Yuanshi Panlong Lake

Yuanshi Panlong Lake

Panlong Lake is located in Yuanshi County, 22 kilometers southwest of Shijiazhuang, in a semi-mountainous area. Viewed from a high platform, the lake appears as if it is floating in a celestial realm, making the surrounding mountains seem much less impressive.

Panlong Lake boasts wide waters and picturesque scenery, with three major islands within the lake: Lotus Island, Long Island, and Reed Catkins Island. The islands feature attractions such as aerial stunts, large water slides, high-speed motorboats, dragon boat racing, fishing, swimming, hiking, and beach volleyball. The area offers both high-end suites, standard rooms, and hotel restaurants, as well as family-run guesthouses and local snacks, catering to the diverse needs of visitors.

In its quest to become a renowned entertainment destination in China, the Panlong Lake scenic area has launched extensive activities such as tree planting, garbage collection, birdhouse hanging, and applying protective agents to trees. To date, these efforts have included planting 500 willow trees along the lake, 1,000 poplar trees along the roads, and 3,500 torch trees on the mountains, bringing lush green vitality throughout the scenic area. In 1996, Panlong Lake was designated as a provincial-level tourist resort.

Guardian of the Lake: The entrance to the scenic area is the dam of the reservoir. This homogeneous earth dam stands 28 meters high, with a top width of 5 meters and a total storage capacity of over 70 million cubic meters, including a flood control capacity of 51 million cubic meters. The spillway at the southern end is constructed of reinforced concrete and equipped with two radial gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1,218 cubic meters per second. The Bayi Reservoir primarily serves irrigation purposes but also provides flood control, fish farming, and power generation functions. It is designed to withstand a once-in-a-thousand-years flood.

This was first proven during the 1963 flood: From August 3 to 9, 1963, the reservoir area received over 900 millimeters of continuous rainfall. On August 7 alone, the total flood volume reached over 100 million cubic meters, with the peak inflow reaching nearly 1,000 cubic meters per second. The outflow was maintained at around 100 cubic meters per second. The regulation by the reservoir significantly reduced the downstream damage. From 1963 to 1966, the Bayi Reservoir underwent its second phase of construction, focusing on repair, expansion, and reinforcement.

Panlong Mountain on the southern shore of Panlong Lake gets its name from its undulating ridges that resemble a coiled dragon. The mountain is covered with dense forests, and its streams and bridges create picturesque scenery. The ancient Panlong Temple, situated in a basin at the top of the southern mountain, was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of over 600 years. Covering an area of more than 3,000 square meters, the temple complex includes major structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Descendants Hall, Jishi Hall, and the Mahavira Hall, which are arranged from south to north along the mountain slope, forming a grand architectural ensemble. Although it underwent multiple renovations during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era, the Qing Dynasty's Shunzhi and Guangxu eras, only ruins remained after the liberation. Later, with support from relevant national departments, the temple was rebuilt, largely restoring its former glory. The surrounding area is shaded by dense woods, with trees such as silk trees, wild apricots, and wild honey locusts. Within the temple grounds are two pomegranate trees, said to have been planted when the halls were built. Despite enduring 600 years of weathering, they remain lush and vibrant.