Yi Water Lake

Yi Water Lake

Yi Water Lake is a national water conservancy scenic area.

Yi Water Lake (Angezhuang Reservoir) is located 25 kilometers southwest of Yixian County. It connects upstream to the “Rushing Waves of the Juma River” and downstream to the “Cold Flow of the Yi River,” faces the “Competing Beauties of Lang Mountain” to the south, and borders the “Layered Greenery of Yunmeng Mountain” to the north. It is an artificial lake built in 1958 by utilizing the towering mountains surrounding the area. The lake covers an area of 27 square kilometers, has a capacity of 396 million cubic meters, reaches a maximum depth of 48.5 meters, and its water quality meets China’s Class II drinking water standards. Yi Water Lake features majestic and rugged mountains that showcase the best of nature’s landscapes, while its waters are pure, gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful. Yi Water Lake is an exceptional destination for eco-tourism. Visitors can go boating, surfing, swimming, fishing, and even catch and cook their own fish, shrimp, and crabs. It's perfect for vacationing and leisure. For those interested in folk tourism, you can experience the simplicity, warmth, honesty, and hospitality of the local people, and enjoy the rustic charm of a northern countryside adventure. The beauty of Yi Water Lake’s landscape is overwhelming, with numerous scenic spots throughout the area—truly a scene within a scene.

Boarding a boat from the Golden Turtle Dock at Yi Water Lake and heading south, visitors will be greeted by steep cliffs that paint a picture reminiscent of the southern Guilin landscape. The mountain features formations such as the Immortal’s Cave, Immortal’s Bridge, Immortal’s Stake, Immortal’s Canal, Immortal’s Footprint, Prince’s Hat, and the Fish-Flowing Cave (now submerged). From a high vantage point, the entire area resembles a sleeping Buddha. There is also a legend about the Seven Immortals helping the Imperial Uncle Cao cross over. Hence, many visitors have left poetic lines: “The Seven Immortals came here to help the Imperial Uncle; South Lake’s scenery is Guilin in miniature. To see such beauty, why journey a thousand miles to the south?” Deep in the mountains lie attractions such as the Moyan Temple, Stone Statues Guarding the Gate, Dragon Pool, Lotus Bridge, Yanwang Fortress, Lotus Petals, Stone Beast Group, Horse-Racing Ridge, and White Snake Cave. On the northern shore of Yi Water Lake stands a solitary, uniquely-shaped peak. It is the site of the former city wall ruins of Jinrong City, built by Li Mi, and is currently being developed by a Beijing-based developer into a distinctive summer villa resort (on the original site of the rear Huoguo Temple and Puzhao Temple of Jinrong City). Legend says the mountain is hollow, with caves inside that once stored grain, weapons, and gold and silver during the time Li Mi built the city—hence the name Li Mi Mountain.

Named for its resemblance to a phoenix, this is considered a feng shui treasure land. At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Beiping Marquis Wang Tan, who refused to follow Wang Mang’s regime, went into seclusion with the prince at Wugong City at the foot of the mountain. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Mi, the King of Western Wei, led the Wagang Army to establish the capital of Jinrong City on the eastern side of this mountain. In the fifth year of the Qing Emperor Kangxi’s reign, during his private inspection tours, he sent ministers to pre-select imperial tomb sites and placed a marker reading: “Crowned with Purple Thorn (Mountain), toes on Phoenix Mountain, right resting on Wufeng Fort, left supported by Jiulong Mountain,” with the reverse side inscribed: “Establish first, use later.” The mountain is covered with dense cypresses, with hanging vines and winding paths leading upwards. A Guanyin Temple is built here, and in a crevice in front of the temple grows a cypress tree that has survived many hardships—known as the Immortal Cypress, or commonly called the Longevity Cypress by locals. This place is said to be where a dragon and tiger compete for a ball, with caves in the mountain where fairies often appear, giving rise to legends such as “The Qilin Protects Beauty” and “Preferring Beauty Over the Throne.” Behind the mountain, flowers bloom brilliantly, and in the valley lies a well whose water is said to cure eye diseases and abdominal pain.