Yaoquan Lake

Yaoquan Lake

Yaoquan Lake is a bay left behind when volcanic lava filled an ancient lake. It is about 300 meters wide from east to west, nearly 1,000 meters long from north to south, with an average depth of around 5 meters. There are multiple carbonated springs on the lakebed, along with underground rivers, and it is replenished by water from the Erlongyan Mineral Spring, making this an exceptionally rare living-water lake.

Yaoquan Lake is an extremely rare mineral spring lake. It serves as a vital water source for the production of mineral spring rice and is also one of the main areas for mineral spring fish farming. With picturesque scenery, it borders the surging lava flows that head southward. Willow trees shade its banks, and the lake reflects the surrounding mountain views. The rare Apollo butterfly inhabits the northern shore. This is a multifunctional tourism and leisure area integrating mountains, water, rocks, springs, pavilions, and forests.

At dawn, the sky glows with morning light, the lake shimmers, and birds chirp melodiously. At dusk, the setting sun casts a golden hue over the lake. In early summer, thousands of gulls play with the mineral spring fish on the water’s surface, while a gentle breeze rustles the willows and moonlight ripples on the waves. A poem praises it: “The lake shines like water, the moon like frost; the evening breeze carries the scent of reeds. The fishing line breaks the moon’s reflection; fish leaping startle the sleeping mandarin ducks.”

According to local elders, on quiet, deep nights, one can hear the melodious sound of an ancient zither coming from Yaoquan Lake. It is said to be the fairy of the spring lake playing her instrument—but no one has ever seen this beautiful fairy.

The locals deeply admire this beautiful fairy, and thus built a lakeside pavilion especially for her to rest when she grows weary. The water temperature varies with depth, and at two carbonated springs, bubbles rise continuously where the water is just 3 degrees Celsius.

Amid the raised volcanic lava plateau, a delicate Yaoquan Lake waterfall appears like an exquisitely crafted miniature bonsai. It originates from the cold metasilicic acid mineral spring water flowing from Erlongyan Spring at the foot of Yaoquan Mountain. As it travels across the Shilong Plateau, it absorbs countless underground mineral springs along the way. This mineral spring waterfall, which continues to steam and roar even in sub-zero temperatures of minus thirty degrees in high-altitude regions, is very rare in the world. A poem describes it: “A soul-soothing, healing water so clear, formed by countless trickles gathering here. Spring may charm, but winter is best, with frost and snow adding tender zest.”

The Apollo butterfly, belonging to the Parnassius genus of the swallowtail family, is one of the most precious butterfly species in China.

The male’s dorsal plate is well-developed; it has a pair of relatively slender, slightly curved, hook-like appendages. The female’s ovipositor is semicircular with bristles; the posterior tegular projection is thick and long, ending bluntly. The butterfly’s wings are rounded, with transparent, colorless membranes resembling silk—hence the name. The wings often feature black, red, and blue spots or patterns.

It inhabits high mountainous regions at altitudes of 750 to 2,000 meters. It is highly cold-resistant and often lives near the snowline. It has one generation per year and overwinters as eggs. Adults emerge in August. Larvae feed on Sedum plants. The Apollo butterfly is found only in Xinjiang, China, in very small numbers, and is listed as a second-class nationally protected wild animal.