Tongji Lake

　　The Tongji Lake Scenic Area is situated 3 kilometers west of Pujiang County, in the upper reaches of the Pujiang River, and lies between the county’s central and southern mountain ranges. Covering an area of 6 square kilometers, the scenic area features over 10 attractions. Tongji Lake (Tongjiqiao Reservoir) has a water storage capacity of 58 million cubic meters and covers a water surface area of 5 square kilometers. There are six islands and dozens of peninsulas in the lake, offering picturesque scenery, hence it is known as the "Hundred Islands Lake." On the northern foothills of Maoping Mountain to the north of the lake lies the tomb of Wu Wei, a renowned modern painter (1900–1977), who excelled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving and was a pivotal figure bridging the past and future of the "Zhejiang Painting School." To the south of the lake lies Sijinshan, historically believed to encompass the five essential elements—metal, wood, fire, earth, and water. Since the Song Dynasty, this area has been known for its thriving literary culture and the emergence of many notable figures. During the Qing Dynasty and earlier, there was Wu Wei, who founded the prestigious Moon Spring Poetry Society, famous across the southeast; Wu Zhi Fang, a Yuan Dynasty scholar-official and contemporary of Zhao Mengfu; Wu Lai, a master Confucian scholar known for his profound knowledge of classics and history; and Wu Fenglai, an ambitious scholar who achieved three successive academic successes within eight months, leaping from a student to a successful imperial examination graduate.

　　In more recent times, the area has continued to produce exceptional talents, such as Wu Shihuai, Wu Shishou, Wu Shiliang, Wu Wei, and Wu Shanming, all of whom have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields and can be regarded as the hometown of scholarly excellence, renowned both domestically and internationally. To the east of the lake rises the steep Bao’an Mountain, surrounded by gnarled pine trees resembling coiled dragons. The cliffs reach 313 meters in height, with a flat summit on top. To the southwest lies Dongyan Temple. Climbing to the top of the cliffs offers a panoramic view of the entire reservoir and, to the northeast, the whole of Pujiang County. Below the dam of the reservoir, at the entrance of Yangtian Village, stands a 1,380-year-old camphor tree with a trunk diameter of 3 meters, a height of 7 meters, and a canopy covering over 1,000 square meters. Known locally as the "King of Trees," it resembles a grand umbrella. With the deepening of reform and opening-up, the economy around Tongji Lake has also seen sustained development. The lake has become an ideal destination for sightseeing, water recreation, leisure fishing, summer retreats, and convalescence.