Beyond West Lake: 3 Stunning Lakes You Must Visit in Hangzhou
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is renowned for its economic prosperity and breathtaking scenery. While West Lake is its most famous landmark (standing out among over 30 "West Lakes" across China), the city is also home to three other lakes—each with unique charm and beauty that rivals West Lake itself.
Qiandao Lake （千岛湖）
Qiandao Lake is primarily located in Chun’an County (with a small part in northwestern Jiande City), about 130 km from downtown Hangzhou and 140 km from Huangshan (Anhui Province). True to its name ("Thousand Islands Lake"), it is dotted with 1,078 islands. As a national first-level water source, it is praised as "the clearest water in the world."
Notably, Qiandao Lake is an artificial lake—originally named Xin’anjiang Reservoir. Construction began in 1955 and was completed in 1960 to store water from the upper Xin’an River for the Xin’anjiang Hydropower Station. Two ancient towns (Chuncheng Town in Chun’an County and Shicheng Town in Sui’an County) were submerged underwater to build the reservoir. In 1984, it was renamed Qiandao Lake, and in 2001, it was rated a National 5A Scenic Area—achieving a stunning transformation from a functional reservoir to a nationally renowned tourist destination.
Xianghu Lake （湘湖）
Located in Xiaoshan District, Xianghu Lake is known for its enchanting natural scenery and is often called the "sister lake of West Lake". It holds great historical significance: archaeologists have unearthed the world’s oldest canoe here, and the ruins of the Yue King’s City on Chenshan Mountain (the best-preserved ancient city wall site in the region) witness the famous historical story of "Goujian, King of Yue, sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall to avenge his defeat"—confirming Xianghu as the birthplace of Yue Culture (a core part of Zhejiang Culture).
Xianghu Lake has also inspired countless poets: He Zhizhang (a renowned Tang Dynasty poet) was born here, and celebrated figures like Li Bai, Lu You, and Wen Tianxiang all left timeless poems praising its beauty.
Qingshan Lake （青山湖）
Qingshan Lake is a large artificial lake located 5 km east of Lin’an District, about 40 km from downtown Hangzhou. Like Qiandao Lake, it was originally built in 1954 as a multi-functional reservoir for power generation, irrigation, and later tourism. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it boasts an exceptionally beautiful and ecologically rich environment.
The lake is home to over 240 species of wild animals, including white-necked long-tailed pheasants, white storks, black storks, and wild ducks. One of its most unique features is a 1 million sq m water forest in the northern part of the lake—an uncommon landscape in China, resembling a piece of jade inlaid in the blue water.
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