Lakes in China — Legend, History, and Culture

According to the Tao Te Ching, water is considered the finest good.

It is soft, shapeless, remains low and indisputable, and nurtures everything in the universe.

Moreover, it possesses the strongest force capable of destroying everything.

Confucius revered water for its insistence, precision, and purity, embodying virtues that a decent person should acquire.

Therefore, the famous lakes in China carry fascinating cultural meanings, mysterious origins, attractive legends, and significant historical values.

West Lake

West Lake is a World Cultural Heritage Site whose history and culture have triumphed over the spectacular natural scenes.

Many famous historical figures left their stories, and many appealing mythological legends took place here.

Picturesque views, harmonious aesthetics, beautiful folklore, and invaluable historical relics of the West Lake have been eulogized in China for thousands of years.

Alias: Xi Hu, Xi Zi, Qian Tang Hu.

Location: Zhejiang Province, East China.

Area: 6.39 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

The West Lake was the incarnation of a fancy jade from heaven, and two mountains next to it were two deities guarding the jade.

Legend of White Snake, in which a white snake incarnated as a beautiful woman, met her love on the West Lake bridge (named Duan Qiao) and then got suppressed in the Leifeng Pagoda next.

First honey trap Xi Shi and her love Fan Li, in some legends, lived near the West Lake in seclusion after they had helped their king defeat another kingdom and completed the vengeance in around 473 BC.

Singer Su Xiaoxiao (about 479 — 502) fell for her beloved one and was buried next to the West Lake.

Related History and People:

Emperors that had visited the West Lake and left stories: Qin Shi Huang (259 BC — 210 BC), Kang Xi (1654 — 1722), Qian Long (1711 — 1799), etc.

Emperor Yang Guang (569 — 618) constructed the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which connected the West Lake to other rivers.

Emperor Zhao Gou (1107 — 1187) established the Southern Song Dynasty in the city of Hangzhou, next to West Lake.

Heroes buried next to the West Lake and have commemorative temples: Yue Fei (1103 — 1142), Yu Qian (1398 — 1457), Zhang Huangyan (1620 — 1664), Qiu Jin (1875 — 1907), etc.

Famous scholars that had worked, lived, written poems, or left paintings about the West Lake: Feng Zikai, Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Xin Qiji, Liu Yong, etc.

Tourist Attractions:

Ancient temples, pagodas, bridges, dams, and other old buildings around the West Lake scenic spots.

Residences, graves, and memorial temples of famous historical figures.

Beautiful natural sceneries in different seasons include lakes, mountains, caves, islands, and flowers.

Poyang Lake

Poyang Lake is the World's Largest Bird Reserve, a paradise of aquatic birds, and the largest freshwater lake in China.

The largest-scale water battle in the Medieval era also took place in Poyang Lake, which was essential in establishing the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644).

A Devil's Triangle is located near an ancient temple that worships the King of Dragon, where countless ships disappeared mysteriously throughout history.

Alias: Peng Li, Peng Ze, Guan Ting Hu.

Location: Jiangxi Province, Southeast China.

Area: About 3150 — 4400 square kilometers, based on seasonal differences in water levels.

Related History and People:

In 1363 (30th of August — 4th of October), Zhu Yuanzhang led 200,000 warriors and defeated his rival's 650,000 soldiers in Poyang Lake, which set a solid foundation for his establishment of the Ming Dynasty 5 years later.

This is also the largest-scale water battle in the Medieval era.

Wang Shouren defeated and captured a rebellious king (Zhu Chenhao) through a decisive, final battle in Poyang Lake in 1519.

Many exceptional scholars wrote poems and articles about beautiful scenes, such as Tao Yuanming (352 — 427), Wang Bo (about 650 — 676), Su Shi (1037 — 1101), and Xie Jin (1369 — 1415).

Tourist Attractions:

War relics from the Battle of Poyang Lake in 1363.

When Poyang Lake entered the Dry Season (the water level was lower than 10.5 meters), a 2657-meter-long ancient bridge (in 1631) would show up.

Ancient temples, pagodas, and Confucianism Academy.

Valuable aquatic birds like White Cranes.

