Meishan Reservoir

Meishan Reservoir

Meishan Reservoir is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area.

The Meishan Reservoir Scenic Area in Anhui Province is located in the heart of the Dabie Mountains at the junction of Hubei, Henan, and Anhui provinces, at the southern end of Jinzhai County, known as China's "County of Generals." The towering reinforced concrete buttress dam, once hailed as the world’s tallest when built in the 1950s, stands proudly within the scenic area. The area’s rich “green” tourism resources are closely linked to the county’s “red” revolutionary traditions, creating a distinctive travel culture. In June 2004, it was rated as a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Meishan Reservoir in Jinzhai County is known for its shimmering waters, mirrored peaks, lush vegetation, and picturesque scenery, earning it the nickname "High Gorge Flat Lake." Within the lake area, there are over 70 islands and peaks of various sizes and shapes, including Swan Island, Ten Thousand Chicken Mountain, Nine Kings Fort, Dressing Table, Wind-moving Rock, and Lion’s Mouth. In early 2002, attractions such as Dragon Island, Folk Culture Island, Peacock Island, and Lucky Island were developed. Today, the Meishan Lake area boasts both breathtaking natural landscapes and refined cultural sites. Visitors can admire the grand dam and the beautiful lake and mountain views, while also enjoying the pleasures of observing snakes, birds, fish, and folk culture.

Meishan Reservoir is the second large-scale buttress dam reservoir built in the Lu’an region after the Foziling Reservoir. In December 1953, the Meishan Reservoir Project Command was established, construction began in March 1954, and by April 1956, the main works were largely completed, except for tunnel projects. Most of the construction workers came from the Foziling Reservoir, with a peak workforce of 25,000. The total investment was 92.68 million yuan, involving 500,000 cubic meters of earthwork, 12,000 cubic meters of stonework, and 352,000 cubic meters of concrete.

The reservoir is situated on the upper reaches of the Shih River, with the dam located between Big and Small Meishan in Meishan Town, Jinzhai County. The reservoir’s main tributaries include 11 mountain streams such as Zhugen River, Baisha River, Ma River, and Baishui River. The drainage area covers 1,970 square kilometers, accounting for 28.6% of the Shih River’s total catchment area of 6,880 square kilometers, with a total storage capacity of 2.337 billion cubic meters. The corresponding flood level is 140.77 meters, with a flood control capacity of 1.139 billion cubic meters, a beneficial storage capacity of 796 million cubic meters, and a dead storage capacity of 402 million cubic meters. The flood season limit water level is 125.27 meters, and the flood control standard is designed for a once-in-10,000-years event.

The Meishan Reservoir within the scenic area is a large-scale water conservancy hub project with comprehensive functions such as flood control, irrigation, power generation, navigation, aquaculture, and tourism. As a key project during China’s First Five-Year Plan, Meishan Reservoir shines like a brilliant pearl in the history of New China’s water conservancy and power development, achieving numerous remarkable accomplishments. The reservoir scenic area features picturesque lake and mountain views, layered peaks, beautiful forests and valleys, and numerous scenic spots. Its rich folk culture, stunning scenery, and beautiful legends attract countless domestic and international visitors. The county seat of Jinzhai, where the scenic area is located, is set against green mountains and clear waters, with the Shih River flowing through the town like a jade ribbon, its crystal-clear waters adding to the mountain city’s charm. Against the backdrop of mountain flowers and lush pines, under the bright sunlight and beside the emerald and azure lake, the dam resembles a rainbow soaring across the canyon, appearing grand and majestic. Walking along the scenic route, visitors can climb to the top of the dam to overlook the entire town and marvel at its extraordinary construction; they can also take a boat ride on the lake to enjoy the green mountains and waters, as if sailing through a painting. The lake sparkles with light, with layers of ripples, while the green mountains on both sides create a poetic and picturesque scene. There are many attractions and scenic spots along the shore, such as Swan Island, Nine Kings Fort, Dressing Table, Frog Rock, and Aquatic Terracotta Army, all of which are vividly lifelike and naturally charming. Historical sites such as Wanshou Bridge, Ancient City Fan, Xiangshan Ancient Temple, Ancient Battlefield, Golden Summit Platform, Shuanghe Grand Temple, and Zhou Zupu’s Tomb are steeped in antiquity and scattered throughout the scenic area. Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty while also experiencing the weight of history, gaining a wealth of insights. In recent years, the scenic area has also developed new attractions such as Snake Island, Bird Island, Fish Viewing Island, and a Folk Culture Village for visitors to explore.

