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In today's urban life, finding a quiet and peaceful natural environment is a luxury. However, if you turn your attention outside the city, you may find unexpected gains.
This guide recommends Xianshan Lake, a hidden gem of a 4A-rated scenic spot. Located in Changxing, Huzhou, it's just over 30 kilometers from Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. Xianshan Lake offers a unique blend of natural beauty, including opportunities for prayer, hiking, boating, cycling, and camping. Without the crowds of tourists, a visit to Xianshan Lake offers a true immersion in the tranquility and freedom of "returning to nature after a long period of confinement."
Xianshan Lake is located in Changxing County, Huzhou, at the junction of Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The driving road is very smooth and it can be reached within 3 hours' drive from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It takes about 2 hours from Hangzhou city and about 3 hours from Nanjing and Shanghai.
Self-driving navigation: Xianshan Lake Scenic Area (Xianshan Village, Si'an Town, Changxing County, Huzhou City)
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The Xianshan Lake Scenic Area is located at the westernmost tip of Changxing County, where the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Anhui Expressway, the Hangzhou-Changsha Expressway, and the Xuanzhou-Hangzhou Railway converge. The area is 30 kilometers from Anji County, 85 kilometers from Hangzhou, 170 kilometers from Shanghai, and 200 kilometers from Nanjing. It borders Anji, the "Bamboo Town" of Anhui Province, to the south, Guangde County of Anhui Province to the west, and faces Jiangsu Province across the mountains to the north. Xianshan Lake is primarily composed of two natural landscapes: Xianshan Mountain and Xianhu Lake. Xianshan, the ancestral home of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the deity of vows and filial piety, holds a unique and important position in Buddhism. The folk saying goes, "Xianshan came first, and then Jiuhua Mountain," earning it the nickname "Little Jiuhua Mountain." Xianhu Lake is the largest wetland in northern Zhejiang. It is home to flocks of cranes and herons, and various rare water birds, either wandering on the lake or standing in the water. Precious swans have also made their home here. The poplar forest in the water is a rare spectacle, known as the "Amazon of the East". When boating in it, the paradise-like scenery makes people forget the complexity of the world.
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The Xianshan Lake Scenic Area consists of Xianshan Mountain and Xianhu Lake. Xianshan Mountain, with its conical shape at an elevation of 162 meters, is nicknamed "Little Fuji." Xianhu Lake, situated at its foot, is formed by the confluence of Si'an Pond and covers an area of approximately 10 square kilometers. A long causeway divides the lake into north and south, reminiscent of the Su Causeway at West Lake.
Climb up Xianshan Mountain, traversing 99 steps and a stone path through the forest, you'll reach Xiansheng Zen Temple. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the temple boasts a history of over 1,300 years and is a pre-existing sanctuary for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, even older than Mount Jiuhua. On the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month and during festivals, Xiansheng Zen Temple is a constant stream of visitors seeking blessings.
The temple is quiet and peaceful, with lush green pine trees of various shapes. Standing in the prayer pavilion in the northeast corner, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Xianhu Lake.
If you want to take a boat into the heart of the scenic area, you must first walk through the Good Luck Gate and step onto the first high-altitude cable bridge in East China.
The cable bridge is approximately 150 meters long and 30 meters above the ground. Walking on it can be quite wobbly and thrilling. When you reach the middle of the bridge, the sway is the most pronounced. Don't panic; hold onto the ropes on either side and walk quickly without looking down to reach the other side.
After crossing the cable bridge and going up to the cruise ship dock, you can take the same pleasure boat as the one in Xixi, West Lake, and see the reeds of late autumn.
Enjoy a boat trip on the water and explore the wetland reserve. Egrets, swans, and teals may occasionally appear, making this a perfect spot for birdwatching if you're a photography enthusiast.
Tips:
1. There are professional tour guides on board to explain the scenery, so you can enjoy the sights and get knowledge about the attractions;
2. Photography enthusiasts are advised to sit by the window, where the view is unobstructed and the best photos can be taken.
After getting off the boat, you will see the Lotus Expo Park. It is said that there are more than 200 varieties of lotus here. Although there are only a few remaining lotus leaves in late autumn, you can still vaguely see the splendor of summer.
On both sides of the scenic area road, roses, reeds and willows sway in the wind, and the pagoda of Xiansheng Zen Temple is vaguely visible in the distance.
If you are lucky, you can also see black swans foraging. As spectators, we can take pictures as much as we want, but for safety reasons, it is recommended not to feed them casually.
You wouldn’t have thought that there is an animal paradise hidden in this picturesque place.
There are more than 200 peacocks, several alpacas and goats in the scenic area, which is very suitable for bringing children to play on weekends and get close to nature.
The king of birds - the peacock, owns a manor belonging to its own clan here, which is shaded by green trees, has open lawns, and has multi-story mansions built in. Its noble status is unquestionable.
I don’t know if it was because he was frightened or because he met the beautiful female peacock, but the male peacock with full feathers showed us his beautiful spread of feathers, which was very shocking.
After visiting the Hebo Park Wetland, we boarded the pleasure boat again and arrived at another island in the middle of the lake, which is a paradise for cycling and camping.
Ride on the plank road, through the Metasequoia forest and reeds, and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
In addition to cycling, the scenic area also supports outdoor experiences such as kayaking and paddleboarding. Friends who are interested can try it boldly!
Xianshan Lake Yijia Campground is a utopia for urban youth. After a tiring workday, why not drive here on the weekend and enjoy a luxurious camping experience?
The campsite is currently well-equipped and offers parking, public toilets, showers (please bring your own toiletries), hot water, a restaurant, a campfire, etc. You can also book breakfast and barbecue dinner for a fee.
Want to know more about the camping experience? Click on the video below 👇
summer
From June to September, more than 200 varieties of lotus flowers bloom, wild ducks, swans and other birds live here, and the willow trees on the shore dance in the wind, creating a lively atmosphere.
autumn
reed marsh
There are many varieties of reeds in the Xianshan Lake wetland. Different reeds bloom at different times, roughly from August to December. The color gradually changes from light to dark as the temperature drops.
Metasequoia forest
Although it is not as stunning as the Metasequoia forest at Zhimaling in Nanjing, in late autumn, the tall and straight Metasequoia trees turn orange-red and are reflected in the clear water, which is very pleasing to the eye.
Xianshan Lake is quieter than West Lake and purer than Xixi. Such a sparsely populated and beautiful wetland park is worth your visit!
