Bairtan Scenic Area

Bairtan Scenic Area

Bairtan Scenic Area is located in Dayan Township on the southwestern edge of Nanbu County, at the border of Nanbu, Xichong, and Shunqing counties (districts). It is 37 kilometers from downtown Nanbu, 30 kilometers from Xichong, 50 kilometers from Nanchong, and 300 kilometers each from Chengdu and Chongqing.

The Bairtan Reservoir has a catchment area of 203 square kilometers, a total storage capacity of 16.57 million cubic meters, and covers a water surface area of 2,800 mu. The reservoir boasts abundant water resources, with consistently stable water depths throughout the year. The surrounding areas are richly forested, offering picturesque scenery, numerous lake branches and bends, a beautifully indented shoreline, and strong landscape marginal effects. There are three distinct scenic belts—floodplains, terraces, and hills. Additionally, the lakeshore is dotted with shrubs and trees of varying heights, presenting an unspoiled natural rural vista with diverse and richly layered landscapes. The reservoir area is home to over 20 species of birds and more than 10 types of wild fish. Egrets, wild ducks, and pheasants can be seen everywhere, while carp, silver carp, and soft-shelled turtles swim freely in its waters, making for an exceptionally pristine ecological environment.

Among the interconnected attractions are the Lou Temple where Li Xianfu, Minister of Works during the Qing Dynasty, studied; Shangsheng Temple, the hometown of Qiao Zhou, the teacher of Chen Shou, author of the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*; Guanyin Mountain, a cultural site integrating Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism; as well as cliff carvings and Buddhist statues from the Qing Dynasty.