Chicheng Lake Scenic Area

Chicheng Lake Scenic Area

The Chicheng Lake Scenic Area is situated in the central part of the Sichuan Basin, between longitude 105°33′45″ to 105°45′00″ east and latitude 30°45′00″ to 30°53′38″ north. The Chicheng Lake Reservoir was initially constructed in 1976, with a catchment area of 101.4 square kilometers, a normal water storage capacity of 30.8 million cubic meters, an effective storage capacity of 27.45 million cubic meters, and an effective irrigation area of 52,000 mu. It has three main canals and twelve branch canals, totaling 140.12 kilometers in length, running through eight townships. The scenic area enjoys a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and distinct four seasons, characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate. The annual average temperature is 16.6°C, with a maximum of 39.4°C and a minimum of -4.6°C. The multi-year average annual rainfall is 937.5 millimeters.

Location Advantages and Transportation

Chicheng Lake is the only medium-sized reservoir in Sichuan Province that is adjacent to a county seat, offering excellent location advantages and superior transportation conditions. It is located just 1.5 kilometers from the county seat and near National Highway 318. The three nearby medium-sized cities — Nanchong, Suining, and Shehong — within a 50-kilometer radius have a combined floating population of nearly 4.5 million. Within a 50-square-kilometer area of the scenic zone, rural cement roads and tourist routes are well-connected. It is also just 15 kilometers from the Pengxi Station on the Dazhou-Chengdu Railway, the Chengnan Expressway, and the Pengxi exit of the Mianyang-Chongqing Expressway, making transportation convenient for visitors from all regions.

Attractions and Tourist Routes

The tourism resources of Chicheng Lake are the result of historical and cultural accumulation as well as harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, consisting of natural landscapes, cultural attractions, and religious sites. “A vast lake cradles flowing streams, with reflections of verdant mountains layered upon one another” — lush, serene, and picturesque scenery are the defining features of Chicheng Lake. The scenic area offers a rich variety of experiences, including lakeside forests, pastoral landscapes, dining and entertainment, accommodation and shopping, Taoist and Buddhist sites, and historical relics. In the 1990s, it was a renowned scenic spot in the province, attracting about 200,000 visitors annually, with peak daily traffic reaching up to 15,000 people. It was hailed as the “Pearl of Central Sichuan — Little West Lake.” In 2004, Chicheng Lake was rebranded and registered as the “Eastern Living Lake.” The reservoir’s head scenic area has developed into eight distinct landscape styles, with a daily environmental capacity to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors.

1. Garden Area. Developed from four small islands at the head of the reservoir, the Yingchun Pavilion area centers around the classical-style Yingchun Pavilion. The Yinxia Bridge and Buyun Bridge connect the islands, featuring a zigzag bridge leading to the lakeside pavilion and a children's playground. It is an ideal spot for leisure, tea tasting, fishing, and sightseeing, with various dining and entertainment venues along the shore in diverse styles.

2. Qingyou Island. Surrounded by water on all sides and shaded by pine and cypress trees, this island has cultivated Mexican cypress forests. The architectural complex on the island imitates the style of the Forbidden City and includes three halls: The first hall is the relocated Jiu Peak Temple from the Ming Dynasty in Pengxi County, which was once recorded in the "History of Chinese Architecture"; the second hall serves as a patriotic education base for Suining City, featuring the Memorial Hall and statue of General Kuang Jixun, highlighting his life and deeds; the third hall is a classical-style palace building, the tallest on the island. Climbing to the top offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the lake and mountains. An exquisite classical corridor connects the three halls. The open terrain of the island is suitable for large-scale recreational events, making it a great destination for vacation and leisure.

3. Boat House Island. Also surrounded by water, this island features an ancient boat structure, which looks stunningly beautiful when viewed from afar as if floating on the water.

4. Turtle Island. Encircled by mountains, the island features the Jiao Xiao Platform, which is themed around the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, specifically the story of Meng Zong crying over bamboo for his mother. It includes garden facilities and a sculpture group.

5. Agritainment. Located in Lianzhuqiao Village by the lake, these spots are connected to Qingyou Island via a cable bridge. They have already taken initial shape and are highly influential and ranked first within Suining City.

6. Fuxi Farm. Features garden landscapes and nearly 100 acres of fruit tree bases, cultivating special fruits and raising rare animals for visitors to enjoy.

7. Classical-Style Street. Built along the road leading from the county seat into the lake area, this 1.5-kilometer-long street is lined with shops, teahouses, and leisure resorts.

8. Water Tourism Routes. Divided into two routes based on the water system, these allow visitors to fully enjoy the natural scenery of the lake area and explore ancient relics. One route takes a boat upstream along the Xizhi Stream, passing through the Niutouya Natural Forest area, which includes three towering banyan trees embracing an ancient stone milestone — a relic from the ancient postal road between Xichong Wenjing and Pengxi County during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Other highlights include the lush Baihelin (White Heron Forest), home to thousands of white herons, the steep Jinzhu Mountain resembling a forest barrier, the historically renowned Xizhiyuan Stone Carvings dating back to the Jin Dynasty, and the popular Guanyinyan Temple. The other route follows the Masang Stream, passing through Lianzhuqiao, Hongmiaozhi, and Jinxian Temple. Along the way, visitors can enjoy pastoral and natural landscapes along both banks, carve bamboo souvenirs, and watch egrets and wild ducks playing and flying over the water.

Nearby Attractions

In the county seat, there is the Baita Pagoda — a reliquary stupa built in 1204 (the fourth year of the Jiatai reign in the Song Dynasty); and the Kuige built in 1801 (the sixth year of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty). Between the county seat and Chicheng Lake, there is the newly built Baita Chan Monastery, a Buddhist sacred site. Chicheng Lake is just 15 kilometers from the nationally and internationally renowned Baofan Temple and its Ming Dynasty murals; 25 kilometers from Gaofeng Mountain, known as the “Number One Mountain in Northern Sichuan” and a national AA-level scenic spot; and 23 kilometers from Changleg Temple, originally built in 638 (the 12th year of the Zhenguan reign in the Tang Dynasty) and rebuilt during the Ming Xuande period (1426–1436).

Public Infrastructure

Chicheng Lake is the only reservoir among China’s artificial lakes that uses natural gas. The scenic area is equipped with comprehensive municipal public facilities. There is an ample supply of tap water and electricity, with over 30 cable TV channels available. Communication is convenient, and safety facilities such as fire control, medical care, flood prevention, and disaster mitigation are relatively complete.