Ningbo's Du and Bai Lakes (Sister Lakes)

Ningbo's Du and Bai Lakes (Sister Lakes)

If Shanglin Lake is known for its delicate scenery and abundant tourism resources, then Du Lake and Baiyang Lake are famed for their divine beauty and numerous historical and cultural relics. The people of Cixi hold a special affection for the two lakes, calling them the two shining pearls of the Sanbei region.

Du Lake and Baiyang Lake are actually only 200 meters apart. Du Lake lies to the east, and Baiyang Lake to the west, which is why some also refer to them as the “Sister Lakes.” If you walk westward along Baiyang Lake, you’ll find that Shanglin Lake is also just a few mountain ridges away from the two, truly creating a spiritually resonant expanse of lake scenery.

As the largest lake in Cixi City, Du Lake covers an area of over 3,700 mu. First-time visitors might find it hard to believe such a vast size. But once you take the time to explore it, your initial impression will change dramatically. In fact, like Hangzhou’s West Lake, Du Lake is also divided into an inner lake and an outer lake. The illusion that it isn’t very big comes from the 5-kilometer-long causeway separating the two sections. However, if you look out into the distance, they still form a unified whole. Walking westward along the lake embankment, you’ll see rolling mountains to the south and a ten-li-long tree-lined dike to the north, with peaks peeking through the lush foliage and misty waters blending seamlessly with the sky. But on gloomy, overcast days, the usual beauty gives way to a rather eerie atmosphere—the chilling mountain winds and turbulent, murky waves can be quite unsettling. On the north side of the embankment lies Gaotian Village, home to a late Qing Dynasty brick-and-wood building that was the site where the East Zhejiang District Committee of the Communist Party of China was established in July 1942. To the south of the lake is Jiejia Village, where the ruins of Dingshui Temple are located—this was the former residence of Yu Shinan, a renowned calligrapher and high-ranking official of the early Tang Dynasty. The tomb of Yuan Shao, the Duke of Yue from the Southern Song Dynasty, is also situated here, adding even more historical charm to Du Lake.

Unlike Du Lake, Baiyang Lake covers an area of only 1,700 mu, but it is surrounded by mountains on three sides and winds narrowly, making it feel more intimate. If you compare Du Lake to a well-bred young lady, then Baiyang Lake is more like a graceful and unpretentious country girl—delicate and serene, captivating and hard to leave. In truth, the main allure of Baiyang Lake lies in its rich historical and cultural heritage. At the foot of the western mountains lies a grand Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery, where nearly a hundred martyrs are buried, including Zheng Xiahǔ, former head of the Organization Department of the Cixi County Committee of the Communist Party, Shen Bangqi, a special envoy of the Ning-Shao-Tai Peasant Association, and Shen Yifei.

Suggested Duration

2 hours

Location

Baiyang Lake and Du Lake, collectively known as the Du-Bai Two Lakes, are located in Minghe Ancient Town, Cixi City, Zhejiang Province