Douhe Reservoir

Douhe Reservoir

Douhe Reservoir is located in the northwest of Tangshan City and is accessible by bus.

The reservoir is roughly triangular in shape, with the northern and southeastern sides bordered by the foothills of the Yanshan Mountain Range, and the southwestern side formed by an artificially constructed dam. The dam is approximately 2,390 meters long. On one side of the dam stands an Iron Ox for Water Control and a spillway, while the other side offers a view of the Tangshan Power Plant. Both the plant’s water supply and the residential water needs of Tangshan City are met by Douhe Reservoir, making it the “water tank” of Tangshan. The reservoir boasts clear waters and abundant fish. Legend has it that there is a century-old turtle living in the reservoir, which also supports a freshwater aquaculture industry.

The southern end of the reservoir is close to Fengshan Mountain, which has a diameter of about 870 meters. From the mountain top down to the shallow area of the reservoir lies a man-made attraction known as the “Little Great Wall.” There is a pagoda halfway up the mountain and an ancient-style structure at the summit, which is said to be the tomb of King Kang. Currently, Fengshan Mountain is closed to tourists due to afforestation and conservation efforts.

There are many legends associated with the reservoir area. According to local residents, in ancient times, a “King Kang” had a son who was disobedient and often acted against his father’s wishes. When King Kang was on his deathbed, he wished to be buried at the foot of the mountain (as “Kang” sounds like “kang,” meaning chaff, and he feared being “blown away” if buried at the mountaintop), and wanted to be interred in a stone coffin. To achieve this, he deliberately told his son: “Bury me at the mountaintop in an iron coffin after I die.” Unexpectedly, this was the one time his son obeyed him—burying him at the mountaintop, but in an iron coffin (which would eventually rust and decay).

During the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake, the Douhe Dam was at risk of failure, and Tangshan faced the imminent threat of severe flooding. The People's Liberation Army promptly came to the rescue, repaired the dam, and prevented an even greater tragedy.