Mengbang Swan Lake

Mengbang Swan Lake

Mengbang Swan Lake

Mengbang Reservoir is located in the Mengbang Basin, southeast of the Mengzhe Plain, about 23 kilometers from Menghai County Town. Known as the “Swan Lake,” the dam stands 25.43 meters high, with a total storage capacity of 23 million cubic meters and an irrigation area designed to cover 45,000 mu. It is a medium-sized key water conservancy project built in the late 1950s through the collective labor contributions of the local people.

Driving west from Menghai County Town for about 20 minutes, you’ll see out the window the boundless, flat expanse of the Mengzhe Plain, crisscrossed with fields and rich in fertile land. The plain covers an area of 230,000 mu, the largest in Xishuangbanna, and is one of Yunnan Province’s key commodity grain production bases. Winters here are not harsh, summers not scorching, and the climate is mild with abundant rainfall and plentiful sunshine—offering highly favorable natural conditions. The area’s stunning natural scenery and vibrant ethnic culture captivate and enchant visitors, inspiring deep emotion and poetic imagery. The famous song “Horse, Please Walk Slowly,” made popular by renowned singer Ma Yutao, was inspired by the beauty of Mengzhe.

Mengbang Reservoir is situated in a hilly basin at an elevation of 1,250 meters, boasting enchanting scenery. Flocks of egrets often frolic on the water’s surface. The Dai people call it “Nong Meng Fa,” the “Golden Lake” where the legendary prince Zhao Shudun met and fell in love with Princess Nanmu Nuona. Many poets and writers have praised it as a “fairyland on earth,” composing numerous elegant essays and poems in its honor.

Visiting Mengbang allows you not only to enjoy its natural beauty but also to experience the unique culture and customs of the Dai people. Upstream of the reservoir lies the Mengbang Village, a Dai community of over 50 households nestled by the water. The land shapes its people—here, every Dai is skilled in swimming and an expert in maneuvering bamboo rafts. With just a light push of their paddles, they glide swiftly across the water, as if walking on it, a sight unique to this part of Menghai. The harmonious blend of lake views, mountain scenery, and Dai traditions creates a naturally formed paradise, making you feel as if you’ve stepped into a fairyland.

Mengbang Reservoir shines like a radiant pearl embedded in the highland plain of Mengzhe, glittering brilliantly. Its crystal-clear streams flow continuously like sweet dew, nourishing the fertile fields and bringing abundance to the local people.

With the development of tourism in Menghai, Mengbang Reservoir has been equipped with hotels, restaurants, walking trails, and recreational facilities such as pedal boats, making it an ideal destination for leisure getaways and business meetings.