Nanshan Scenic Area

Nanshan Scenic Area

Nanshan Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Nanshan Scenic Area is located 30 kilometers southwest of Shengzhou, covering a total area of 14.3 square kilometers. It consists of three scenic zones—Nanshan Lake, Fengtan, and Guimen—as well as 54 individual sites. Comprising lakes, bizarre rocks, deep pools, ancient trees, and historic relics, Nanshan is celebrated for its landscape beauty and stands as one of the few natural scenic destinations in Shaoxing. In 1993, it was approved as a provincial-level scenic area by the provincial government.

Originally the Nanshan Reservoir, Nanshan Lake was completed in 1958. Nestled among green hills and clear waters, the lake spans over 4,000 mu (approximately 266.7 hectares) with a water storage capacity of 105 million cubic meters. The water in Nanshan Lake is crystal-clear, often dotted with birds skimming the surface and schools of fish swimming beneath. The lake connects seamlessly with the sky. Lush woods line the shores, creating an exceptionally pristine ecological environment that makes it an ideal spot for leisure and tourism.

Nanshan features a typical canyon-style landscape, where the scenic area showcases a dazzling array of oddly shaped rocks, cascading waterfalls, deep pools, and mountain streams. There are steep cliffs and uniquely shaped rocks, such as Stone Monk, Gold and Silver Waterfall, Frog Croaking in the Deep Valley, Lion Roaring at the Sky, and Jin Si Pool. Among these, Tianxing Pool is surrounded by sheer cliffs that are incredibly precipitous, adding to its extreme danger. A waterfall plunges directly from the sky into the deep pool, which is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, resembling an upside-down pottery pot, half-hidden within the canyon. The pool is further divided into three sections by natural rock walls. The water is extremely deep and never dries up throughout the year. Legend has it that a dragon king resides here, making it a site where local villagers once prayed for rain during droughts. To this day, nearby residents still maintain this tradition.

At the far end of Nanshan Lake lies Fengtan Reservoir, nestled within a canyon. It is quite rare in the area to find two reservoirs in one canyon. Surrounded by mountains and dense forests of bamboo, Fengtan Reservoir is situated much higher than Nanshan Lake, appearing like a giant, gleaming mirror upheld atop the peaks by the surrounding green mountains.

On the mountaintop east of Nanshan Lake lies Guimen, a place whose township and village names are derived from it. The Guimen Scenic Area mainly includes Guimen Watchtower, Lumen Academy, and Visit-a-Friend Bridge. Both Guimen Watchtower and Lumen Academy were built by the renowned Southern Song Dynasty Confucian scholars Lü Guishu and his son Lü Zuhao. Zhu Xi once gave lectures here, and the structures remain well-preserved today. When Zhu Xi visited Lü Guishu, he happened to meet him on the bridge. The Visit-a-Friend Bridge, still preserved in Bai Zhaihu Village of Guimen Township, marks this encounter. Zhu Xi, enchanted by the murmuring sound of the stream beneath the bridge, joyfully inscribed the four characters “Stone Spring Gurgles Like Jade,” which can still be seen today.

In front of the Guimen Tower lies the best vantage point to take in the panoramic view of Nanshan Lake Scenic Area. In the distance, rolling mountains stretch out, while the lake below remains calm as a mirror. Towering in front of the Guimen Tower are huge maple trees and ancient pines, providing ample shade with birds chirping and cicadas humming. In spring, the mountains are covered with blooming flowers; in summer, the greenery is lush and dense; in autumn, the forests are painted in vibrant hues. Visitors often lose themselves in the beauty and forget to leave.

Scenic Area Climate

The average annual temperature in Shengzhou City is 16.4°C, with an average of 4.2°C in January and 28.6°C in July. The annual average precipitation is 1,446.8 mm, with 1,988 hours of sunshine and a frost-free period of 235 days.

Opening Hours

7:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Contact Information

Address: Changle Town, Shengzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Phone: 0575-312882

Nanshan Lake National Forest Park

Tianxing Pool

Pujiao An

Guimen Watchtower

Gold and Silver Waterfall

Lake-Viewing Pavilion

Visit-a-Friend Bridge

Nanshan Lake Lion Rock

Shaded Stone Path

Mandarin Duck Pond

Fengtan Lake

Meishu Pile Qiong

Crown Prince Lake

Prince Hall

Nine Dragons Beach

Green Bay Fishing

Thousand-Catty Silk Pool Waterfall

Lucky Stone