Xizi Lake

　　The Xizi Lake Ecotourism Area is situated in the southeastern part of Tongcheng City, within Xizi Lake Town, an outstanding tourism town in Anhui Province. Surrounded by water on three sides and boasting convenient land and water transport links, it lies 25 kilometers from the city center, adjacent to the renowned riverside city of Anqing, and just a 1.5-hour drive from the provincial capital, Hefei. Connected via waterways to the Yangtze River through the confluence at Zongyang, it provides access both upstream to regions like Hunan and Hubei, and downstream to cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou. Covering a total area of 71 square kilometers — including 30 square kilometers of land and 41 square kilometers of water — it is a multifunctional national AAAA-level scenic area integrating eco-agricultural sightseeing, science and culture experiences, fishing leisure, outdoor adventure, rural vacationing, conference and business services, and specialty dining.

　　The Xizi Lake Scenic Area currently features attractions and tourism facilities such as the Xizi Lake Resort, Xizi Lake Wellness Hotel, ecological wetlands, fishing centers, outdoor adventure activities, the Eight Ancient Canal Ports, Xizi Fairy Island, the Twelve Zodiac Garden, astronomy education and 4D dynamic cinema, water park, amusement park, Happy Park, aerial bicycles, agricultural and fruit picking experiences, a visitor reception center, the Fang Yizhi Square, and an ecological parking lot. It offers seasonal tourism programs including wetland sightseeing in spring, leisure fishing in summer, fruit and vegetable picking in autumn, and snow viewing and bird watching in winter.

　　Thanks to its pristine ecology and beautiful environment, Xizi Lake has become a paradise for birds. The surrounding wetlands stretch continuously, attracting rare migratory birds that settle here seasonally, creating a rare wetland landscape. It has become a long-term observation site for Anhui Agricultural University and is also a key member of the EU Biodiversity Conservation organization. Each winter, the lake’s three-sided shores and wetlands, rich in aquatic plants and teeming with fish and crabs, draw tens of thousands of rare bird species for overwintering, including the Eurasian spoonbill, swan goose, Siberian crane, tundra swan, and black stork.

　　“No need to look at other mountains after Huangshan; no need to eat fish after leaving Xizi Lake.” Xizi Lake is abundant in fish and green, organic produce, offering a rich variety of high-quality options such as wild geese, wild ducks, pheasants, wild soft-shell turtles, loaches, shrimp, eels, free-range pork, and home-style stir-fries — all enticing enough to make travelers stop in their tracks. The Xizi Lake Wellness Grand Hotel incorporates the concept of traditional Chinese medicinal cuisine into its dining, selecting ingredients with health benefits or therapeutic properties based on different age groups, constitutions, and seasons. Through scientific preparation and cooking, these ingredients are transformed into delicious dishes that are not only pleasing to the senses but also promote wellness, prevent illness, and contribute to longevity.