Ink Lake

Ink Lake

Ink Lake

Ink Lake, named for its ink-green water and also called Black Reservoir, lies 54 kilometers south of the county town in the Ma'anshan Scenic Area. It is a pooled lake formed by seven interconnected bodies of water, arranged in a strip about a hundred meters long. In rainy years, the lake’s depth is unfathomable, giving rise to the saying: “No pine shadows float on the banks, green algae abound; when the wind rises, lotuses drift from all directions.” The lake is divided into two sections—large and small—commonly referred to as Big Reservoir and Small Reservoir, both located at the foot of Ma'anshan. The Small Reservoir covers an area of about 100 square meters, while the Big Reservoir spans over 300 square meters, both oval in shape. The Small Reservoir flows year-round without drying up, and the Big Reservoir has five springs that continuously bubble up, keeping the water abundant without ever overflowing. A local folk rhyme describes them: “Sister Springs, Sister Springs, they look black but scoop out white, never overly full nor ever dry, inexhaustible to drink, even in drought years they remain full.” This speaks to the unique magic of the Big and Small Reservoirs.

Both the Big and Small Reservoirs are nestled within dense forests, surrounded by towering pines and cypresses that create lush shade. In summer and autumn, visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into a sea of flowers, with flocks of birds darting overhead and playing on the lake surface, their crisp, melodious calls filling the air. Walking on the soft grassland blanketed with colorful alpine blooms feels like entering a fairyland, offering a dreamlike sense of bliss. Although the lake water appears black, it turns clear when scooped into a bowl. Here, we borrow the lines by Mr. Guo Moruo describing Tianchi (Heavenly Lake): “A pool of deep black sinks to the inkstone's base, ten thousand tree-bristles rise like brush tips”—to describe Black Reservoir, and the imagery fits perfectly.

Friends from afar, if you visit and vacation in the Jiangbulake Scenic Tourism Area, be sure to come to the Ma'anshan Scenic Area. Here, you can admire the majestic and beautiful landscape of Ma'anshan, witness the magical Ink Lake, and even taste the lake water for yourself. The hospitable Kazakh girls will dance with you and serve you a bowl of buttered tea with milk, while the elders will share vivid and ancient legends with you.