Mountains, islands, and other spectacular natural views.

Hongze Lake

Hongze is the largest hanging lake in China, whose bottom is even higher than the altitude of the nearby ground because of a grand dam that holds up the water.

Under the lake, there’s an ancient city ruin buried by a flood in 1680.

Alias: Fu Ling Hu, Po Fu Tang, Hong Ze Fu, Hung-tse Lake.

Location: Jiangsu Province, East China.

Area: about 2069 square kilometers on average.

Deity and Legend:

Lao Zi, the writer of Tao Te Ching and founder of Taoism, used to do alchemy on top of a mountain named the Mountain of Lao Zi in southern Hongze Lake.

Related History and People:

Emperor Yang Guang changed the lake’s name from “Pofu” to “Hongze” in the year 616 after having seen the stunning view of the sudden increased water level after heavy rain.

Kang Xi Emperor (1654 — 1722) and Qian Long Emperor (1711 — 1799) visited here several times and left stone monuments.

Tourist Attractions:

Grand water conservancy project and huge ancient embankment built since the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 — 220).

Metal-made rhinoceroses built in 1701 were used to suppress the vast flood.

Ancient buildings and stone monuments are scattered on mountains in the lake.

The Mountain of Lao Zi has a cave where Lao Zi used to live and a plateau where he used to practice alchemy.

Mausoleum of the ancestors of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, which was built in 1386, submerged in 1680, and re-exposed in 1966.

Beautiful natural scenic areas.

Chaohu Lake

Chaohu Lake is a landscape with great cultural and military values in the history of China.

There’s an over 2,000-year-old city buried under the lake, millennium temples in the middle, and cultural relics from different dynasties.

Alias: Nan Chao, Ju Chao Hu, Jiao Hu.

Location: Anhui Province, Middle China.

Area: about 780 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

When the ancient city was flooded under Chaohu Lake, a white dragon saved people.

Deity Lv Dongbin practiced Taoism and became a divine being in a cave here.

Tourist Attractions:

Millennium temples for people to worship local deities and commemorate a heroine who saved countless people.

Ancient temples, pagodas, military ruins, and other buildings are scattered on the islands and mountains in the lake.

Thermal springs and former residences of famous historical figures.

Ancient towns and mountains next to Chaohu Lake.

Mysterious cave (Zi Wei Dong) and the underground river flowing across.

Spectacular natural scenes.

Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake used to be named the Dream of Cloud, is a cultural landscape that famous scholars eulogized and an important military site where many important historical events took place.

Besides its rich cultural relics, Dongting Lake also serves a significant function in ecology and agriculture for local inhabitants.

Alias: Dream of Clouds, Yun Meng Ze, Jiu Jiang.

Location: Hunan Province, Middle-South China.

Area: About 2740 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

Neolithic King Shun’s two wives (E Huang and Nv Ying) departed here and became the deities of Dongting Lake.

A brave young man named Liu Yi saved the daughter of a Dragon King by going to the Dragon’s Palace underwater through a magical well.

Tourist Attractions:

Ancient military parader tower (Yue Yang Lou) on the lakeside, and works of literature appreciating the lake that famous scholars in history left.

Residence, memorial temples, and mausoleums of historical figures.

Mount Dongting in the middle of the lake, and ancient buildings on the mountain.

The Well that hero Liu Yi entered the Dragon’s Palace underwater.

Military ruins of an uprising army in the year 1131.

Beautiful natural scenery.

Thousand Island Lake or Qiandao Lake

Thousand Island Lake, or Qiandao Lake, is a beautiful artificial lake with 1078 islands surrounded by invaluable cultural sites and ancient cities and villages submerged underwater.

Alias: Qian Dao Hu, Thousand Islet Lake, Xin An Reservoir.

Location: Zhejiang Province, East China.

Area: about 580 square kilometers.

Tourist Attractions:

Cultural ruins since the Neolithic era.

Millennium cities submerged under the lake.

Ancient temples, tombs, academies, and residences are scattered there.

Long bike paths around the lake.

Appealing natural views.

