Gaoyou Lake

Gaoyou Lake

Gaoyou Lake

Gaoyou Lake is the third largest lake in Jiangsu Province. It is called a "hanging lake" because its water level is higher than that of the canal, and it is also referred to as the West Lake due to its location west of Gaoyou City. From the Song Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, it consisted of several smaller lakes, among which the larger ones included Pearl Lake, Pishe Lake, Ping'a Lake, and 12 other lakes, all interconnected. Qin Shaoyou described Gaoyou Lake as: “To the northwest of Gaoyou there are many large lakes, connected one after another like a string of pearls.”

Gaoyou Lake is a beautiful lake, blessed with both natural splendor and numerous enchanting legends, such as the “Pearl Light of Pishe” and the “Sacred Lamp of Geng Temple.” As the third largest freshwater lake in Jiangsu Province, it covers a total area of 780 square kilometers. Pu Songling once wrote in a poem that it features “vast misty waters stretching for three thousand li.” Stretching as far as the eye can see, the lake shimmers with mist, the sky merging with the water and the water with the sky. In autumn, against the glow of the setting sun, sails on the horizon, wild ducks on the water, birds in the sky, and reeds along the shore come together to form breathtaking scenes — so mesmerizing that you may find it hard to tear yourself away.

Gaoyou Lake is not only a beautiful lake, but also a bountiful one. With its vast waters and high water quality, it provides an ideal ecological environment for the growth of various fish, birds, and aquatic plants. It abounds in fish such as black carp, silver carp, black bass, bream, common carp, and eel, especially renowned for its green river shrimp, whitebait, and crabs. Aquatic plants include gorgon fruit, water chestnut, lotus root, and water shield. The lake’s islets and waters are home to birds such as gulls, egrets, cranes, and wild ducks, which often frequent the reed marshes. The picturesque Gaoyou Lake truly is a world of fish, a paradise for birds, and a museum of aquatic plants.