Taining Golden Lake Scenic Area

Taining Golden Lake Scenic Area

The Taining Golden Lake Scenic Area is a national scenic area and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Greater Golden Lake is located in the northwest of Fujian Province and is dominated by danxia landform landscapes, along with granite landforms and cultural sites. On February 11, 2005, it became the core part of the UNESCO-designated "Taining Global Geopark," making it another world-class tourist destination in Fujian following Wuyishan’s dual World Heritage recognition. Moreover, the Greater Golden Lake holds five national-level titles: National Key Scenic Area, National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction, National Geopark, National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, and National Forest Park.

The lake surface of Golden Lake is crescent-shaped, resembling a new moon. The scenic area spans 136 square kilometers, including 38 square kilometers of water surface and a water storage capacity of over 700 million cubic meters. The distance from Taining County town to the power station dam is 62 kilometers, hence the name "Hundred-Mile Golden Lake."

In recent years, the Greater Golden Lake has been designated as a National Key Scenic Area. Majestic danxia mountains and crystal-clear waters are the two defining elements of the Golden Lake landscape: the rugged grandeur of the mountains contrasts with the serene beauty of the waters; the masculine meets the feminine, the bold complements the delicate. The emerald and azure lakes merge seamlessly with the red stone formations stretching for dozens of kilometers. Danxia cliffs jut into the lake, while clear waters reach deep into the mountains. Cliffs often form caves inward, and streams frequently plunge down as waterfalls. The scenery changes with the weather—on sunny days, it's bright and breezy with blue waters and red cliffs; on rainy days, waves surge and mountain hues turn misty. Sunrises, sunsets, and moonlit nights constantly paint the lake with mesmerizing views. No matter when you visit, you’ll be greeted with poetic, picturesque landscapes, each with its own unique charm.

Climbing to the mountaintop offers a close-up view of the Baishuiji Waterfall. The waterfall has two tiers, spaced about a hundred meters apart—the upper Shexie Waterfall and the lower Shuixie Waterfall. Both sections of the cliff are about 10 meters wide and 20 meters deep. From a distance, the waterfall resembles a white silk ribbon hanging in the air, making it the largest waterfall in the Golden Lake area. The Ganlu Rock Temple is located on the western shore of the Greater Golden Lake and is the most renowned cliffside temple in Taining. Xianxian Tian (Slanted Heaven) is a small inclined fault in the rock, eroded by water flow into a narrow crevice (also called a line valley), tilted and slender like a crack.

Ticket Information: Scenic area ticket 80 RMB, boat ticket 75 RMB, guide fee 8 RMB

Detailed Address: Within Taining County, northwest Fujian, Sanming City

Contact Number: 0598-7865205

Opening Hours: Summer 7:00–15:30, Winter 7:30–14:00

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Scenic Areas