Wanlv Lake

Wanlv Lake

Wanlv Lake is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a national forest park, and a national wetland park.

The Wanlv Lake Scenic Area is located in Dongyuan County, Guangdong Province, 6 kilometers from the downtown area of Heyuan City. As the largest artificial lake in South China — the Xinfengjiang Reservoir — it was formed in 1958 during the construction of the Xinfengjiang Hydropower Plant when a dam was built at the narrowest mountain pass along the Xinfengjiang River, the Yapo Mountain Gorge, to store water.

The Xinfengjiang Reservoir has a surface area of 370 square kilometers and a water storage capacity of 13.9 billion cubic meters. It earned the name Wanlv Lake (Ten Thousand Green Lakes) because it remains green all year round and is lush everywhere. Located within 200 kilometers of both Guangzhou and Shenzhen, it is considered the “back garden” of the Pearl River Delta.

The construction of this artificial lake came at a great cost to the people of the Xinfengjiang Basin. The Xinfengjiang River is the largest tributary of the Dongjiang River system, originating from Yuping in Xinfeng County and flowing from west to south through downtown Heyuan into the Dongjiang River. The entire river stretches 163 kilometers, with a catchment area of 5,813 square kilometers. The reservoir submerged an area of 390 square kilometers. A total of 23,091 households, comprising 94,311 people, were relocated to Shaoguan, Huizhou, and other towns and villages within the county. Additionally, 15,524 people, though not relocated, had their land submerged and moved from foothills to hillsides. To this day, the reservoir area still has 6 towns with over 70,000 migrants. During the reservoir clearing process, 28,333 hectares of forest and 12,000 hectares of rice paddies were submerged. The area known as Nanhui on the Xinfengjiang River, once hailed as Heyuan’s “Land of Fish and Rice,” became a vast expanse of flat water. Due to a lack of production and living conditions, migrants still face significant disparities compared to non-migrant populations. In recent years, many migrants have participated in and engaged in tourism activities around the lake, making it one of the effective pathways out of poverty.

Wanlv Lake and Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang are both characterized by vast waters and verdant islands, forming the main attractions of their landscapes, and can be called “sister lakes.” Both are man-made lakes, with construction starting in 1958. They are referred to as “Xinfengjiang of South China, Xin’anjiang of East China.” With a total capacity of 17.8 billion cubic meters, Xin’anjiang Reservoir is named Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) due to its 1,078 islands. The industrial output value of the Qiandao Lake area reaches 6 billion yuan, while that of Wanlv Lake is almost zero, resulting in a much better ecological environment.

The quality of the water is the charm of Wanlv Lake. It possesses the beauty of a plateau lake but without the transportation difficulties and cold climate of high-altitude areas, embodying “four beauties” in one lake.

Majestic Waters: Its maximum length accounts for 84% of the entire river, stretching 140 kilometers, with a maximum width of 12 kilometers and a maximum depth of over 80 meters. The average depth is 30 meters. Being there feels like standing in a “mountain ocean.”

Pure Water Quality: The lake water comes from the lush forests, is clear, pure, and unpolluted, meeting the national Class I surface water standards. It is drinkable directly and is also indirectly supplied to Hong Kong via the Dongshen Water Supply Project. The excellent water quality makes fish such as osmanthus carp, catfish, and eel particularly tender. Tofu and rice wine made with this water, as well as tea brewed with it, are especially sweet and fragrant.

Gentle Nature: The water temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year, between 19–23 degrees Celsius, which is the golden ratio of the human body’s normal temperature, making it very suitable for water activities. Water-based activities can be enjoyed for over six months of the year. Moreover, the lake area is largely unaffected by typhoons, with rarely any waves on the surface, always appearing serene and tranquil.

Beautiful Water Color: The lake water is emerald green, gradually fading from near to far: dark green, deep green, light green, pale green… Looking out at the center of the lake, it feels as if you are in a “green ocean.” Even more magical is how the lake water changes color several times a day depending on the angle and intensity of sunlight.

Website: http://www.wanlvhu.cn/

Address: No. 17 Gangzhong Road, Xingang Town, Dongyuan County, Heyuan City

Type: Lake boat tour

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 3 hours

Phone: 0762-8780002

Official website: http://www.wanlvhu.cn

Opening hours:

9:00-16:00

Ticket information:

Ticket: 128 RMB, this ticket includes the boat fare.

Shuiyue Bay is the only spot in Wanlv Lake with a swimming area and water entertainment facilities. It is a great destination for sightseeing, entertainment, and vacationing, and is hailed as “the most beautiful island in Wanlv Lake,” often referred to as the “Emerald Pearl of Wanlv Lake.” Shuiyue Bay was built based on the novel “Flowers in the Mirror.” The novel records that the Fairy of Hundred Flowers was born in Shuiyue Village, Heyuan County, Guangdong. A long corridor leads to the Water-Intimate Corridor, where 99 characters for “water” written by renowned figures throughout China’s 5,000-year history are displayed alongside colorful illustrations, showcasing the unique charm of ancient water culture.

Longfeng Island is a beautiful island in Wanlv Lake. Its eastern part resembles a dragon, and its western part a phoenix, making the whole island look like a dancing dragon and phoenix, extraordinarily beautiful. Brand-new gates, dynamic windmills, vibrant flowers and plants, lush leaves, and the vitality of spring fill Longfeng Island. The Crane Pine, Shuiyue Pine, uniquely shaped pines, patches of bayberries, and countless flowers and plants offer female visitors a colorful spring. Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has believed in the saying “prosperity brought by the dragon and phoenix.” Therefore, Longfeng Island, which geographically resembles both a dragon and a phoenix, often brings good fortune. Legend says that those who visit Longfeng Island will enjoy sweet love, harmonious family life, and successful careers — it is truly an auspicious island.

Jinghua Ridge is a scenic spot developed based on the scenes described by the famous Qing Dynasty novelist Li Ruzhen. It primarily features natural landscapes and represents a harmonious unity of lake and forest scenery. Here, lush green pines cover the mountains, offering shaded paths, interesting trails, and diverse views. In the words of Li Ruzhen:

Jinghua Ridge currently offers eight scenic spots: Three Pools Reflecting Green, Twin Turtles Heading to Sea, Mid-Mountain Song Pavilion, Emerald-Embracing Immortal Couch, Green Lake Sunset, Wanlv Beauty, Crocodile Stirring Waves, and Flying Gourd Peach. These allow tourists to appreciate the beauty of Wanlv Lake from various perspectives, making it an ideal place for lake viewing and appreciation. When the sun sets, “the sky’s glow spills into the water, the water and sky blush red at once; one must watch the sunset until late, to first send the golden sun up into the blue sky.”

Mirror Flower Land Tourist Area

Shuiyue Bay

Longfeng Island

Mirror Flower Ridge

Hakka Culture Pavilion at Wanlv Lake