Chole Reservoir Ecotourism Area

Chole Reservoir Ecotourism Area

One of the key tourist attractions in Xing'an League. By traveling 20 kilometers northwest from Yinder Town along National Highway 111 and the interprovincial highway, you can feast your eyes on the beautiful scenery of the Chole Reservoir Ecological Leisure Resort.

The Chole River is the second largest river in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the largest tributary of the Nenjiang River, and the foremost among the seven rivers of Xing'an League. It runs from northwest to southeast through the entire Jalaid Banner, covering a distance of over 200 kilometers within the banner. With its stunning scenery, it is considered the mother river of the Jalaid people. The landscapes along the Chole River—mountains, hills, and grasslands—are beautifully arranged, offering picturesque and pleasant views. The Maolige’er Bridge and the interprovincial highway bridge span majestically across the river.

The Chole Water Control Project (Chole Reservoir) is located 150 meters upstream of the Maolige’er Bridge in the middle reaches of the Chole River. The dam site is 20 kilometers from Yinder Town, the seat of the Jalaid Banner government. The project has a total investment of 280 million yuan, a construction period of three years, and officially commenced on November 1, 2001, after being approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. This project is a large (Type II) water conservancy hub integrating functions such as irrigation, flood control, power generation, aquaculture, and tourism. It mainly consists of four parts: the main dam, auxiliary dam, spillway dam, and hydropower station. The reservoir covers an area of 35 square kilometers, with a normal water storage level of 230.5 meters and a total capacity of 260 million cubic meters. The main dam is 1,620 meters long, with the highest point reaching 20 meters. The project was fully completed before October 2006.

The area around Chole Reservoir boasts the most beautiful natural scenery. Lush peaks and forests, abundant flowers and grasses, and a variety of rare birds and animals thrive here. The rich water and grasslands create a view reminiscent of a natural park. It is an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure, vacationing, and fishing.

Three scenic spots in the Chole Reservoir Tourism Area:

1. Maolige’er Bridge Scenery: The Maolige’er Bridge is located within the Chole Reservoir area. In 1981, one of the important bridges on National Highway 111—the Maolige’er Bridge—was completed. Spanning the Chole River, the bridge is majestic. It is 455.5 meters long, with 6 kilometers of approach roads on both banks, a clear width of 7 meters on the bridge deck, and 0.75-meter-wide sidewalks on each side. It is the third largest bridge in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The beautiful mountain and water scenery, grassland vistas, and the grand bridge together form a stunning picture, referred to by locals as the “Gifted Park.”

2. Located at the zero-kilometer point north of the Maolige’er Bridge is the under-construction Chole Reservoir Tourism Area. The tourism area covers approximately 60,000 square meters, including 35,000 square meters of water surface. The upper section of the tourism area is in the low mountain and hilly region of the middle reaches of the Chole River, featuring wide terraces and valley plains along both sides of the river with dense pastures. The lower section is in the downstream plain area of the Chole River, characterized by flat terrain and fertile land. Once completed, the Chole Reservoir Tourism Area will include five zones: a water recreation area, holiday villa area, grassland ethnic culture area, pastoral scenic area, and comprehensive service area. At that time, it will undoubtedly attract countless visitors to admire the Maolige’er Bridge, recall the tumultuous years and battles against Japanese invaders over 60 years ago, and receive a patriotic education.

3. Water Recreation Area: Activities include boating, fishing, water sports, and sightseeing at the water park.

4. Leisure Dining and Vacation Area: Mainly includes Tianfu Garden Villa, Shenshan Hotel Base, Rose Garden Leisure Resort, and Yunliu Leisure Restaurant.