Shengzhong Lake, a paradise for anglers

Here is a carefully crafted, niche yet high-quality travel guide to Shengzhong Lake—take you into the "Number One Lake in Northern Sichuan" to experience the angler's paradise, lake cycling, fishing village charm, and the serene beauty of mountains and waters. There are no noisy crowds here, only vast blue waves and flying egrets. It is a little-known treasure hidden within a 2-hour radius around Chengdu.

📍 Destination: Shengzhong Lake Scenic Area, Nanbu County, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province
Recommended itinerary: 1-day tour or 2 days 1 night slow travel (highly recommended)
Per capita budget: 300–600 RMB (extremely cost-effective, suitable for families/couples/fishing enthusiasts)
🎯 Suitable for: fishing fanatics, family with children, photography lovers, travelers who enjoy quiet nature
🌤 Best seasons:
- 🌸 Spring (March–May): clear water and fat fish, prime fishing season
- 🍃 Summer (June–August): cool summer retreat, camping and stargazing available
- 🍁 Autumn (September–November): beautiful lake and mountain scenery, pleasant climate
- ❄️ Winter (December–February): tranquil and ethereal, ideal for sketching and meditation

🗺️ Recommended itineraries (two options)
Option 1: One-day highlights tour (suitable for same-day round trip from Chengdu/Nanchong)
Time | Itinerary
08:00 | Self-drive departure from Chengdu/Nanchong (about 2.5 hours)
10:30 | Arrive at Shengzhong Lake Visitor Center, drive or cycle around the lake
12:00 | Lunch: enjoy "Shengzhong Lake organic fish" at a fishing village restaurant
13:30 | Visit the Fishing Culture Museum or try wild fishing
15:00 | Climb the Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha (optional) or check in at the popular scenic viewing platform
17:00 | Lakeside photography + sunset
18:30 | Return trip

Option 2: Two days one night in-depth slow travel (strongly recommended!)
Day | Itinerary | Accommodation
D1 | Drive → Shengzhong Lake → Lake cycling → Fishing village dinner → Lakeside stargazing | Lakeside guesthouse
D2 | Early morning lake view → Fishing experience → Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha →

💡 Shengzhong Lake is known as the "Fishing City of China" and hosts an international fishing competition annually, creating a strong fishing atmosphere!

💰 Detailed budget (per person, cheaper with 4 people traveling together)
Item | Cost (RMB) | Notes
🚗 Self-drive fuel + toll fees (shared) | 100 | About 500 km round trip from Chengdu, fuel and toll fees shared
🎫 Scenic area entrance fee | 0 | Shengzhong Lake is free to enter! Only some spots charge fees
🎣 Fishing experience (rod rental + site) | 50 | Rod rental at fishing gear shop 50 RMB/day, cheaper if bringing your own
🍱 Meals (2 lunches, 1 breakfast) | 150 | Organic fish hotpot/steamed fish at fishing village, 60–80 RMB per person
🏨 Accommodation (1 night) | 200 | Lakeside guesthouse/farmhouse (e.g., "Lake Light Mountain Lodge," "Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk"), breakfast included
🚌 Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha ticket (optional) | 20 | Small mountain attraction, wide views
🚴 Lake cycling rental | 30 | Mountain bike/tandem bike, well-maintained cycling paths
🛍 Pocket money & souvenirs | 50 | Buy dried fish, wild fish fry (can be shipped back)
Total | ~600 RMB | ✅ Can be optimized to under 350 RMB (one-day tour + bring your own gear)

>✅ Money-saving tips:
> - Shengzhong Lake charges no entrance fee, free access, extremely cost-effective
> - Bring your own fishing gear, tent, and food for camping (contact fishing village in advance)
> - Carpool with 4 people, fuel cost shared to only 25 RMB per person
> - Bargain at fishing village restaurants, 60 RMB per person for a hearty meal

🎯 Goal: Enjoy Shengzhong Lake for 350 RMB per person, complete a poetic two days one night within 600 RMB.

