Lushui Lake

Lushui Lake

Lushui Lake is a national scenic area, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, and a national wetland park.

Lushui Lake is a national key scenic tourist attraction, located in Chibi City, Hubei Province. It was named after Lu Xun, a famous general of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, who stationed his troops here. The scenic area spans 118 square kilometers, with a water surface covering 58 square kilometers and a water storage capacity of 750 million cubic meters. The lake is dotted with over 800 islands, earning it the reputation of "Hubei’s Thousand Island Lake." In 2002, it was designated as a national scenic area by the State Council. The largest island covers over 100 hectares, while the smallest is as tiny as a leaf, such as Bird Island, Elk Island, and Folk Culture Island. The lake water is crystal clear, with rippling waves, fishing boats gliding gently, and speedboats crisscrossing. The southern shore features Xuefeng Mountain, lush with forests and bamboo. Lushui Lake Scenic Area is renowned for its serene mountains, green forests, clear waters, and beautiful islands, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats, leisure travel, rehabilitation, and water sports.

Area Attractions

Xuefeng Mountain

Xuefeng Mountain is located on the southern shore of Lushui Lake, with undulating peaks and lush forests and bamboo. Its main peak rises abruptly from the ground, complementing Lushui Lake beautifully. It is named after Monk Xuefeng, who once practiced Buddhism here.

Xuefeng Mountain boasts numerous scenic wonders. The "Sky-Illuminating Candle" is a towering stone pillar standing firmly upright; the "Sword-Testing Stone" is split in two, as if cleaved by a sword; the "Braided-Hair Mountain" resembles a woman’s hairstyle and has a pavilion at its top, shrouded in mist, overlooking Lushui Lake; the "Lion Head" consists of two connected peaks that look like a lion raising its head and roaring to the sky; and there are vast forests of fir trees covering tens of thousands of acres, lush and green like an ocean, with birds singing melodiously.

Xuefeng Mountain is also home to the Ge Xian Temple and Xuefeng Temple, both widely renowned. Legend has it that the famous Eastern Jin Taoist Ge Hong once lived here with his family to refine elixirs. To commemorate him, later generations built the Ge Xian Temple in the Ge Xian Cave on the northern side of Yajian Peak. The temple houses statues of Ge Xian, his wife, disciples, and others, and retains artifacts such as the elixir-refining well, furnace, and medicine pestle. The temple has been rebuilt multiple times and was last reconstructed in 1991. Xuefeng Temple, originally named Yunfeng Temple, was first built during the Tang Dynasty's Xiantong era (860–873) at the back of Xuefeng Mountain. During the Ming Dynasty, Monk Xuefeng practiced here, and it became the foremost Buddhist site in Puyi. It was later destroyed in wars but was restored and rebuilt several times. The current temple was renovated in 1996 and includes the Mahavira Hall, Maitreya Hall, Three Saints Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall, and two side halls, covering a total area of over 1,000 square meters. It houses 13 Buddha statues, including Sakyamuni, Medicine Buddha, Maitreya, and Guanyin, along with many ancient stone inscriptions. Monks continue to reside here and maintain daily worship.

Xuan Su Cave

Xuan Su Cave is a karst cave located at the foot of Xuefeng Mountain, by the shores of Lushui Lake, in Xuan Su Village. Legend says that in ancient times, an immortal named Xuan Su practiced here, hence the name. The cave is deep and mysterious. According to the "Da Qing Yi Tong Zhi" (Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Qing Dynasty), "In the past, curious adventurers once entered with packed food and walked out in Chongyang’s Getengping, over a hundred li away."

Currently, over 3,000 meters of Xuan Su Cave have been developed, featuring five grand palaces: Xuan Su Palace, Zi Wei Palace, Shang Qing Palace, Tong Xuan Palace, and Chun Yang Palace. Among them, Chun Yang Palace is the largest, over 30 meters high and capable of holding thousands of people. The cave is adorned with various stalactites, such as stone stalagmites, draperies, and flowers, in diverse shapes. Natural formations like the Jade Lion, Jade Qilin, Fortune Stone, and Immortal Destiny Stone, accompanied by legendary tales, spark endless imagination.

Water Margin City

Water Margin City, one of the outdoor filming locations for the CCTV TV series "Water Margin," consists of three major scenic areas: the Loyalty Hall, the Liangshan Back Courtyard, and the Countryside Street. Today, it has become a multifunctional tourist area that promotes traditional Chinese culture and combines mountain, lake, and island scenery with natural charm. The "Countryside Street," located on the northern foothills of Xuefeng Mountain and the southern shore of Lushui Lake, is part of the replica ancient architecture "Jiangzhou City," consisting of 25 uniquely designed buildings of varying sizes. It recreates the street scenes and shops of the Northern Song Dynasty in a compact space. Attractions such as "Madam Wang’s Teahouse," "Lion Tower," "Pan Jinlian’s Residence," "Wu Dalang’s Pancake Shop," "Ximen Qing’s Herbal Medicine Store," and "Zhen Guanxi’s Butcher Shop," along with well-known stories from "Water Margin," captivate visitors. During holidays and weekends, performances featuring stories and folk customs from "Water Margin" are held.

