Han Zhuang Regulating Dam Scenic Area?

　　   Han Zhuang is a key town at the southern end of Weishan County. Passing through the ten-li-long street lined with buildings in Han Zhuang Town, the Han Zhuang Regulating Dam suddenly comes into view, standing majestically. It resembles a giant palm gripping the throat, firmly blocking the flood discharge channel of Weishan Lake.

　　　　      The Han Zhuang Regulating Dam is 435.6 meters long, 136.5 meters wide, and 30.9 meters high; its maximum flood discharge capacity is 4,600 cubic meters per second; the maximum storage capacity is 778 million cubic meters. Construction of the dam began in August 1958, and 17 sluice gates were completed in October 1960. Later, from March 1977 to April 1980, 7 additional sluice gates were added to each end of the 17-gate structure, bringing the total to 31 gates. A total of 1.06 million cubic meters of earth and stone were excavated, with a national investment of 16 million yuan.

　　　　      About 300 meters south of the regulating dam, you will see a bridge spanning two rivers, majestic and spectacular—this is the southernmost highway bridge on the Beijing (Beijing)–Fuzhou (Fuzhou) Highway within Shandong Province. The bridge is a steel-arch structure, crossing the Yijia River and the ship lock channel river, with a deck width of 11.5 meters divided into up and down lanes, stretching over 100 meters from north to south. The bridge sees heavy traffic day and night, with daily vehicle flow reaching as high as 4,000 times. Beneath the bridge lies the only ship lock channel that diverts from Weishan Lake to Suzhou and Hangzhou after the rerouting of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, with an annual throughput of nearly one million tons. About 200 meters east of the bridge, running parallel to the highway bridge, is an important railway bridge on the Beijing–Shanghai railway line serving southern Shandong—a vital rail artery where trains thunder overhead while “water trains” glide below. Further east lies the East China oil pipeline closely adjacent to the Beijing–Shanghai trunk line. The thick steel pipes lie like a coiled black dragon, continuously transporting crude oil from the Shengli Oil Field to Shanghai. Within a 200-meter radius, three major transport arteries—rail, road, and waterway—converge, creating a breathtaking scene of intertwined dragons.

　　　　      When strolling on the bridge at dawn or dusk and gazing westward from the railing, the bridge appears to hold a giant trumpet in its mouth. Beyond the kilometer-long flared mouth of the “trumpet” to the west, the vast lake spreads out endlessly, shrouded in mist. Amid the misty waters, a small island resembling a fairyland pavilion seems to float ethereally on the lake surface, like a “mirage on the lake”—this is the renowned Weishan Island. Looking south, you can see verdant mountains like dark parentheses embracing the lake. Whether in the morning or evening light, the mountains’ reflections shimmer on the water, accented by fishing boats or tugboat convoys, evoking the scenic beauty of Guilin’s Li River.    If you take a leisurely walk in the garden-like ship lock area beneath the bridge, you’ll see gracefully swaying plane trees dancing in the breeze like shy maidens, and tall, orderly pine trees standing sentry around the lock. The lock area features murmuring water, lush green grass, birdsong, and floral fragrance—a perfect spot for travelers to rest. Here, in the peak of summer, you can savor a variety of local snacks, especially chilled broad bean jelly, which is incredibly refreshing and leaves a lasting taste; in golden autumn, you can also enjoy the lakeside pleasure of “peeling lotus seeds by the stream.”

　　　　      To develop tourism, Han Zhuang Town and the Regulating Dam Management Office are focusing on beautifying the dam area, setting up scenic spots and adding service facilities such as hotels, restaurants, and photography studios. The Han Zhuang Regulating Dam Tourist Area attracts visitors like a magnet.