Yugao Lake

Yugao Lake

Yugao Lake is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area.

Located within the county seat of Gaotang County and encircling the old town area, Yugao Lake is also known as Huancheng Lake or the Four Lakes of Gaotang. Formed in ancient times by digging earth to build the city walls, it consists of four sections: Southeast Lake, Southwest Lake, Northeast Lake, and Northwest Lake, covering an area of 1,000 mu, making it the largest county-level urban lake in North China.

The lake’s shimmering blue waters and picturesque scenery are truly captivating. Poetic lines such as “White clouds fly in as reeds roll like snow; yellow leaves rustle down amid the chirps of cicadas,” and “Peach blossom waves help fish glide free, while purple water caltrops and green pondweeds pile up by boat sides” offer an authentic glimpse of the Four Lakes' beauty. The Sun Dashih Calligraphy and Painting Academy, representing Gaotang’s status as the National Hometown of Calligraphy and Painting Art and its rich cultural heritage, along with historic sites related to the classic novel “Outlaws of the Marsh,” are situated by the Northeast Lake. The stunning natural landscape combined with profound cultural roots gives the Four Lakes a unique charm and great potential for development. The area has been designated as a scenic and natural tourism reserve by both the provincial and municipal governments. In recent years,

Gaotang County has formulated a detailed development plan for the Four Lakes Scenic Area, establishing an overall layout comprising “two zones, three routes, five scenic spots, and eight areas.” Initial development has commenced, with the Northeast Lake taking initial shape. The lakeshore, parks, and a large entertainment center—the Children’s Park—have been built. Historical sites from “Outlaws of the Marsh,” such as Chai Family Garden and Li Kui’s Well, have been excavated and restored, and the North Lake Nine-Arch Jade Belt Scenic Bridge has been constructed.

The South Lake Scenic Area is located in the central part of the ancient city district of Gaotang County and constitutes the southern half of the Yugao Lake Nature Reserve. It is enclosed by four urban roads: Gulou Road, Guandao Street, Binhu Road, and Kejiao Road, covering a total area of 123 hectares, including 33.5 hectares of water surface across two southern lakes, accounting for 27.2% of the total area. The planning of South Lake was carried out by the Suzhou Urban Planning and Design Research Institute. In the northeast, northwest, and southwest sections of the planned area, four concentrated residential land plots have been designated, while the southeast section is allocated for comprehensive park green space dominated by hills.

The central area of the scenic zone is divided into six major landscape districts: A Scroll of Scenery, Songs by South Lake, Lake Light, Gaotang Literary Essence, Historic Radiance, and Moon over Anshan at Dawn. Currently, the surveying, demolition, and construction work in these districts are underway. The South Lake Scenic Area will feature attractions such as Dajue Temple, Fishing Center, Museum, Li Kuchan Memorial Hall, and the Four Lakes Square.