Shoushan Lake Scenic Area

Shoushan Lake Scenic Area

Shoushan was once named by Emperor Kangxi. According to historical records, “Shoushan” refers to Chalafinalin (Manchu language), where “Chalafin” means “longevity” and “alin” means “mountain.” In the 20th year of Kangxi’s reign, after completing an eastern tour and worship ceremony, the emperor stopped here on his way back. The local people held a “Longevity Festival” in his honor, and thus the mountain was bestowed the name “Shoushan.” At that time, there was a clear pond at the foot of the mountain. Shoushan Lake is the largest headwater source of the Yitong River, flowing from south to north through the entire town. The Yitong River provides abundant water resources for the local people, irrigating tens of thousands of acres of fertile farmland, and has made significant contributions to their production and daily life.

Shoushan Reservoir was built in 1958 and expanded in 1966. It intercepts the Yitong River at the foot of Shoushan and is a medium-sized reservoir on the upper main stream of the Yitong River, primarily for flood control and irrigation. In 2002, reinforcement work was carried out with an investment of 12.1 million yuan. The reservoir capacity reached 25.3 million cubic meters, with a total dam length of 1,080 meters, a crest width of 5 meters, a dam height of 12.92 meters, a river channel length of 16.3 meters, and a drainage area of 91.5 square kilometers. This has transformed Shoushan Reservoir into a medium-sized reservoir mainly for water storage and irrigation, supplemented by tourism, vacationing, fishing, and leisure entertainment.

The upstream area consists of wetlands. Every spring, migratory birds such as grey cranes, swans, and wild ducks come here to nest and breed. The lake is home to over twenty species of fish, including American largemouth bass, Russian small bream, ?t fish, mandarin fish, bighead carp, silver carp, common carp, and grass carp, yielding an annual production of 300,000 jin of fish. Downstream of the dam, there are sixteen fish ponds available for visitors to fish in, and within Shoushan Lake, there are five various-sized fish stew restaurants where visitors can enjoy a taste of the local cuisine. Here, you’ll find genuine mountains, genuine waters, and a genuinely immersive experience. Shoushan Lake enjoys convenient transportation, being only 1.5 li from the Yingchengzi Town government. The area is equipped with complete tourism facilities, offering over ten dining and entertainment venues for visitors to choose from. Every year, it attracts tens of thousands of tourists from cities such as Changchun, Liaoyuan, Siping, Dongfeng, and Panshi for sightseeing, travel, leisure, and vacation.

Source: People's Government of Yitong Manchu Autonomous County