Tai Feng Lake

Tai Feng Lake

Tai Feng Lake is located about 15 kilometers northwest of the headquarters of the Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm. It is an artificial lake/reservoir built in the 1960s. The surrounding area mainly consists of forests, meadows, and hills, where you can go fishing, boating, and horseback riding. The scenery in early autumn is particularly beautiful, and it’s also a great destination in summer.

Tai Feng Lake spans over 100 acres and is shaped like an "S". The water is crystal clear and glistens under the sunlight. The reservoir is surrounded by pine, fir, willow, and birch trees, while colorful wildflowers dot the grassy areas among the woods, creating a tranquil and picturesque environment.

A few years ago, the lake was only used for fish farming—just two workers, one boat, and the occasional net cast to catch a dozen or so fish to vary the diet of the forestry workers. In recent years, as tourism in the Bashang area has gained popularity, enterprising individuals have built dozens of small wooden cabins here, established a resort, and renamed the reservoir “Tai Feng Lake,” offering visitors to the Bashang region a new attraction.

Boating on Tai Feng Lake is truly a delightful experience. Three or four friends or family members can sit casually in the boat, relaxed and carefree, chatting away about everything under the sun while gently paddling. A breeze carrying the fragrance of wildflowers drifts softly by, and the lake water, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, flows slowly past the boat. Long-legged, long-beaked water birds flap their wings and dart hurriedly overhead... The surface of the water is calm, the mood serene. If you paddle to a quiet spot and watch couples sharing sweet nothings under a parasol, it makes you feel all the sweeter about life.

If you’re not fond of the slow pace of boating, you can also take a motorboat for a spin on the lake. But when the motorboat speeds up with full throttle, the bow cuts through the water like a plow, churning up layers of waves—an impressive sight. When the wind picks up, water droplets spray everywhere, and a fine mist of cool droplets lands on your face and body, providing a wonderfully refreshing sensation. The most thrilling part is the sharp turns—the boat tilts, then settles back into smooth sailing, often drawing an involuntary gasp of amazement.

Aside from enjoying water activities by boat, you can also try fishing along the shore or go horseback riding across the grassy areas around the lake. The largest fish in the lake are said to weigh forty or fifty pounds. Among them is a type of grass carp that likes to come close to the shore to graze. Some even jump onto land and can’t get back into the water, wagging their heads and tails and stirring up the aquatic plants. If spotted by passersby, they often end up on the dinner table.