East Lake Scenic Area of Wuhan

East Lake of Wuhan, the center of ancient Chu Culture, is a large city lake with picturesque natural views, surrounded by beautiful specialized botanical gardens and rich cultural sites, including ancient ruins, grand museums, universities, etc.

Alias: Dong Hu.

Location: Hubei Province, Middle-South China.

Area: 33 square kilometers.

Tourist Attractions:

Flower gardens and bird reserves.

Tourist Park of Culture of Kingdom Chu (1115 BC — 223 BC).

A big amusement park (Happy Valley).

Nearby museums.

Beautiful natural scenes.

Taihu Lake

Taihu Lake, the cradle of Wuyue Culture, is a huge Freshwater Lake with stunningly beautiful natural views.

Alias: Zhen Ze, Li Ze.

Location: Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province, East China.

Area: 2338 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

The Taihu Lake was the incarnation of a treasure from heaven, a magical silver basin inlaid with 72 emerald beads that accidentally fell into the earth.

Tourist Attractions:

Ancient buildings in the towns alongside Taihu Lake.

Residence, stone carving, and articles of famous historical figures.

Stunning natural sceneries.

Hulun Lake

Hulun Lake area has been the cradle land of northern nomadic groups throughout Chinese histories, such as the Huns or Xiongnu, Xianbei, Turkic, Jurchen, and Mongolia.

As a big lake in Hulunbuir Prairie, Hulun Lake is an important habitat and migration path for about 1/5 of all Chinese bird genres.

Therefore, it has beautiful natural scenes and northern Chinese nomad culture.

Alias: Hulun Buir, Da Ze, Ju Lun Bo, Xuan Mo Chi, etc.

Location: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, North China.

Area: 2339 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

A beautiful Mongolian girl named Hulun swallowed a magical bead and incarnated into a lake to protect her love and local habitats from a devil.

Since then, this lake has been named Hulun to memorize her courage and great love.

Tourist Attractions:

Mongolian culture, food, Yurt, and other activities.

Birds, fish, and other wild animals.

Stunning natural scenes.

Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China.

It is located northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; therefore, alongside the stunning natural views, the nomadic culture is also quite appealing, especially Tibetan and Mongolian customs.

Alias: Cyan Sea, West Sea, Xian Hai.

Location: Qinghai Province, Middle-West China.

Area: About 4236 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

Qinghai Lake is the biggest pond of the Deity Xiwangmu, where she held grand banquets to entertain other immortals from heaven.

A Dragon diverted water from 108 other lakes westward and formed the Qinghai Lake, also named the West Sea. This dragon then became the Dragon King of the West Sea, protecting the local inhabitants.

In recent centuries, many people witnessed monsters in the water here.

Tourist Attractions:

Four mountains surround Qinghai Lake.

Grand flower fields and ancient towns alongside the lake.

Ancient Tibetan Buddhism temples and pagodas.

Grand worship ceremonies of Tibetan and Mongolian and other minority cultural attractions.

Breathtaking natural landscapes are a perfect combination of lakes, deserts, prairie snowbergs, and mountains.

Heavenly Lake of Tianshan

Besides breathtaking sceneries as a World Natural Heritage and National Geopark, the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan also is famous for its important cultural values.

It has a close connection with Xiwangmu, an important deity in ancient Chinese Mythology and Taoism Religion.

Alias: Tianshan Tianchi Lake, Yao Chi, Long Tan, Shen Chi.

Location: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Northwest China.

Area: 380.69 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

Divine Xiwangmu used to live, shower, and hold grand banquets to entertain other deities in the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan.

Related History and People:

Ji Man, the King Mu of Zhou, led his army to arrive at Heavenly Lake, where the deity Xi Wang Mu held a grand banquet to welcome him.

Famous Taoist Qiu Chuji and his apprentices built temples there right before his famous meeting with Genghis Khan in 1222.

Tourist Attractions:

Cave, pond, temple, and mountain that Deity Xiwangmu had been to or lived in.

Ancient religious murals in grand, mysterious caves were believed to be where many divine beings used to live.

Ruins of the ancient Taoism temple that Qiu Chuji built.

A millennium elm grows in the lake, which is believed to be the incarnation of the deity Xi Wang Mu’s hairpin used to suppress a monster under the lake.

