Songtao Tianhu Lake

　　   Located 20 kilometers southeast of Danzhou city center, spanning the two cities/counties of Danzhou and Baisha, it is a highland alpine lake renowned as the “Pearl of the Treasure Island.” Situated on the upper reaches of the Nandu River, its construction began in 1958 and took ten years to complete, making it one of China’s largest earth-filled dam projects. The dam stands 81.1 meters high and stretches 760 meters long, harnessing the rushing waters of the Nandu River within the valleys of Nanyang and Fanjia.

　　   The reservoir area spans 144 square kilometers and contains over 300 islands. With a total storage capacity of 3.34 billion cubic meters, it collects rainfall from a catchment area of 1,400 square kilometers along the upper reaches of the Nandu River. Through a network of channels, it connects to numerous water conservancy projects, forming a unified irrigation system that irrigates vast tracts of land in western and northwestern Hainan Island. The Songtao Reservoir area is expansive, surrounded by mountains and covered in dense primeval forests. It not only benefits agriculture, fishing, and industry, but is also an excellent destination for escaping the heat, vacationing, and sightseeing on Hainan Island. The most popular activity is taking a boat tour to enjoy the scenic beauty of the reservoir—gliding across the emerald waters, you’ll see rolling mountain ranges, towering ancient trees, deep blue lake water, and fishing boats dotting the surface, creating the sensation of boating through a painting.

　　   Songtao Tianhu Lake boasts vast waters reminiscent of the sea, dotted with white sails and filled with fishermen’s songs, offering ever-changing scenery. On calm days, the misty waters glisten under the sun, while in stormy weather, massive waves crash against the rocky shores. At sunset, the dam area is bathed in radiant glow, reflecting off the crimson-hued water surface where sky and water merge, set against undulating mountain ridges and swaying coconut groves—a picturesque scene of breathtaking beauty.