Xuan Shui Lake

Xuan Shui Lake

Xuan Shui Lake is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction.

The Xuan Shui Lake scenic area is located in the central part of the Lüliang Mountain Scenic Area in Tongshan, serving as the core zone of the Lüliang Mountain Provincial Tourist Resort. Covering an area of 7.62 square kilometers, it was approved as a National AAA-level Tourist Attraction in 2013.

Historical records state that the ancient Si River and the ancient canal once flowed through here. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius paused by the Lüliang Rapids and witnessed the grand scene of “water falling thirty zhang high, with foamy spray spreading forty li,” which inspired his famous saying, “Thus flows all things—unceasingly day and night.” The name “Xuan Shui Lake” comes from this very moment.

Construction of the Xuan Shui Lake scenic area began in 2008, with a total investment of 320 million yuan. Key projects included road infrastructure, ecological conservation, attraction development, and supporting facilities. The area officially opened in October 2011 and features major attractions such as Xuan Shui Lake, the Picking Garden, Shipeng Valley, Xuan Shui Village, and the Thousand-Mu Rose Garden.

The scenic area is renowned for its “green mountains, clear waters, peculiar rocks, and ancient towns,” boasting rich and high-quality tourism resources. The forest coverage rate reaches 46.2%; it hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna, including nearly 130 species across more than 10 animal categories and around 340 species across over 60 plant categories. Numerous unique rocks are found here, noted for their “perforations, translucency, and peculiarity,” all yellow in color, thus called “Emperor Stones.”

The area has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Confucius once gave lectures, dried his books, and observed the rapids on the mountain, making it uniquely suited to promoting Confucian culture. The architecture of Niyuan Village blends features of Ming and Qing styles with those of traditional northern Jiangsu residential buildings, highlighting the area’s “natural, rural, and distinctive” character.

The scenic area offers numerous participatory, experiential, and recreational activities, comprising six major experience zones: the Confucian Culture Experience Zone, the Traditional Vernacular Architecture Zone, the Farmhouse Life Experience Zone, the Rural Farming & Picking Experience Zone, the Thousand-Mu Rose Appreciation Zone, and the Peculiar Rocks Exploration Zone.

1. Experience Confucian Culture: The area’s cultural square features a statue of Confucius and a Confucian Culture Wall, which is inscribed with biographical information about Confucius and excerpts of his poetry and writings, recreating the scene of his teachings for visitors to explore.

2. Explore Traditional Vernacular Architecture: The scenic area preserves over ten old-style residences that reflect the living conditions of homeowners from different social strata at the time, offering visitors a chance to observe and experience traditional life.

3. Immerse in Farmhouse Life: Xuan Shui Village within the scenic area is a “Jiangsu Provincial Three-Star Comfortable Residential Demonstration Village,” hailed as “the most beautiful small mountain village in Xuzhou.” The village includes a visitor center, shopping area, farmhouse restaurants, and workshops, providing services such as farm-fresh meals, rural lodging, and hands-on farming experiences.

4. Enjoy the Fun of Fruit Picking: The scenic area’s picking garden spans 600 mu and cultivates dozens of seasonal fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, sweet peaches, and golden apricots, available for picking year-round.

5. Admire Rose Scenery: The rose garden in the scenic area covers more than 1,000 mu and is home to 600,000 rose plants, whose flowers are mainly used for food and the extraction of rose essential oil. From April to May each year, when the roses are in full bloom, the vibrant colors attract large crowds of visitors.

6. Discover the Mystery of Peculiar Rocks: Shipeng Valley lies between the Lüliang Mountains and Mao Mountain and is an important water source flowing into Xuan Shui Lake. The valley is filled with unusual rocks that, over centuries of water erosion, have formed diverse and layered shapes, with each stratum representing a chapter of the stream’s history. Scattered throughout Shipeng Valley are exquisite springs, stunning and picturesque. The peculiar rocks can be admired or purchased by visitors.