Gan Tang Lake

Gan Tang Lake

Among the most fascinating attractions in Jiujiang City is “Gan Tang Lake,” covering an area of about 80 hectares. It is a natural lake with “its own source of living water.”

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the famous Eastern Wu general Zhou Yu once trained his naval forces here. When the Tang poet Bai Juyi served as the Sima (prefectural governor) of Jiangzhou, he built a pavilion in the middle of the lake, naming it “Jin Yue Ting” (Immersion Moon Pavilion) after the line from his poem “Pipa Xing” (“Song of the Pipa”) that goes, “At parting, the vast river was steeped in moonlight.” In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed “Yan Shui Ting” (Misty Water Pavilion), inspired by the phrase “mountain hues and water colors veiled in thin mist.” It is also known as “Zhou Yu’s Command Platform,” as legend has it that Zhou Yu once reviewed his troops here during naval drills.

Yan Shui Ting is a waterside pavilion structure. Key ancient buildings within the pavilion include: the Boat Hall, Chun Yang Hall, Cui Zhao Pavilion, Five Sages Chamber, Zhong Miao Tower, and Yan Hui Pavilion. On the left wall of the main hall, there is a rectangular stone tablet inscribed with a large cursive character “Shou” (longevity), said to have been handwritten by Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals. The bold, dynamic brushstrokes resemble a flying dragon and exude an awe-inspiring aura. Upon closer inspection, the entire character is composed of four characters: “Jiu Zhuan Cheng Dan” (Nine Transformations to Create the Elixir), reflecting Taoist ideas of alchemy and immortality. Observing it is both intriguing and delightful. Standing in front of the pavilion and gazing at Mount Lu, you’ll see the mountain rise like a screen, shrouded in misty clouds, with the shimmering lake and picturesque mountain scenery all laid out before you. In the lake lies a long causeway built during the Tang Dynasty by Jiangzhou Prefect Li Bo. On the causeway stands the “Si Xian Bridge” from the Song Dynasty, which divides Gan Tang Lake into two parts. From the causeway, you can climb up the 12-meter-high, three-tiered hexagonal “Ying Yue Lou” (Moon Reflection Tower). From its heights, you can admire the rippling green waves, colorful clouds reflected on the water, and willow trees lining the shore, creating a scene straight out of a painting.

The ancient city of Jiujiang owes its charm to its two lakes. This stretch of clear, azure water is Gan Tang Lake. The lake on the other side of the causeway is called Nan Men Lake (South Lake). If the city of Jiujiang were likened to a beautiful maiden, these two lakes would be her bright, expressive eyes. The road between the two lakes is actually a causeway, stretching one kilometer in length, resembling a green serpent lying across the water, dividing the lake into two halves. Midway along the causeway, there is an arched bridge connecting the two sides, allowing the waters to flow together. The tree-lined embankment provides ample shade, often frequented by couples strolling hand in hand, earning it the playful nickname “Lover’s Path.” Yet the true origins of the names of this lake, this causeway, and this bridge are quite storied. The fact that people today can take leisurely walks here is inseparable from the legacy of a local official—Li Bo.

Li Bo, styled Danzhi, was a native of Luoyang. When Emperor Muzong of Tang ascended the throne, he summoned Li Bo to serve as an External Member of the Department of State Affairs. Later, wary of his influence, powerful court officials transferred him in the first year of the Changqing era (821 AD)—which was four years after Bai Juyi left Jiujiang—to serve as Prefect of Jiangzhou (Jiujiang was historically called Jiangzhou). Li Bo had deep affection for Jiujiang, having studied in his youth on the southern side of Mount Lu, where the present-day White Deer Grotto Academy now stands. When he revisited Jiangzhou, the region was suffering from a severe drought. Crops had failed, yet the imperial court still demanded taxes as if it were a year of abundance. Understanding the plight of the common people, he pleaded their case to the court, successfully securing a tax exemption for Jiangzhou.

At that time, upon exiting the southern gate of Jiangzhou, one would encounter Nan Men Lake. To reach the opposite bank, one had to take a long detour. To make travel easier for the people, Li Bo organized the construction of a causeway in the middle of Nan Men Lake. Stretching 700 paces (approximately one kilometer), the causeway connected the north and south, greatly improving accessibility. Bridges and sluice gates were also built on the causeway to control and regulate water levels, while also aiding in irrigation. Since the Duke of Shao from the Zhou Dynasty was known for loving the people as if they were his own children—and often conducted official business under a sweet osmanthus tree to address the people’s hardships—later generations used the term “Gan Tang” (literally “Sweet Osmanthus”) to praise virtuous and benevolent officials. To thank Li Bo, whom they compared to the Duke of Shao, the people of Jiangzhou honored him as a “Gan Tang” figure. They named the newly built causeway “Li Gong Di” (Li’s Causeway), the outer lake “Gan Tang Lake,” and the bridge “Si Xian Qiao” (Bridge of Esteemed Scholars).