Free! Taizhou hides a real-life "Mist Forest"

"The Lifeblood of Taizhou People"
The largest reservoir in eastern Zhejiang is breathtakingly beautiful! The emerald lake surface reflects the green mountains, the redwood forest on the water turns into a fiery corridor in autumn and winter, and the abandoned island in the lake looks like a secret realm from "Interstellar"! Best of all, it's free to visit, perfect for cycling, camping, and fishing, so exclusive you can have it all to yourself!
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🚗 Transportation Guide | Shortcut from the city center

Self-driving
Navigate to "Changtanshui Reservoir East Entrance Viewing Platform" (best panoramic spot)
🚘 40 minutes from Taizhou city center, many curves on the lake road ⚠️ Beginners drive carefully
🅿️ Parking: East entrance free / Hubin Village parking lot 10 RMB

Public Transport
🚌 Take the Huangyan-Ningxi shuttle bus from Huangyan West Station → get off at "Hubin Village" (1 hour per trip)
✨ Secret route: Take a Didi to "Lake Heart Island Viewing Platform" for about 💰50 RMB
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🗺️ Route Planning | Half-day / Full-day deep tour

📸 Must-shoot light version (3 hours to check in at core scenic spots)
East Entrance Viewing Platform (reservoir panorama) → Hubin Village boardwalk (waterfront photo spot) → Water Forest (autumn/winter redwood forest) → Floodgate (impressive engineering marvel)
⏰ Total 3 hours | Gentle trails + few steps

🚴‍♀️ Deep lake circuit version (highly recommended!)
Rent a bike to circle the lake (30 RMB/2 hours) → Maoshe Township section (rural windmills) → Shangyang Township wetland (egret habitat) → Lake Heart Island distant view (mysterious abandoned buildings)
⏰ Total 5-6 hours | Bring enough food! Few supply points along the way
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⚠️ Pitfall warnings from experience

1️⃣ No drones allowed! Strict control in water source protection area, flying will get you kicked out immediately
2️⃣ To photograph the redwood forest, aim for late November to December! Other seasons are just ordinary green
3️⃣ No camping or barbecuing by the lake! Patrol cars check frequently (you can go to designated lawn areas)
4️⃣ Restaurants are concentrated in Hubin Village, mostly closed after 14:00!
5️⃣ Heavy mist on cloudy days reduces visibility, the lake is bluest on clear mornings!
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🐟 Food Highlights | Reservoir fish delicacies

Recommended spot: Hubin Village "Fisherman’s Street"

【Three Ways to Eat Bighead Carp】 Must order! Fish head soup / chopped chili fish tail / fried fish bones 💰45 RMB per jin
➤ Recommended: Changtan Fishing Village (window seat with lake view is popular)

【Xikeng River Snails】 Stir-fried with rich sauce! Perfect with beer 💰25 RMB
➤ Recommended: A Qing Sao Farmhouse (snails caught the same day)

【Sweet Potato Celebration Cake】 Chewy traditional flavor! Fried with brown sugar and sesame 💰10 RMB per box
➤ Most authentic sold by an old lady pushing a cart roadside!
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🛏️ Accommodation Guide | Lake view or mountain wild?

✅ For those who want lake views from the window → choose Hubin Village homestays (recommended "Wanghu Xiaozhu")
✨ Balcony fishing + boat shuttle by the owner 💰300+/night
✅ For quality seekers → Huangyan urban area (recommended Qilong Marriott Hotel)
✨ 25 minutes drive to the reservoir, enjoy late-night snail snacks freely 💰500+/night
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📌 Important Notes | Water source protection rules

⚠️ Swimming strictly prohibited! Water is over 100 meters deep with strong currents, drowning accidents happen every year
⚠️ Protect the environment! Littering fines of 500 RMB (witnessed tourists being fined)
⚠️ Fishing requires a permit! Ask homestay owners about wild fishing spots (know the no-fishing zones)
⚠️ No streetlights on the lake road! Be sure to return before dark
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💌 Closing Words

When morning mist wraps the emerald lake surface, and the abandoned lighthouse stands quietly on the lonely island,
The beauty of Changtan Reservoir carries a touch of melancholic poetry—
It is the water bowl held in the palms of Taizhou people and a hidden green gem for wilderness lovers.
Please come gently, leave quietly, leaving only footprints and taking away the endless blue.