Xiliang Lake

Xiliang Lake

Wu Zhiling Wang Dunyi

Xiliang Lake, also known as Puyi Lake, is located at the northeastern corner of Chibi City. Legend has it that it was once part of the ancient Yunmeng Marsh. In ancient times, it was connected to the Yangtze River but gradually became separated due to silt accumulation over the years. To the south lies Xiliang Lake, and to the north is Futou Lake.

Xiliang Lake, formerly known as "Xiliang Lake" and "Xiliang Lake," was officially named Xiliang Lake in 1982, based on its location west of Liangzi Lake between the urban areas of Ezhou and Jiangxia.

Liangzi Lake is divided into East Liangzi Lake and West Liangzi Lake, and Xiliang Lake is the abbreviated name for West Liangzi Lake.

Beyond written records, the origin of the name Xiliang Lake is also tied to a local folktale: it is said that Xiliang was the name of a young villager.

Legend has it that when Xiliang was just a teenager, both his parents passed away, leaving him to live alone in a few dilapidated thatched cottages. No matter how others tried to persuade him, he refused to leave the home where his parents had lived. He said that leaving the house on his own would be disloyal and unfilial to his parents. As time passed, the hardworking and brave Xiliang gradually learned how to fish. He resolved to make fishing his lifelong livelihood and never leave the home his parents had cherished. Thus, every day after breakfast, Xiliang would go fishing on the lake, return home for lunch, and then head back out to fish in the afternoon. This routine continued for several years. One day, as Xiliang hurried home with a basket of fish for lunch, he pushed open the door and found an empty bowl, a pair of chopsticks, and several dishes on the table, with steaming rice in the pot. Feeling puzzled, Xiliang searched the house but found no one. Anxious, he finished lunch and went fishing again.

The next day at noon, Xiliang returned home from fishing to find another delicious meal waiting for him. This happened for several days in a row. Curious, Xiliang decided to find out the truth. One day, he pretended to go fishing but turned back halfway and hid in the woods near his house. Around noon, he saw a graceful young woman enter the house. Soon, smoke rose from the roof, and about half an hour later, Xiliang went inside. Seeing the busy woman, he asked, “Where do you come from? Why do you cook for me every day?” The woman answered frankly, “I’ve seen how filial you were to your parents since childhood, and how diligent and frugal you are now. I believe you’ll make a good husband, so I want to marry you and help you take care of this home your parents once cherished.”

Deeply moved by her words, Xiliang married the woman, and they lived a happy and peaceful life. A few years later, they had a son and a daughter. The couple continued to make a living by fishing, raising their two children with care. As time went by, the children grew up. After the couple passed away, their son and daughter, following their parents’ wishes, buried them on two nearby hills that faced each other, overlooking the beautiful lake and mountain scenery. The two clever children named the vast wetland at the foot of the hills Xiliang Lake in order to preserve their father’s name for generations. That’s how Xiliang Lake got its name.

Whether the origin of the name Xiliang Lake is related to this folktale may not be worth verifying, but what truly deserves research and discussion is the present and future of Xiliang Lake.

Shaped like the Chinese character “人” (person), Xiliang Lake is a freshwater lake jointly managed and operated by Chibi, Xianning, and Jiayu counties/cities. It was once a military outpost in ancient times, often garrisoned by the Eastern Wu forces during the Three Kingdoms period. Hence, there is a saying, “Lü Dai stationed troops at Xiliang.” On the southern shore of Xiliang Lake lies a place called “Yamen Zui,” believed to be the site of the former Puyi County government. Thus, a local legend says that during droughts, the ruins of an ancient city wall can be seen in the lake.

Xiliang Lake covers an area of approximately 120,000 mu, with major water systems including the Tingsi River, Quankou River, and Songjia River. The lake water flows out into the Yangtze River via Jin Kou in Jiangxia District (formerly Wuchang County). During the flood season, the deepest point reaches 4 meters, while in the dry season, it is about 1.5 meters. The vast lake surface is misty and boundless, with clear water, lush reeds, fragrant water lilies, boats sailing year-round, and fish swimming just beneath the surface.

When spring arrives, the misty lake dotted with sails evokes a sense of tranquility and nostalgia.

In midsummer, the blazing sun hangs high in the distant sky. Lotus-picking girls, with lotus leaves shading them like umbrellas, paddle through the foliage to gather ripe lotus seeds and water chestnuts. A gentle breeze carries sweet songs and laughter across the calm lake, occasionally startling flocks of birds that flap away into the distance.

In late autumn, the people of Xiliang Lake, who make a living by fishing and fish farming, are immersed in the poetic beauty of “sunset clouds flying with lonely wild geese, autumn waters blending with the boundless sky,” enjoying the warmth of family life.

When winter arrives, it marks the prime fishing season. High-quality fish such as black carp, carp, grass carp, and crucian carp are caught in nets from Xiliang Lake and surrounding ponds, then transported across the country in trucks. The heartwarming scene is truly delightful to witness.