Wuqiangxi Hydropower Plant

　　 The Wuqiangxi Hydropower Plant is situated in Yuanling County, Hunan Province. It ranks among China’s top ten hydropower stations, is the largest in Hunan Province, and serves as a comprehensive utilization project on the main course of the Yuan River, as well as a renowned tourist destination. To visit the Wuqiangxi Reservoir area, drive from Changsha via expressway to Changde, then take National Highway 319 through Taohuayuan to Wuqiangxi — the entire journey takes approximately four and a half hours.

　　 After the completion of the Wuqiangxi Hydropower Plant hub project, a 170-square-kilometer reservoir area was formed, creating a true high-mountain, flat-lake landscape. Five streams surging down from the mountains of western Hunan converge here, forming an expansive expanse of misty waters. The numerous hills have transformed into islands of varying shapes, turning the Wuxi Lake into a high-mountain counterpart to the Thousand Island Lake. Together with the adjacent lakes such as Mingyue Lake in the Lingjintan Reservoir area, Meng Lake in the Yanwutan Reservoir area, Mingxi Lake in the Gaotan Reservoir area, and Mengdong Lake in the Fengtan Reservoir area, they form a cluster of artificial lakes. Viewed from above, one can admire the spectacular sight of “iron dams and flying bridges with five mirror-like lakes.”

　　 When visiting the Wuqiangxi Hydropower Plant, the first thing to see is naturally the dam. Standing 117.5 meters tall with a crest length of 724.4 meters, the entire dam is majestic in presence. With a total installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts, its radial gates rank second in the world, and its penstock pipes rank first in Asia. It is a high-tech underwater labyrinth.

　　 Less than 20 kilometers from the Wuqiangxi Hydropower Plant dam lies Chenjiatan, the largest bay of Wuxi Lake. From Chenjiatan’s Golden Beach, heading upstream past the Jiatan tea base — a tribute tea site from the Tang Dynasty — you’ll reach the Xiaojiabridge Reservoir area. Here you’ll find a large fishing harbor teeming with fish. With green mountains, clear waters, fishing ports, orchards, tea plantations, and stilted houses, this place is truly an ideal destination for leisure and vacation.

　　 Further upstream from Xiaojiabridge lies Hezhangzhou. On the islet stands the Luming Pagoda, a seven-story, eight-sided structure 42 meters tall, making it the tallest Buddhist pagoda in Hunan. Originally built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, the pagoda features a closely-tiered brick-and-wood structure with a bronze spire. Today, a sturdy tree has grown atop it, with birds flocking like clouds and its canopy spread out like a large green umbrella, highlighting the pagoda’s ancient and enduring presence.

　　 Adjacent to Hezhangzhou is the ancient county town of Yuanling, which boasts a history of over 1,400 years. This millennia-old city is surrounded by water on three sides, resembling a giant curved bow. Currently, the Wuqiangxi Reservoir area is accelerating the development of ecological projects under a plan that envisions “ten li of peach blossoms, ten li of chestnuts, ten li of bayberries, ten li of red maples, ten li of camellias, and ten li of nanmu bamboo,” transforming the Hundred-Mile Gallery scenic belt and making Wuxi Lake even more beautiful.

　　 The Wuqiangxi Thousand Island Lake area is rich in local cultural traditions. Events such as dragon boat races on the water, Xiangxi folk music, bird-fighting festivals, tea-tasting gatherings in the hills, local customs like “Crossing the Red Mountain” and “Climbing the Blade Ladder,” as well as the so-called “drama fossil” — the 48-episode Mulian Opera, Nuo spirit plays, and seated songs — along with love-song duets, wedding custom performances, folk embroidery, and bamboo or wood handicrafts of the Tujia, Miao, and Dong ethnic minorities, all showcase the vibrant diversity of Xiangxi folk culture.

　　 The Wuqiangxi Reservoir area enjoys a superior geographical location. It borders Taohuayuan to the east, connects to Wulingyuan to the north, neighbors Mengdong River to the west, and links up with local attractions such as the Yuanling Longxing Lecture Temple, Huxi Academy, Phoenix Mountain, and the Er’you Ancient Book Cave. Currently, the “Hunan Wuqiangxi Tourism Development Co., Ltd.” has launched one-day tours of the reservoir area, summer retreat packages, and night cruises, as well as special routes from Yuanling to Taohuayuan, Wulingyuan, Mengdong River, and Zhijiang’s Victory Over Japan Memorial Archway, greatly facilitating travel for both domestic and international tourists.