Qianjiazhou Lotus Lake

　　Qianjiazhou is situated on the banks of the Zi River below the Second Yiyang Bridge. Originally a marshy river islet area, it was later developed into a small lake-surrounded settlement with water on all four sides, covering an area of over 30,000 mu. It was named Qianjiazhou because nearly a thousand farming households relocated and settled here.

　　The land within the Qianjiazhou settlement is low-lying, famously known as having “thirty-six lakes and seventy-two creeks.”

　　These “lakes connect to one another, and creeks link up together,” and are mostly planted with water chestnuts and lotus roots. Today, the entire township has cultivated 4,000 mu of lotus roots, 4,000 mu of water chestnuts, and 2,000 mu of water caltrops and wild rice stems. These “four aquatic treasures” have become a “treasure trove” and “money tree” that help farmers increase their income and achieve prosperity. In spring and summer, Qianjiazhou is covered in green umbrellas across the lakes. Under the sunlight, the round lotus leaves resemble jade plates, with glistening dewdrops rolling on them, sparkling brilliantly. The blooming lotus flowers, emerging from the water, look like shy maidens in shades of red and white, vibrant and graceful. The plump lotus pods resemble cheerful old men, beaming with smiles and staring at passersby with wide eyes. Leveraging the excellent ecological environment of the lake region, the local lotus-themed agritainment businesses have added new highlights to the range of agritourism experiences in Heshan and Yiyang.

　　When visiting the lotus agritainment farms, guests can not only admire the beauty of the lotus lakes and feast their eyes on the charm of the water chestnut ponds, but also paddle their own pointed boats into the lotus lake to pick lotus flowers, harvest lotus pods, navigate through green umbrellas, and drift beneath lotus leaves. Guests can also sit under the shade of umbrellas in front of the farmhouse, fishing with a rod. The freshly caught fish can be cooked on the spot by the host—whether steamed or braised—and served with diced meat stir-fried with fresh water chestnuts, sweet-and-sour lotus root in osmanthus sugar sauce, and other authentic green foods. The uniquely flavorful delicacies of the lotus countryside are sure to whet anyone’s appetite and leave them enchanted by the rustic charm of the lotus farms.