Culture and customs of Kazakh people.

Snowberg and glacier landscape.

Lovely alpine flowers like Saussurea Involucrata.

Stunning natural sceneries.

Kanas Lake

Located between magnificent mountains, Kanas Lake is quite mysterious. As a tourist attraction discovered recently, Kanas is considered a mysterious wonderland, the garden of divine beings.

The water of Kanas has different colors every day, based on temperature, season, plant, etc.

Around the lake are some villages in which live the Tuvas People.

Location: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Northwest China.

Area: 45.73 square kilometers.

Tourist Attractions:

Colorful water, prairie, mountains, forest, and other stunning natural landscapes.

Villages of Tuvas people and Tuvas culture.

Ancient rock paintings.

Fantastic natural beauties.

Erhai Lake

Around Erhai Lake live people of the ethnic group of Bai. Their food, residence, buildings, history, and customs are all unique and appealing.

Alias: Er He, Ye Yu He

Location: Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

Area: About 251 square kilometers.

Tourist Attractions:

Three-millennium pagodas next to.

Eighteen peaks surround the lake.

Cultural relics of Kingdom Nanzhao (738 — 902).

Ancient City Dali on the lakeside, built in 1382.

Culture and activities of minority group Bai.

Lugu Lake

Surrounded by many high mountains, Lugu Lake lives people of ethnic groups of Mosuo, Tibetan, Zhuang, Mongolia, Bai, Yi, Pumi, etc.

Among them, the people of Mosuo still follow the Matriarchal culture, in which people don’t get married and only date for love at night.

Alias: Le De Hai, Luku Hu, Zuosuo Hai, Liang Hai.

Location: Yunnan and Sichuan Province, Southwest China.

Area: 50.1 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

The tallest peak next to Lugu Lake is the incarnation of the Deity Gemu, where people of Mosuo pilgrimage and hold grand ceremonies to worship her on important holidays.

Tourist Attractions:

Matriarchal culture and buildings of Mosuo people.

Customs of other minority groups.

Ancient pilgrimage paths on mountains and Temples of Tibetan Buddhism.

Large grass sea, where lives large numbers of birds.

Spectacular natural sceneries.

Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake, also named the Lake of Heaven, is the highest (average elevation is 4718 meters) great lake in the world.

It is also a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism, where large numbers of believers would pilgrimage.

Alias: Na Mu Cuo, Tian Hu, Lake of Heaven.

Location: Tibet Autonomous Region, West China.

Area: 1920 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

Namtso is the incarnation of a goddess, Mount Nyenchen Tanglha, and next to the lake is her love. Together they have protected the well-being of local habitants for thousands of years.

In other legends, Namtso Lake initially fell from the sky; therefore, it is named the Lake of Heaven.

Tourist Attractions:

Tibetan Buddhism temples and activities.

Local Tibetan culture and customs.

Islands, stone statues, mysterious rock paintings, and caves that relate to local folklore.

Stunning Starry Sky.

Magnificent natural scenery.

Yamdroktso Lake

Surrounding by four sacred mountains, Yamdroktso Lake is one of the holiest places for Tibetan Buddhists to pilgrimage.

Alias: Yang Zhuo Cuo, Lake of Jade, Swan Lake.

Location: Tibet Autonomous Region, West China.

Area: 638 square kilometers.

Tourist Attractions:

Spectacular natural views.

Tibetan Buddhism temples and activities.

Local Tibetan culture and customs.

Unique islands are scattered in the colorful lake.

Lake Manasarovar

Lake Manasarovar is one of the most sacred places for Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists to pilgrimage. The water there is believed to be able to wash off people’s sins.

Alias: Lake of Victory, Mapang Yongcuo, Ma Chui.

Location: Tibet Autonomous Region, West of China.

Area: 412 square kilometers.

Deity and Legend:

According to some local folklore, there are 500 places under the lake, living mysterious Tibetan dragons, and a large number of treasures.

Tourist Attractions:

Historical Buddhist temples.

Ancient pilgrimage paths and ferries.

Stunningly magnificent natural views.