6 yuan for 3 kilometers, and 2 yuan per kilometer beyond that. It is about 3 kilometers from the town center to the Central Lake District Tourist Wharf, and the taxi fare is about 10 yuan. It is about 5 kilometers to the Southeast Lake District Tourist Wharf, and the taxi fare is about 15 yuan.

Must-visit Attractions

Meifeng Island: It is a landmark attraction of Qiandao Lake, where you can overlook the magnificent landscape composed of more than 300 islands. It has the reputation of "If you don't go to Meifeng to watch the islands, you can't know the true face of Qiandao". The viewing platform on the island has an excellent view, and you can also experience taking the cable car up and down the mountain.
Huangshan Peak: You can enjoy the unique "No.1 'Gong' in the World" landscape, where many islands form the shape of the Chinese character "公" (gong), which is a wonderful work of nature. Taking the cable car to the top allows you to take in all the beautiful scenery.
Underwater Ancient City Ruins (Exhibition Area): Although the ancient city is underwater, the underwater ancient city museum on the shore vividly displays the historical style of the ancient city and underwater archaeological achievements through various means. The displayed cultural relics allow tourists to feel the heritage of the thousand-year-old ancient city.
Tianyu Mountain Viewing Platform: It is an excellent place to watch the sunset in Qiandao Lake. Here, you can have a 360-degree view of the lake and island scenery. Under the reflection of the sunset glow, the scenery of Qiandao Lake is extremely beautiful. Taking the elevator up the mountain is convenient and labor-saving.
Qinchuan Ancient Village: It is an ancient village with a history of more than 800 years, which well preserves more than 300 Huizhou-style buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The "Seven Bridges and Eight Lanes" pattern is unique. Ancient relics such as the Wang Clan Ancestral Hall witness the changes of time, allowing tourists to deeply experience the ancient village culture.

Tour Suggestions

Tour Time Arrangement: It is recommended to arrange 2-3 days to visit Qiandao Lake, one day to visit the Central Lake District, one day to visit the Southeast Lake District, and the remaining time can be used to visit places such as Qinchuan Ancient Village and Tianyu Mountain Viewing Platform. If time is limited, a one-day trip can choose the Central Lake District, where the essence attractions are concentrated.
Cruise Ship Choice: Ordinary cruise ships are economical and affordable, included in the ticket; luxury cruise ships have more comfortable facilities and require an additional 30 yuan per person, which can be chosen according to the budget. Arrive at the wharf in advance when taking the cruise ship to avoid missing the departure time.
Activity Experience: If you like excitement, you can try water sports such as jet skis and paragliding; if you want to relax, you can choose to ride a bike by the lake, and Qianfen Greenway is recommended for its beautiful scenery; if you are interested in history and culture, you can learn more about the history of the underwater ancient city or visit relics such as Hairui Temple on Longshan Island.
Seasonal Choice: Spring and autumn have pleasant climates and beautiful scenery, suitable for outdoor activities; summer can be a summer resort, but pay attention to sun protection and anti-mosquito measures; winter has relatively fewer tourists, allowing you to enjoy a quiet atmosphere, and some hotels also offer discounts.

Matters needing attention

Tickets and Documents: Purchase tickets in advance through official channels, and pay attention to the validity period and scope of application of the tickets. Carry valid documents, and people who meet the preferential policies can enjoy corresponding discounts.
Traffic Safety: Choose regular transportation methods such as scenic area buses and taxis. When driving by yourself, abide by traffic rules. The roads in the scenic area have many bends and large slopes, so drive carefully. Parking spaces in the scenic area are limited, so try to avoid peak hours.
Water Safety: When participating in water activities, be sure to wear life jackets, follow the instructions of the staff, and do not swim or play in dangerous areas. When taking a boat, sit firmly and hold on, and avoid walking around on the boat at will.
Environmental Protection: The ecological environment of Qiandao Lake is fragile. Do not litter, do not damage vegetation and landscapes, protect the cleanliness of the water source, and jointly maintain the beautiful scenery.
Food Hygiene: When dining in or around the scenic area, choose restaurants with good hygiene conditions to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort caused by eating unclean food. When tasting special foods, pay attention to moderation to prevent gastrointestinal intolerance.
Weather Protection: Take sun protection measures in summer, carry sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, etc.; prepare rain gear in case of rain, as there may be rain in mountainous areas, and make preparations in advance.