Zhangwu Scenic Area includes the Zhangwu Reservoir and its surrounding areas, covering nearly 10,000 acres. Its main planned zones include: the Zhangwu Water Conservancy Project Sightseeing Area, Lakeside Comprehensive Entertainment Zone, Eco-Fishing Area, Health and Recreation Zone, Leisure and Wellness Resort Zone, Water Sports Club, and Lake Center Island Resort. Existing facilities comprise the Lake Center Island Resort, Water Conservancy Training Center, villas, and a water amusement park. The scenic area features mountains, water, hills, islands, fish, boats, and especially the spectacular water conservancy project. In particular, the Zhangwu Reservoir has a water surface of nearly 5,000 acres, making it the largest water-based tourism resource in northern Henan. The western shore of the reservoir connects closely with Jiulong Mountain and Zhaoyuan Cave, complementing the scenic beauty of Zhangwu, with breathtaking views of lake and mountain.
The Zhangwu Reservoir Water Conservancy Training Center is located on the eastern shore of the reservoir, nestled against the mountain and beside the water, with a beautiful environment and complete service facilities. It covers a construction area of about 4,000 square meters and can accommodate individual travelers, groups, conferences, and training sessions. It can host up to 100 guests for accommodation and dining. Lake Center Island: Features villas and a comprehensive building with an area of about 2,000 square meters, receiving approximately 5,000 visitors daily at peak summer times; among other facilities.
The Zhangwu–Nanhai Reservoir Project was initiated in 1958, with the dams of both reservoirs being completed in 1960 and operations starting in 1964. The two reservoirs are 10 kilometers apart and operate jointly, where the Xiaonanhai Reservoir primarily serves to intercept and store floodwaters, while the Zhangwu Reservoir mainly regulates runoff and supports water conservancy. These two reservoirs are vital lifelines for the city’s economy and represent two major water conservancy hubs on the upper reaches of the Huan River in Anyang City.
“Marvel at the artistry of water control, rejoice in the waters of Zhangwu; protect the sources of springs, savor the beauty of water’s charm. Seek the joys of the countryside, find delight in the fisherman’s life; enjoy folk traditions, and admire timeless historic sites.” Standing on the dam and looking out, one sees vast misty waters, with the beautiful scenery of Zhangwu unfolding before the eyes. The Zhangwu–Nanhai Reservoirs are two large water conservancy hubs built in a cascade system on the upper reaches of the Huan River, controlling a catchment area of 970 square kilometers. The total storage capacity of the two reservoirs is 185 million cubic meters, providing comprehensive benefits such as flood control, industrial and agricultural water supply, aquaculture, power generation, and tourism. The Zhangwu Reservoir is named after its dam being constructed in Beizhangwu Village.
Some may ask: How did Zhangwu Village get its name? What is the origin? Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Huan River had a strong flow. Cao Cao once trained his naval forces here, and after a victorious battle, he commended the meritorious generals and warriors here, hence the name “Zhangwu,” meaning “to commend military prowess.”
Boarding a cruise boat and arriving at the Lake Center Island, you’ll find the island lush and green, like a fairyland. Winding paths surround the area, and pavilions and towers offer a unique charm. The 160-acre island also features tennis courts, fishing ponds, horseback riding fields, shooting ranges, and more; water activities include boating, speedboats, jet skis, parasailing, paddleboarding, and others, providing various leisure and entertainment options for visitors.
The Zhangwu Reservoir has a wide water surface, suitable for a variety of water-based tourism activities. This area has a planned area of 151 hectares and offers activities such as skydiving over water, canoe races, dragon boat competitions, water bicycles, and water skateboarding.
The western shore of the reservoir is planned as the Zhanghu Shuijun – Northern Mountains and Jianjia Cangcang – East Dragon Mountain zones, designated as lakeside comprehensive entertainment and eco-fishing areas. Both scenic zones center around water as their theme and core, creating a diverse range of lakeside, on-water, and in-water recreational activities through various interactions with water such as playing, viewing, listening, and tasting. This forms an integrated lakeside entertainment zone that combines ecological restoration with fishing. Here, you can rent a small boat and gently glide over the waves; explore quiet paths along the shore for fishing; or take in the vast waters, ancient trees, and crows at dusk, with the distant Pingshan Island creating a scene reminiscent of an ink-wash landscape painting.
Walking through lakeside villages, you can search for relics of ancient times. Legend has it that during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu was pursued by Wang Mang, fleeing exhaustively with weary soldiers and horses. Upon reaching Donglongshan Village on the eastern shore of the Huan River, southwest of Anyang, they suddenly discovered a well. Soldiers rushed to drink from it, competing so fiercely that they knocked the well over, yet water kept gushing out, quenching the army’s thirst. Later, people named this well “Ban Dao Jing” (the Knocked-Over Well).
About 100 meters away from Ban Dao Jing is a spring called “Ma Pa Quan” (the Horse-Dug Spring). Legend says that while the soldiers were scrambling for water, the warhorses, parched and anxious, couldn’t reach any. They pawed frantically at the ground with their hooves and unexpectedly unearthed a spring, which then gushed forth. The thirsty horses drank their fill. This spring came to be known as “Ma Pa Quan.” Unfortunately, both “Ban Dao Jing” and “Ma Pa Quan” were submerged when the reservoir was built.
In the southeastern part of the reservoir, the Pingshan Liuxia – Pingshan Island scenic area in Nan Zhangwu features an island surrounded by water. At sunrise, the sunlight bathes the layered forests in brilliant hues; at sunset, Pingshan Island glows under the colorful sky, exuding tranquility and harmony. Being there feels like entering a fairyland. Climbing the steps, you can gaze at the beauty of Dragon Mountain in the distance and admire the golden-scaled pleasure boats nearby, appreciating the mountain-water scenery and listening to the rhythm of the waves. Sitting under the Aiwan Pavilion, watching the sunset over the Huan River where water and sky merge into one, presents a truly spectacular view.
In the legend of Nan Zhangwu Village, there was originally a stone bridge west of the village, facilitating travel across the Huan River for villagers on both sides. There was also a cave said to be inhabited by a white dragon and a black dragon, with two pools in front of it, known as “White Dragon Pool” and “Black Dragon Pool.” The stone bridge and the cave were submerged during the construction of the Zhangwu Reservoir, leaving behind endless reverie.
In the southwest of the reservoir, there is also a planned Leisure and Wellness Resort Zone—the Youran Nanshan – Niuhuanggang scenic area—which aims to create a destination primarily for group tourists, supplemented by individual visitors, focusing on static leisure vacations, conferences, training, wedding banquets, and religious events as its economic pillars.
Around the reservoir, the west side neighbors famous national key cultural heritage sites and natural attractions such as the Xiaonanhai Cultural Ruins, Lingquan Temple, Wanfo Gully, Changchun Temple, Nanhai Temple, Northern Qi Grottoes, and Jiulong Mountain. The east side features the renowned “China’s Flower and Tree Village”—Longquan Town, hailed as the backyard garden of Anyang City. Developed tourism attractions here include Longquan Forest Park, China Anyang Wax Myrtle Garden, and Dongxue Date Sightseeing Garden.
This scenic area enjoys convenient transportation, adjacent to the Dabai Line, with bus services running from Anyang to Zhangwu, making it ideal for suburban day trips and self-driving tours.
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