Wan’an Lake

　　A national forest park and a scenic area of Jiangxi Province. Located in the middle and upper reaches of the Gan River, 1 kilometer south of Wan’an County. It is 8 kilometers from the Wan’an interchange of the Gan-Guang Expressway and 18 kilometers from National Highway 105. It is a lake-type natural scenic area, formed by the massive artificial lake created after the completion of the “Wan’an Hydropower Station,” a key national project of the Seventh Five-Year Plan.

　　Within Wan’an County, Wan’an Lake stretches approximately 45 kilometers in length and about 2 kilometers in width, covering a total area of 16,333 hectares with a water storage capacity of 2.216 billion cubic meters. The mountainous area on the eastern side of the park features terraced terrain, with hills rising abruptly from 250 meters to 804 meters in elevation, forming a natural barrier for the reservoir. The highest peak in the area, Jiashazhang, stands at 804.3 meters, characterized by steep and rugged ridges dotted with peaks. The park boasts a diverse range of vegetation types and a rich variety of species, including over 2,000 known higher plants, predominantly evergreen species from the Fagaceae and Lauraceae families. The forest coverage rate within the park reaches 80%. The area is home to a large population of wild animals, including several rare and protected species. Historically, the area was known for the treacherous “Eighteen Rapids,” considered one of the most dangerous stretches of waterways in China. Over the centuries, literary figures such as Ouyang Xiu, Yang Wanli, Su Dongpo, Xin Qiji, Wen Tianxiang, Xie Jin, and Wang Shizhen left behind numerous poems and essays, giving rise to the rich cultural heritage known as the “Eighteen Rapids Culture.” Today, Wan’an Lake features vast, open waters with rippling waves, continuous mountain ranges, and layered peaks of lush greenery, making it one of the most picturesque sections of the thousand-mile Gan River. The park serves as an important site for scientific research, camping, and education, as well as an ideal destination for tourism, sightseeing, and vacationing. Major attractions include Mixikeng, Zaokoubi, Guanyinge, Guifu Pool, the Red Army Hospital, Zengwentang, and the ancient post road. The scenic area has recently opened water-based tourism routes, making it a key highlight along the golden tourism route of southwestern Jiangxi. Guanyinge (Guanyin Pavilion): Located within Wan’an Lake, 15 kilometers from the county seat. Originally built during the Jin Dynasty and initially named “Yili An,” it has stood through the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republican eras. The pavilion’s deity was believed to be extremely efficacious, earning it widespread fame. Zaokoubi (Zaokou Cliff): A massive natural rock face within the reservoir area. In the third year of the Chunxi era during the Song Dynasty, the patriotic poet Xin Qiji composed his famous ci poem “Pu Sa Man · Inscribed on the Wall at Zaokou in Jiangxi” here. The line “Though verdant hills bar the way, the river flows eastward all the same” has since become an immortal verse.