Ink Lake

　　Ink Lake, named for its inky green waters and also called Black Reservoir, is situated 54 kilometers south of the county seat in the Ma'anshan Scenic Area. It is a pooled lake made up of seven interconnected bodies of water, stretching in a strip about one hundred meters long. In years with heavy rainfall, the lake becomes so deep that its bottom is invisible, earning it the poetic praise: “No pine shadows float on the banks, only green algae; when the wind rises, lotuses drift in from all sides.” The lake is divided into two sections—large and small—commonly referred to as the Big Reservoir and the Small Reservoir, both located at the foot of Ma'anshan. The Small Reservoir covers an area of about 100 square meters, while the Big Reservoir spans over 300 square meters, both oval in shape. The Small Reservoir flows year-round without ever drying up, while the Big Reservoir has five springs that continuously bubble up, keeping the water abundant yet never overflowing. A local folk rhyme says: “Sister Springs, Sister Springs, they look black but taste clear, never overly full nor ever dry, inexhaustible for drinking, even in drought years they remain full.” This describes the unique magic of the Big and Small Reservoirs.

　　Both reservoirs are nestled within dense forests, surrounded by towering pines and cypresses that create a thick canopy of green. In summer and autumn, visitors here feel as if they’ve stepped into a sea of flowers, with flocks of birds darting overhead and playing on the lake surface, occasionally letting out crisp, melodious calls. Walking across the soft grassland blanketed with colorful alpine flowers feels like entering a fairyland, offering a dreamlike and blissful sensation. Though the lake water appears black, it turns colorless when scooped into a bowl. Here, we borrow the words of Mr. Guo Moruo describing Heaven Lake: “A pool of deep black sinks to the inkstone’s base, ten thousand tree-brushes stand tall at the pen’s tip”—a phrase that fits the Black Reservoir remarkably well.

　　Dear friends from afar, if you visit and vacation in the Jiangbulake Scenic Tourism Area, be sure to come to the Ma'anshan Scenic Area. Here, you can admire the majestic and beautiful landscapes of Ma'anshan, witness the magical Ink Lake, and even taste the lake water for yourself. The hospitable Kazakh girls will dance with you and offer you a bowl of buttered tea, while the elders will share vivid and ancient legends with you.