Xian'e Lake Tourist Area

　　Xian'e Lake was originally called Xian'e Stream, situated five li west of Shangzhou City. It was a section of the Danjiang River where water pooled beneath towering cliffs along the bank, forming a stream suitable for boating. In 1973, the Erlongshan Reservoir was built here, and the entire stream was dammed to form a lake, which people began calling Xian'e Lake. The reservoir dam stands 63.7 meters high, with a catchment area of 96 square kilometers and over 6,000 acres of water surface in the lake area. The lake has a “Y”-shaped layout.

　　Within this vast expanse of water and the surrounding land lies a wealth of natural landscapes and numerous cultural sites, both large and small. Surrounded by steep cliffs and picturesque scenery, Xian'e Lake boasts evergreen pines and cypresses, winding mountain paths, and a pleasant climate. The natural landscape here is both stunning and majestic. Scattered around the lake are Erlong Mountain, Xian'e Cliffs, the Queen Mother’s Dressing Table, Baiyun Cave, and an ancient post station. Literary scholars of ancient times were captivated by the scenery and composed many widely celebrated poems here; merchants and travelers lingered and forgot to leave,

　　leaving behind many touching stories. Immortals and beauties were said to have stayed here as well, giving rise to many beautiful legends. Based on geographical location and natural scenery, the area can be divided into several sightseeing zones. These include the Lake Island Zone, Shenshen Peak Stele Forest Scenic Area, Daiyun Mountain Resort Zone, Fengyun Cave Zone, Chuangwangzhai Exploration Zone, Phoenix Valley Birdsong Forest Zone, Yan Zhi Pass Cliff, Xishan Temple, Liu Xiu Mountain, dinosaur footprint fossils, among which the Lake Island Zone is particularly outstanding. Covering a total area of 18 mu, the Lake Island rises about 18 meters above the water surface. The island features platforms, scenic forest belts, and a Dinosaur Museum, which displays fossilized dinosaur footprints, dinosaur egg fossils, and dinosaur sculptures. It also exhibits Tang and Song dynasty poems about Shangzhou, as well as works by contemporary Shangluo writers and painters. This island is known as the “Four Dragons Playing with a Pearl.” In March, the peach blossoms are enchanting, and visitors boating here are drawn to admire the splendid natural beauty.