Songhua Lake

　　　　Songhua Lake is situated to the southwest of Jilin City, approximately 15 kilometers from the city center. It was created by damming the Songhua River to build the Fengman Hydropower Station, forming a lake with stacked dams. The lake boasts vast waters and numerous branches, resembling a coiling dragon. Its shape is long and narrow; when viewed from an airplane, Songhua Lake looks like a string of shining pearls. This "string of pearls" stretches 200 kilometers in length, with the widest point reaching 10 kilometers and the deepest spot at 75 meters. The lake area covers 500 square kilometers, with a maximum water storage capacity of 10.8 billion cubic meters. In 1988, Songhua Lake was designated as a National Key Scenic Area by the State Council, spanning an area of 700 square kilometers. Thanks to its unique geographical location, distinct four-season climate, and picturesque lakes and mountains, Songhua Lake attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists.

　　　　The main features of the Songhua Lake Scenic Area are water, forests, and mountains.

　　　　The beauty of Songhua Lake lies in its vast waters: across the hundred-kilometer lake area, the waves glisten, dotted with white sails. In wider sections, the waters stretch boundlessly, an expanse of deep blue; in narrower parts, towering rocks on both sides cast dark reflections on the water. Surrounded by mountains and crisscrossed by waterways, the lake surface is usually calm, with the mountain shadows merging into the deep, evoking the tranquil charm of traditional Chinese ink landscape paintings.

　　　　The beauty of Songhua Lake lies in its serene mountains. The lake area is embraced by rolling mountains and layered peaks, with dozens of summits exceeding 1,000 meters in elevation. The area features steep cliffs, rugged rocks in various striking forms, and emerald waters cradled by verdant hills. The secluded valleys and deep forests are enchanting, while 140 species of wild animals inhabit and breed here, adding boundless vitality to the lake district.

　　　　The beauty of Songhua Lake lies in its lush forests. The forest coverage for water conservation and soil preservation in the lake area exceeds 70%, creating a uniquely beautiful scenery: in early spring, the trees turn green and all things come back to life; in midsummer, the shade of green trees and the chirping of birds in the quiet valleys create a peaceful atmosphere; in autumn, the mountains are covered with red leaves, painting the forests in vibrant hues; in winter, the trees are adorned with frost and snow, blanketing the landscape in silver. Across the hundred-kilometer lake area, the songs of birds and the rustle of pine trees captivate visitors.

　　　　Songhua Lake attracts urban dwellers with its stunning natural landscapes. Many photographers, both domestic and international, are left in awe of the tranquility of the water, the uniqueness of the mountains, the beauty of the forests, and the peculiarity of the rocks. The renowned poet He Jingzhi, after visiting Songhua Lake, was moved to write: “The waters are clearer than those of the Three Gorges, the forests more graceful than West Lake’s; I boast beyond Fan Li’s renown—Songhua Lake outshines them all.” In June 1994, General Secretary Jiang visited the area and gladly inscribed: “Green Mountains and Clear Waters of Songhua Lake.”

　　　　The Songhua Lake Scenic Area is divided into ten relatively independent scenic zones. Divided into eastern and western shores by the dam, it includes various sanatoriums collectively referred to as the Sanatorium Zone. Heading from the Fengman Wharf on Songhua Lake into the lake area, you’ll find tourist spots such as Camel Peak, Phoenix Dance Pool, Five Tigers Island, Crouching Dragon Pool, Stone Dragon Wall, Motian Ridge, and Ehe Island. Some zones have been developed, some are under development, and others retain their pristine natural state.