Nanshan Lake National Forest Park

Nanshan Lake National Forest Park

Nanshan Lake National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Majestic Forest Landscape

The park boasts a forested area of 1,697.1 hectares, comprising 1,007.5 hectares of planted forest and 689.6 hectares of secondary forest, resulting in a forest coverage rate of 77.5%. Excluding water surfaces, this reaches up to 92%. Particularly around Nanshan Lake, there is nearly 700 hectares of secondary forest, 80% of which is mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, dominated by Masson pine and sweetgum as the main tree species; 20% is evergreen broadleaf forest, led by Fagaceae plants, with Castanopsis sclerophylla and Cyclobalanopsis glauca as the dominant species; there are also small areas of aquatic forests that are quite unique. Thanks to long-term forest conservation efforts, the forest is now dense, diverse, and mostly has a canopy density of over 0.7. The neat forest landscape forms a stunning scenic belt around the lake.

The Nanshan Forest Farm within the park has shifted its management focus from timber production to resource conservation. After decades of forest closure and afforestation, the ecological environment here has significantly improved, with forest vegetation largely restored. Vast expanses of coniferous forests, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, broadleaf forests, and bamboo forests are now visible. From elevated vantage points, the area around the lake presents an expansive, breathtaking view.

Beautiful Lakes, Streams, and Waterfalls

The park is part of the Shanyue River system and contains three lakes of varying sizes, covering a total area of 316.5 hectares. From north to south, they are Nanshan Lake (also known as Nanshan Reservoir), Taizi Lake (also called Jinshi Pond Reservoir), and Fengtan Lake (also referred to as Fengtan Reservoir). Nanshan Lake is broad and open, Fengtan Lake is deep and mysterious, while Taizi Lake is small and delicate. The outer sections of the reservoirs feature wide, misty waters, while the inner sections consist of winding valleys and coves, lush and serene like emerald ribbons wrapped around spring. The lake water is clear and clean, with extremely low sediment content and transparency of several meters. On cloudy or rainy days, the water and sky blend into one, with drifting clouds creating a fairy-tale-like scene.

Along the lake, streams flow gently over rocks, and waterfalls, pools, and shoals are naturally formed, presenting dynamic and static variations in countless charming forms. There are numerous waterfalls on the streams (five of which are relatively well-known), especially in the Tianxingtan Scenic Area within the Eastern Zhejiang Dalong Valley, which is deep, winding, and features various types of waterfalls and deep pools. The Thousand-Zhang Waterfall and Jinshi Pond Waterfall are known for their majestic presence, while the Gold-Silver Waterfall and Jade Dragon Waterfall captivate with their hidden beauty and delicate charm. The Baichun Waterfall is delicate as a silver chain, twisting and turning gracefully with a sound like silk and bamboo. The green pools lie either at the deep cuts of the streambed or beside waterfalls; they include Round Pool, Double Pool, Black Pool, and Five-Color Pool. Some pools are interconnected, such as Tianxingtan, where a single pool displays a dazzling array of colors, creating a magical and marvelous spectacle.

Magical Volcanic Geology

In the Tianxingtan Scenic Area, there is a narrow valley, 120 meters deep and 1 kilometer long, which was once an ancient volcanic vent. It contains numerous volcanic crater remnants, the most distinctive of which are volcanic bombs. Countless oval stone blocks are embedded in the massive cooled volcanic rocks, ranging from about 5 cm to over 20 cm in diameter, resembling dinosaur eggs. Over time, weathering has caused them to lose their original volcanic rock (basalt) color and turn milky white, making them highly scenic. Additionally, the park is dotted with numerous peaks—over 100 in total—varying in height and form, along with various uniquely shaped rocks and stones that are vividly realistic.

Rich Cultural and Historical Sites

Ancient Sheng County was an important section of the ancient "Poetry Road of the Tang Dynasty," where many renowned figures such as Wang Xizhi, Dai Kui, Xie Lingyun, Li Bai, Du Fu, Zhu Xi, Lu You, and Wang Shipeng left behind literary works and footprints. Within the park, the villages of Guiduan and Baizhaishu bear traces and works of Zhu Xi, the Southern Song Neo-Confucian master. The Guiduan Watchtower is built with stone caves serving as gates, above which lies the Lumen Academy, once a site for lectures by Zhu Xi and the Confucian scholar Lü Guishu during the Southern Song Dynasty. Stone carvings of Zhu Xi’s handwriting remain well-preserved to this day.

Nanshan Scenic Area

Tianxingtan

Pujian Temple

Guiduan Watchtower

Gold-Silver Waterfall

Lake-View Pavilion

Friendship Bridge

Shaded Stone Path

Nanshan Lake Lion Rock

Mandarin Duck Pond

Fengtan Lake

Meishu Piled Jewels

Taizi Lake

Taizi Hall

Jiulong Shoal

Green Bay Fishing

The Thousand-Jin Silk Pool Waterfall

Lucky Stone