Dongting Lake in Hunan

The Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, stretching between Hunan and Hubei provinces. Also known as the 800-hundred-li Dongting Lake, it connects the Yangtze River to the north and the Xiangjiang River, Zi River, Yuan River, and Feng River to the south. As described by the name Dongting (the abode of fairies and immortals), the lake has fascinating scenery, with the most famous feature of lake in lake, hill in lake.

Dongting Lake covers an area of 2,820 sq km and is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in China. Located in the mid reaches of the Yangtze River, the lake extends between Hunan and Hubei provinces. Fringed with reeds and lotus ponds, the magical lake is known as the setting of many traditional fairy tales and legends.

One hundred and fifty years ago, the lake was much bigger (6,200 km2) than it is now (2,740 km2), but the rapid progress of sedimentation and land reclamation works have since reduced its size, resulting in the formation of three more or less separate basins, West, South and East Dongting. In the summer flooding season, however, the three lakes unite into a single water body of about 3,900 km2 surface area. The water from the Chang Jiang flows mainly into the West and East Lake through three channels, and is drained from the northeastern corner of East Lake at Yueyang directly into the Chang Jiang again. The annual range of water level fluctuation in normal years ranges between 6.5 m (W. Lake) and 17.8 m (E. Lake).

On the banks of the lake are many villages with paddy fields and cane fields. But the main livelihood for many villagers is still fishing. The graceful Yueyang Tower is also found on the eastern banks of the lake.

The Dongting Lake is also famous for historical scenic spots on the lakefront, including the Yueyang Pavilion, Junshan Mountain, Tomb of Du Fu, Wen Temple, and Longzhou Academy. At present, tourists can still enjoy five famous sights out of Eight Views of Xiaoxiang, namely the Autumn Moon on Dongting, Returned Sail from Faraway Riverside, Wile Gooses Settle on the Smooth Sand, Sunset Glow over Fishing Village, and Snow Curtain Hanging over the River Sky. Moreover, the Ten Shadows of Dongting Lake are also attractive sights, including Shadow of Sun, Shadow of Moon, Shadow of Cloud, Shadow of Snow, Shadow of Hill, Shadow of Tower, Shadow of Sail, Shadow of Fishing, Shadow of Gull, and Shadow of Wild Goose.

The most famous mountain in the Dongting Lake is Junshan Mountain. It is an isolated island with 72 peaks, large or small. Junshan Mountain was originally called Dongting Mountain. Legend has it that Emperor Shun toured to the south 4,000 years ago. His two concubines, Ehuang and Nüying, could not catch up with him, and then they leaned on bamboos and cried bitterly. Their tears dropped on the bamboos and left stains. Those bamboos turned into mottled bamboos. After their death on the mountain, people of later generations built an Erfei Tomb (tomb of the two concubines) in memory of them. Since they were also known as Xiangfei or Xiangjun, the name of Dongting Mountain changed into Junshan Mountain. Now Junshan Mountain has several historical sites such as Erfei Tomb, Xiangfei Temple and Feilai Bell (a bell flying from afar), etc. It is also famous for its various kinds of bamboos, including mottled bamboo, Arhat bamboo, black bamboo, and Mao bamboo. Every year, various activities are held here, including the Dragon Boat Festival, the Lotus Festival, and other water sports.

Four streams including the Xiangjiang River, the Zishui River, the Yuanjiang River, and the Lishui River, all flow into Dongting Lake, and the lake is sometimes known as 'the holder of the four streams'. Because Dongting Lake acts as a tremendous natural reservoir or flood-basin, it plays an important role in adjusting the flow of the Yangtze River The Lake is sometimes known as 'the taker and sender of the Yangtze River'.

East Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake is divided into 5 parts: East Dongting Lake, South Dongting Lake, West Dongting Lake, North Dongting Lake, and Datong Lake. East Dongting is the biggest part of Dongting Lake. The District has abundant animal and plant life, especially birds and waterfowl. East Dongting Lake has become one of China's major natural habitats for birds. According to scientists, there are 1,086 kinds of plants, 114 kinds of fresh water fish, and 207 kinds of birds living in the district, and the total number of animals and birds reaches 10 million every year. The large water area, beach, and rich natural resources here provide protected living conditions for many animals that are in danger of extinction. East Dongting Lake is recognized as "a zoology pearl on the middle part of the Yangtze River", and "a hopeful place to save the animals in danger". Besides experiencing the cultural history of the region by visiting Yueyang Pavilion, watching dragon boat races, or tasting Junshan Island Tea, you can enjoy the region's natural abundance by watching the birds on East Dongting Lake. The best time is from October to March. In addition, at East Dongting Lake one can dine on delicious fish as well.

South Dongting Lake

South Dongting Lake, near Yuanjiang City, is famous for the picturesque beauty of its fishing villages: the mist and fog rising from the surface of the lake, making the sky and the water the same color; the light reflecting from the water captivates the viewer. Furthermore, South Dongting Lake is also an important international marsh, and it has been ranked as a provincial natural protective district for marsh waterfowl. Because South Dongting Lake is next to Yuanjiang City, which is easy to reach by land or water, the lake is being developed as a scenic spot for tourism.

San Jiang Kou Entrance

Where West Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River meet, there is a place called San Jiang Kou Entrance, where one can see the Xiangjiang River surging to the north and the Yangtze River rolling to the east. Above, water birds soar freely, and on the water, hundreds of barges ply their trade. It's a grand and sublime scene. Many folk legends are rooted here, including 'the two concubines of the emperor Shun looking for their husband for hundreds of miles'.

The Hills of Junshan

The most famous scene in the lake is an island called Junshan, a lone, mountainous island on Dongting Lake. Junshan Island contains 72 peaks. There are ferries to take the passengers back and forth. The ferry ride takes about an hour, but plan to spend the whole day exploring the island. The original name of the Junshan Island was Dongting Island, which means the cavity for the immortals to live in. It is said that 4,000 years ago, after the emperor Shun went south to go on a tour of inspection, two of his concubines tried to find him but failed, and they began to cry while grasping bamboo. Their tears dropped onto the bamboo, and the bamboo became mottled from then on. After their death, people built a tomb for them, which is called 'two concubines' tomb'. To commemorate them, people changed the name of the island from Dongting Island to Junshan Island. The bamboo on the island is well known for its many varieties such as mottled bamboo, arhat bamboo, square bamboo, sincere bamboo, and purple bamboo. In addition, the island holds a large-scale dragon-boat festival, a lotus festival, and various sporting events on the water every year.

There are several islands on the lake, the most famous being Junshan Island, known for its silver needle tea.

Dongting Lake attracts people from all over the world with its vast historical heritage, places of interest, and its convenient location. If you want to sail, go bird-watching, fish, or pick lotus flowers, Dongting Lake is a perfect place to go.

Reputed as a land flowing with milk and honey, the Dongting Lake abounds in top-grade products, including the Silver Needle Tea, the Pearl Rice, and rare food from river such as clam, mud eel, Dongting crab, and salangid. The Lotus Lake, embraced in the Dongting Lake, is famous for the well-known Xiang Lotus, one kind of rare lotus with plump seeds and crisp flesh.

Admission Fee:

CNY 61 (the Hills of Junshan)