Jiaohu Lake

Jiaohu Lake

Jiaohu Lake, also known as Dragon King Pool, is located in a karst cave area. Originally formed as a funnel due to limestone erosion, it later became a lake through the continuous supply of underground karst water. The lake is oval-shaped, with crystal-clear azure water. Though it covers only 18 acres, its deepest point reaches 103 meters, making it the deepest natural inland lake in Fujian Province and also a rare geological wonder in China.

The lake water is clear and mirror-like, with large fish visible swimming beneath. Standing at the lakeside, one may feel as though the ground is sinking. The lake is surrounded by low mountains on three sides, with a small opening over a meter wide at the lower northern end, through which water flows out year-round. The water emerges from the bottom of the lake, yet the surface remains level. Whether during severe drought or flood, the water level neither rises nor falls—an extraordinary sight. The surrounding area is lush with aquatic plants and tall ancient trees, and there is also a stone tablet inscribed with a vow to release captive animals. The village near the lake is the hometown of Huang Shen, one of the renowned "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" painters of the Qing Dynasty. Huang Shen once built the "Jiaohu Cottage" by the lake to study poetry and painting, and he wrote the "Jiaohu Poetry Collection," which has been passed down through generations.