Manbenong Little West Lake

Manbenong Little West Lake

The Manbenong Little West Lake scenic area is located at the foot of Xishan Mountain to the west of Debao County, about 2.5 kilometers from the county town. Covering a total area of 284.01 hectares, the area is planned as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. This is a free-entry scenic spot, completely open to visitors without charge. The area mainly features natural landscapes and pastoral scenery, serving as a natural park right at the doorstep of the local villages. It is an ideal destination for visitors to get close to water, enjoy spring outings, gather inspiration, relax, and rejuvenate.

Situated within the Jianhe River basin of Debao, the surging waters of the Jian River flow through numerous gullies before reaching this spot, where they are blocked by a bend of Xishan Mountain and take a wide turn, forming a tranquil small lake. On the western shore lies a village of over 100 households—Damu Tun—while the eastern side is covered with lush green farmland. To the southeast, there is a natural waterfall about 70 meters long and 5 meters high, where lake water cascades eastward, creating a constant roar day and night. The area is embraced by peculiar surrounding mountains, with reflections of water and mountain blending together in a dreamlike, picturesque scene that is truly breathtaking, resembling a paradise on earth. The scenic area is home to residents of two neighboring villages, Damu and Dasuo, hence the name “Manbenong Little West Lake Scenic Area” (in the Zhuang language, Manbenong means the homeland of brothers and sisters).

On the rippling river surface, seven islands are scattered in an orderly fashion. These islands are covered with dense evergreen trees, and from a distance, they look like seven emerald gems inlaid on the sapphire-blue river—a true marvel of nature. On the islands, sturdy banyan trees and red maples… have roots tightly wrapped around the rocks along the shores, with branches and leaves stretching out like umbrellas over the water’s surface. Towering ancient camphor trees on the islands stand 7–9 meters tall. The mossy trunks exude a vibrant green hue, and various birds flit among the branches. Around the lake, velvety aquatic plants and flowers dot the shallows like thousands of fluttering butterflies. In the middle section of the lake, there is a 70-meter-long, 1-meter-wide flagstone bridge built in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1837). This slender stone bridge connects the two “Pearl Islands” on the east and west sides, hence its name, Huanzhu Bridge (Ring-of-Pearls Bridge). At the western end of the bridge, there used to be a pavilion. According to the Zhen’an Prefecture Records, during the Qing Dynasty, two scholars from Shangmu Tun and Dasuo Tun would come to this pavilion to compose poetry and admire the scenery during the spring and autumn festivals, evoking a poetic legacy. Unfortunately, the pavilion was destroyed in 1958. Along the river within the scenic area, walking paths and a variety of distinctive waterwheels, millstones, and other water-powered facilities have been constructed, offering a rich taste of rustic charm.