Daily detailed itinerary—
Day 1: Arrive at Shengzhong Lake | Lake cycling + fishing village dinner
Morning: Departure → Arrival
- Recommended self-drive (navigate to "Shengzhong Lake Visitor Center" or "Nanshui Town, Nanbu County")
- From Chengdu: Chengdu-Bazhong Expressway → Nanba Expressway → Shengzhong Lake exit, about 2.5 hours
- From Nanchong: about 1.5 hours

🏞 Afternoon: Lake tour (recommended route)
- Lake greenway, about 30 km long, flat and safe, suitable for cycling
- Recommended check-in spots:
1. Fishing Platform Viewing Deck: watch the spectacular scene of hundreds fishing
2. Phoenix Island: lake center peninsula, egret habitat
3. Dam Scenic Area: Shengzhong Reservoir dam, magnificent
4. Leifengya Viewing Platform: panoramic view, excellent sunset spot

Dinner: Must-try dishes at fishing village
- Recommended dishes:
- Steamed Qiaoke fish: organic lake fish, tender meat (80 RMB per jin)
- Sauerkraut fish hotpot: local sauerkraut + fresh fish, appetizing
- Smoked cured meat: homemade farmhouse flavor
- Wild vegetable scrambled eggs: freshly picked lakeside, fresh and natural
- Recommended restaurants: "Lakeside Home," "Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk Farmhouse," about 60 RMB per person for a full meal

🌌 Evening: Lakeside stargazing or fireside chat
- No light pollution at night, see the Milky Way overhead
- Enjoy tea, chat, and listen to frogs in the guesthouse courtyard
- If with children, do a "starry sky recognition" parent-child activity

🏡 Accommodation recommendations
- "Lake Light Mountain Lodge": lakeside building with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake, 200 RMB/night
- "Fishing Village Inn": experience original ecological life, 150 RMB/night, including three meals

Day 2: Early morning lake view + fishing experience + Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha
Early morning: Sunrise & lake mist
- 5:30–6:30 is the most beautiful time at Shengzhong Lake
- Thin mist over the lake, fishing boats scattered, like an ink painting
- Recommended photo spots: Leifengya, Phoenix Island pier

🎣 Morning: Fishing experience (core activity!)
- Rod and bait rental (50 RMB/day), or local anglers can guide
- Main fish species: Qiaoke, crucian carp, grass carp, silver carp
- If you catch a big fish, the fishing village can process it (processing fee about 20 RMB)

🏯 Optional: Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha (30 minutes by car from the lake)
- About 18 meters tall Tang Dynasty stone Buddha carved into the mountain
- About 30 minutes hiking, wide views, overlook the whole Shengzhong Lake
- Ticket 20 RMB, quiet and few people, good for calming the mind

Afternoon: Return trip
- Recommended departure before 14:00 to avoid evening rush hour

🎒 Essential gear checklist
Category | Recommended items
ID | ID card, driver’s license (must for self-driving)
Clothing | Sun protection clothing, sun hat, lightweight sports shoes, raincoat (mountain area often has showers)
Fishing gear | Fishing rod, line, float, bait (can buy on site)
Food & drink | Thermos, snacks, self-heating pot (for camping)
Electronics | Phone, power bank, camera, drone (must register)
Others | Mosquito repellent, sunscreen, small backpack, folding chair (for lakeside rest)

⚠️ Important reminders
1. Free scenic area: Shengzhong Lake main area has no entrance fee, free access
2. Respect ecology: no electric fishing or poisoning, protect water source
3. Safety first: lakeside is slippery, children need supervision; watch weather for wild fishing
4. Signal is limited: some areas have no 4G, recommend downloading offline maps
5. Eco-friendly travel: please take your trash back, Shengzhong Lake is an important drinking water source for Nanchong

📸 Blogger’s secret photo spots (popular on social media)
✅ Leifengya sunset silhouette (lake and mountain scenery)
✅ Phoenix Island pier morning mist (like a fairyland)
✅ Hundreds fishing long lens shot (wide-angle photography)
✅ Fishing village fish hotpot boiling moment (food photography)
✅ Yuji Mountain Giant Buddha panorama (low-angle majestic shot)
✅ Drone aerial shot of lake bay curves (must register)

💡 Upgrade options (budget +100–300 RMB)
- 🏕 Lakeside camping: rent a tent from fishing village (100 RMB per tent), romantic stargazing camping
- 🎒 Parent-child study: teach kids about fish species and fishing skills
- 🎣 Participate in fishing competitions: follow "Shengzhong Lake International Fishing Festival" (every autumn)
- 🖼️ Sketching and photography: ideal place for artists and photographers

📝 Conclusion
Shengzhong Lake is not a trendy check-in spot but a quiet lake in Northern Sichuan forgotten by time. It has no noisy boats or towering cable cars, but the most authentic fishing boats singing at dusk, egrets fluttering, and a brilliant starry sky. Here, you can hold a fishing rod and watch the clouds rise; cycle around the lake chasing the wind and waves; or gather with family around a fire to find the true essence of life.
> "You don’t need to conquer anything,
> just quietly sit by the lake,
> and you already own the whole world."