Sihé Reservoir

Sihé Reservoir

Sihé Reservoir is located in the southern part of Zhaobao Township, 17 kilometers from the county seat of Yiyang. It is the only medium-sized reservoir in Yiyang and a scenic area primarily known for its water landscapes. Constructed in 1960, the reservoir covers an area of over 800 acres. The dam is 185 meters long, with a base width of 275 meters, a top width of 5.5 meters, and a height of 38.3 meters, with a maximum capacity of 7.43 million cubic meters. There are two flights of steps leading up to the top of the dam from the bottom up, and a road also leads to the dam crest at the dam end. A beautifully designed two-story building has been constructed at the eastern end, and there are antique-style pavilions outside the dam, along with a reservoir stele. The Yiyang–Dongwangzhuang Highway and the Nan Yan National Defense Highway pass through this area, allowing tourist vehicles to reach the top of the dam directly. There are two trestle bridges in the reservoir, leading to pavilions on the water surface, creating a naturally charming scene. Visitors have praised eight scenic views here: Spring Mountains and Silver Blossoms, Shade of Locust Trees and Orioles’ Song, Verdant Peaks and Rustic Charm, Long Pavilion Moon Viewing, Tong Bay Misty Waves, Golden Autumn Fishermen’s Songs, Ice Lake and Swans, and Ink Mountain Clearing after Snow.

During the Zhao and Qin dynasties, this place was called Meicheng, and in the Tang Dynasty, it was known as Xingtai City. The female emperor Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty once built a temporary palace here, called Xingtai Palace. To this day, the local area still retains the "Ice Storage Cave" related to Wu Zetian, which is one of the famous caves in Yiyang. In the later stages of the Anti-Japanese War, the Yiluo Revolutionary Base Area was established here. Its government was a special district administration that governed three counties. Veteran proletarian revolutionaries such as Wang Zhen, Wang Shusheng, and Wang Enmao once left their glorious footprints here.

In the pleasant spring month of March, the willows in the reservoir sway gently, locust blossoms are in full bloom nearby, bees fly and butterflies dance, frogs croak and orioles sing, creating a refreshing and delightful atmosphere. In the peak of summer, the Tong Bay area is covered in vast misty waters; in golden autumn, fishermen’s songs echo across the water; and in the harsh winter, swans play on the ice. Visitors to this place can go fishing, boating, swimming, or ice-skating, often finding joy that makes them forget to return. If you visit on a summer night under the moonlight, invite three or five friends, ascend to the pavilion, drink wine in the breeze, and compose poetry together — you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a fairyland.