The "Liangshan Back Courtyard" was where the leaders and their families lived. The CCTV "Water Margin" production team filmed key scenes here, including the celebration banquet after the heroes captured Zhu Family Village, the martial arts duel between Wang Ying and Hu Sanniang, Wang Ying’s marriage proposal, and the strategy meeting between Chao Gai, Song Jiang, and Wu Yong to attack Zengtou City.

The "Loyalty Hall" was where the Liangshan heroes trained, appointed commanders, and held gatherings. Many important decisions related to the development of "Liangshan Marsh" were made here. Statues of the Liangshan leaders are displayed inside the hall, and the main hall features plaques of the heroes seated in order.

Goldfish Island

Named for its shape resembling a goldfish. The Dream-Locking Lock Area wishes you success and fulfillment of your dreams. You can also interact with birds in the Birdsong Corridor and Hundred Birds Garden, feed peacocks in the Peacock Garden, and watch fish in the ponds. The island offers thrilling activities like grass sledding on the slopes and crossing the daring General’s Bridge, ensuring a memorable experience.

Folk Culture Park

Focused on showcasing and reviving the long-standing folk customs of southern Hubei and the rustic charm of farming culture, this park integrates sightseeing, entertainment, leisure, and fitness. It includes six themed areas: Folk Culture Area, Farming Culture Area, Residential Resort Area, Barbecue and Fishing Area, Shennong Herb Area, and Water Recreation Area. Attractions such as the Chu Style Pavilion, Fishing Center, Southern Hubei Residences, traditional farming tools, and the Waterwheel Museum take you back to a nostalgic homeland. Traditional performances by Yunnan ethnic minorities, such as the "Blade Mountain and Fire Sea" dance, are uniquely charming and captivating. The park is shaded by trees, with wisteria-lined paths, birdsong, and floral scents. The landscape is unique, with winding roads and shifting scenery, making it a great place to rediscover traditional folk culture and celebrate national spirit.

Lucky Island

Located in Lushui Lake’s prime waters, the island is covered with lush vegetation and fresh air. The scenic area is designed around themes of "Prosperity, Wealth, Longevity, and Happiness" from the Three Kingdoms culture and Chinese folk traditions. Attractions include a Coin Exhibition, Fish-Washing Basin, Hundred Family Names, Guan Di Temple, Lucky Drum, God of Wealth Temple, and exciting participatory activities such as a 3D Space Room, water parachuting, jet skiing, and water cycling—thrilling and endlessly fun. It’s an ideal spot for learning, leisure, vacationing, and praying for blessings and wealth.

Three Gorges Test Dam

On November 8, 1997, when the world focused on the damming of the Yangtze River for the Three Gorges Project, don’t forget the builders of the Three Gorges Test Dam at Lushui Lake in Chibi City, southern Hubei, who made outstanding contributions to the early trials of the project. In 1958, with the approval of Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, a large-scale comprehensive hydraulic power test dam—the "Three Gorges Test Dam"—was constructed here. This was the first time in China’s water conservancy history that the large-block precast installation method was used for dam construction. A series of related tests provided scientific data for the construction of the Gezhouba Dam. Today, the "Three Gorges Test Dam Theme Park" in Lushui Lake Scenic Area allows visitors to revisit this history. Countryside Street of Water Margin City

The "Chinese Water Margin City" within Lushui Lake Scenic Area is one of the outdoor filming locations for the CCTV TV series "Water Margin." It consists of three major scenic areas: the Loyalty Hall, the Liangshan Back Courtyard, and the Countryside Street. The "Countryside Street," located on the northern foothills of Xuefeng Mountain and the southern shore of Lushui Lake, is part of the replica ancient architecture "Jiangzhou City," consisting of 25 uniquely designed buildings of varying sizes, recreating the streets and shops of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Address: Suburbs of Chibi City (formerly Puyi), Xianning City

Type: National Park, Lake, Boat Tour

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Phone: 0715-5367199

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 100.0 RMB

Scenic Area Admission: 100 RMB, Boat Ride Ticket: 50 RMB. Children under 1.1 meters and seniors over 70 years old are admitted free of charge; children between 1.1 and 1.4 meters in height can purchase discounted tickets; seniors aged 60–70 can purchase discounted tickets upon presenting valid ID; military personnel and students can also purchase discounted tickets with valid identification.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of National Key Scenic Areas