The scenic area is also a rich natural botanical and zoological garden, home to rare animals such as porcupines, wild goats, Lady Amherst’s pheasants, badgers, and giant salamanders, as well as precious plants and medicinal herbs like wild gastrodia, fleeceflower root, kiwifruit, and Dabie Mountain azaleas and orchids. It can be called a treasure trove of natural resources.

Nearby, the scenic area also preserves many historically significant revolutionary sites, such as the famous Lixia Festival Uprising Site, the founding site of the Red 32nd Division, and the meeting site of the Central Hubei-Henan-Anhui Provincial Committee. The Jinzhai County Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower, inscribed by Marshal [Yuan], is located at the northwest end of the county town, while the Jinzhai Revolutionary Museum, inscribed by [Comrade], is situated near Red Army Village in the county. The scenic area is close to the last primeval forest in East China, the Tianzhuangzhai National Forest Park, and the Mazongling Nature Reserve, as well as the natural botanical garden Baimazhai and the towering Xuanshan Mountain.

The accompanying Meishan Hotel is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the water on one, nestled among lush pines and bamboos, with fountains and rockeries, flower beds, and green spaces, offering an elegant and tranquil environment. The hardware facilities meet three-star standards, with 80 high- and mid-range guest rooms (suites), fully equipped indoor facilities including broadband internet access, four meeting rooms (large and small), a restaurant that can accommodate 240 people dining simultaneously, and a parking lot covering 15,000 square meters that can park over 50 vehicles of various sizes. On the west side of the hotel, there is a standard outdoor swimming pool, and on the south side, there is a flower garden and a fountain pool, making it an ideal place for tourists to sightsee, hold conferences, conduct business negotiations, or enjoy leisure vacations.

It is worth mentioning that compared to other revolutionary old areas and mountainous scenic spots, the Meishan Reservoir Scenic Area not only boasts these unique natural ecological environments, rich local customs, and prominent revolutionary culture but also has superior geographical location and convenient transportation. Visiting Meishan Reservoir, you can go boating, hike mountains, listen to orioles sing, watch swallows dance, admire the colorful mountains, and breathe in the pure lake water. All of this will surely make you linger, free your stress, unburden your worries, and forget all troubles, allowing you to experience the wonderful feeling of “the lake and mountain scenery being like a painted realm, where visitors forget even the desire to wear official hats.”

Address: Meishan Reservoir Management Office, Anhui Province (Meishan Town, Jinzhai County, Anhui Province)

Phone: Office 0564-7053229, 7062736 (fax)

Meishan Hotel 7053474, 7056319

Meishan Town: Meishan Town, renowned nationwide as the county seat of Jinzhai County, the hometown of generals, is located at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, bordering Henan Province. The area features beautiful mountains and rivers, outstanding people, abundant resources, and developed transportation. The Hefei-Wuhan Expressway and the Shanghai-Hankou-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, currently under construction, run through the town, with provincial roads crisscrossing. Meishan Lake lies within the area, offering picturesque lake and mountain views and pleasant scenery all year round. Meishan is not only a rising star in green tourism but also a classic destination on the national red tourism route “A Thousand-Mile March, Hometown of Generals.” The town covers a total area of 315.6 square kilometers, governs 43 administrative villages (streets) and 10 communities... More detailed information about Meishan Town++