Twelve Lakes Marine Ecotourism Area

Twelve Lakes Marine Ecotourism Area

The Twelve Lakes Tourism Area is located in the coastal zone west of Huidong Town, Lufeng City, covering an area of 15 square kilometers. It consists of natural freshwater lakes, greenbelt forest zones, Sanzhou’ao Beach, and an agricultural sightseeing base.

As the name implies, the “Twelve Lakes” are composed of 12 natural small lakes of different sizes, nestled closely together. The town of Huidong was named after its location to the east of the “Twelve Lakes.” Situated in a beach area and lacking dredging for thousands of years, six of the original twelve lakes have been filled in by silt over time, leaving only six remaining. Among these six, the largest lake covers an area of 7,000 square meters, while the smallest is 1,500 square meters. The Twelve Lakes boast enchanting scenery, surrounded by windbreak greenbelt forests and pristine white beaches. The lake water is transparent, clear, and sweet to the taste. According to the 1950s *Place Names of Huizhou Region, Guangdong Province*, the water of the Twelve Lakes was tested by scientific research institutions and classified as neutral soft water, with all indicators meeting national drinking water standards, making it suitable for drinking and irrigation. In recent years, municipal authorities and the Huidong Town government have repeatedly engaged research institutions to conduct geological and water quality surveys on the Twelve Lakes. A conclusion from a Shanghai-based research institute showed that the topsoil of the Twelve Lakes is high-quality quartz silica sand—an uncommon industrial material in China—while the underground rock layers beneath the sand are part of the continental shelf extending toward the seabed. The lake water is groundwater from these underground strata. Due to fractures in the rock layers, the groundwater surges to the surface under high pressure. The lake water contains a variety of trace elements essential to the human body, making it a premium mineral water. Among the six lakes, the one closest to the sea is just 50 meters away. Within this 50-meter span, two distinctly different types of water—one saline, one fresh—coexist. Unraveling the mystery behind this is not surprising, but such a rare landscape is still nothing short of miraculous.

The sand at Sanzhou’ao Beach is fine and glistening, free of gravel and shells. The beach is soft and does not trap feet, with a gentle slope. The endless sea, long sandy shore, and lush green windbreak forest form a stunning seascape for a beach resort.

The tourism area also cultivates tens of thousands of acres of pollution-free off-season vegetables as well as high-tech crops from both domestic and international sources. It serves as an agricultural planting and sightseeing base for Wangdayi Group, a leading agricultural enterprise in Guangdong Province.

The Twelve Lakes Tourism Area is situated within the Huidong Forest Farm. Since the 1950s, this state-owned forest farm has primarily focused on planting coastal windbreak forests and supplying firewood for daily life. The main tree species planted here are casuarinas, which are salt-alkali resistant, typhoon-resistant, and ideal for protecting the beaches and coastal farmland. Over time, other tree species such as eucalyptus have also been introduced. Thanks to the forest farm’s large area and year-round protection, it enjoys a very healthy ecological environment, where many seabirds and animals naturally thrive. According to statistics, more than 50 species of local seabirds and migratory birds inhabit the Twelve Lakes Tourism Area, making it a major attraction. At dawn, the once quiet forest farm comes alive. Herons, egrets, and grey-headed gulls bustle about among the trees—some soaring through open spaces, others calling from their nests, while land birds chirp melodiously from the treetops... It becomes a free world for birds. By evening, the beachside woods come alive again. The emerald-green woods are bathed in an orange hue, the sunset paints the sea and sky red, and birds return to their nests. Various species fly through the air, seeking their homes. Loud calls from adult birds mix with the chirps of fledglings, creating a harmonious symphony of bird songs. Being there, who could not be enchanted by this naturally serene and beautiful scene?

The ecological landscapes of Sanzhou’ao Beach, the Twelve Lakes, sightseeing agriculture, coastal woodlands, and seabirds are a feast for the eyes. The magic and ecological balance of the Twelve Lakes Tourism Area offer visitors the perfect destination for leisure and eco-tourism.