Canglang Lake

Canglang Lake

Danjiangkou Reservoir is located within the territories of Danjiangkou City, Yun County, and Xichuan County in Henan Province. When the water level reaches 155 meters, the surface area spans 700 square kilometers. In the waters of Danjiang and Xichuan, misty waves stretch endlessly, blending sky and water, with hundreds of vessels sailing and waterfowl soaring. Known as the "Little Pacific" and hailed as Asia’s largest artificial lake, it lies right here.

In the ancient Junzhou region along the Han River, the interplay of sunlight, water colors, mountain scenery, clouds, and sail shadows paints a vibrant and colorful picture. Among the Eight Scenic Spots of Junzhou, the “Mist and Rain over Dragon Mountain” lies near the ruins of the Canglang Pavilion to the north of the Wenbi Pagoda. When the reservoir water recedes, ancient cliff inscriptions such as “Where the Child Sang” and “Canglang, A Place for Emotional Release,” as well as cave Buddha statues, are revealed. Historical records state that this was where Confucius heard a child singing the “Song of Canglang,” where Qu Yuan encountered a fisherman, and where legend says Chen Shimei once studied.

Throughout history, poets and scholars have composed poems and essays inspired by this place. Zhang Daonan, the magistrate of Junzhou, described it in his “Record of the Canglang Pavilion”: “…Open the window and gaze out at the wind, clouds, sandpipers, and ducks — all vying in beauty and charm; the rugged cliffs rise like figures standing, sitting, or lying down. Flowering branches and emerald cypresses, exotic blooms and wild grasses line the water… Fishing boats drift gently, their sounds harmonizing with the cries of gulls amid the landscape…” Today, the scenery has taken on even newer hues: fruit orchards blanket the hillsides, fish cages dot the river’s surface, in spring peach and plum blossoms compete in splendor, and in autumn citrus fruits glow in competition.