Sunset Lake

　　    Sunset Lake is located in Jiangxi Town, about 5 kilometers west of Xihe County. It is one of the top ten key tourist attractions in Longnan City, situated in the Yangtze River basin, within the Jialing River system, specifically in the downstream section of the Jiangxi River, a tributary of the Yangshui River in the Xihan River basin. The water body is referred to as Jian'an Water in Li Daoyuan's "Commentary on the Water Classic · Yangshui." The reservoir has a storage capacity of 10.35 million cubic meters and covers a water area of over 1,800 acres. The Wanjiaxia Reservoir was built in 1960, and in 1976, during the 10th-anniversary event commemorating Mao Zedong's swim in the Yangtze River, a large-scale swimming competition was held in the Tianshui region (note: at that time, Xihe County was part of the Tianshui region). In 2006, the main venue of the First Gansu Xihe Qiuchishan Folk Song Culture and Art Festival was also established here. This reservoir is currently the largest in the southeastern part of Longnan and is also a well-known high-mountain reservoir in Gansu, boasting beautiful scenery and convenient transportation. In 2008, the Sunset Lake Water Conservancy Scenic Area was approved by the Water Conservancy Scenic Area Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China as a "National Water Conservancy Scenic Area."

　　    Especially in recent years, Xihe County has vigorously developed its tourism industry by leveraging this beautiful body of water. Since 2002, the Xihe County Party Committee and County Government have launched the Comprehensive Agricultural Development Project in the Sunset Lake Reservoir Area, covering 1 town, 4 townships, 24 villages, 60,000 acres of land, and a population of 17,000. Through an integrated approach, the project implemented six major industries including tourism, fruit orchards, and aquaculture, as well as ten construction projects such as soil and water conservation and water conservancy, totaling 51 projects across 13 categories, with a total investment of 108.68 million yuan. This has led to the gradual development of a scenic area around the lake. The county government commissioned a nationally renowned tourism planning company to create a detailed construction plan for the area. The scenic area features an archway, corridors, sightseeing pavilions, and the planting of flowers, trees, and fruit trees around the lake, along with the laying of cobblestone walking paths... According to the plan, the entire Sunset Lake Scenic Area mainly consists of two parts: water-based leisure and entertainment, and lakeside sightseeing. Water-based entertainment includes activities such as boating and pedal boating. Lakeside sightseeing can be done by electric cart or on foot, offering panoramic views of the surrounding villages and mountains, as well as the tranquility of fishing by the lake. Willow branches sway, reeds intermingle, and the lakeside is vibrant with red flowers and green willows, with golden waves of wheat rolling in the distance. In summer, colorful butterflies flutter, dragonflies gather in swarms, and frogs croak rhythmically. The interplay of sunset hues, mountain scenery, and shimmering lake reflections creates an ever-changing, picturesque scene. Particularly in the western part of the lake area, there is a vast wetland with lush green grass where flocks of birds gather. Species such as wild ducks, bean geese, egrets, and mountain sparrows inhabit and frequent the area. Because the surroundings of Sunset Lake consist of fields, villages, forests, and houses—ideal habitats for birds—other species such as kingfishers, sand martins, woodpeckers, and red-billed blue magpies also visit from time to time. Visitors can fully enjoy the sounds of nature and the wild charm of the outdoors. Around Sunset Lake, various "farmhouse inns" offer unique hospitality styles. Mountain delicacies, wild vegetables, and local specialties are all available. With the high-end development and construction of the reservoir area, Sunset Lake has become an ideal destination for tourism, vacation, leisure, and summer retreats in Xihe.