The Top 5 Beautiful Lakes in China
China is a country with a large number of lakes, some of which are highly appreciated by tourists due to their unique beauty and charm. Below are five lakes recognized as the most beautiful in China, each with its own appeal and distinctive characteristics.
1. Hangzhou West Lake
West Lake is located in the city of Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, and is known as "paradise on Earth." The beauty of West Lake lies in its poetry and picturesqueness. With wide, crystal-clear waters, full of abundant aquatic vegetation and wildlife, surrounded by gardens and old buildings, West Lake becomes a perfect landscape.
2. Yamdrok Lake (Tibetan sacred lake)
Yamdrok Lake, also called Yamdok Yumtso, is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. Its coral-like shape has earned it the nickname "coral lake" in Tibetan. According to local mythology, Lake Yamdrok Yumtso is the transformation of a goddess. With a dozen islands scattered across its surface, the largest covers about 3,000 square kilometers. During winter, the lake freezes.
Like mountains, lakes are considered sacred by the Tibetan people, being considered the abode of protective deities and therefore invested with special spiritual powers. It is said that the water of Lake Yamdrok is the most beautiful and wonderful in the world, since its panorama cannot be seen from any point of view. This attractive scenic spot is made up of plateaus, lakes, snow-capped mountains, islands, grasslands, hot springs, temples, flora and fauna. The perfect integration of culture and nature makes tourists have so much fun that they forget about the inconvenience and discomfort.
3. Erhai Lake (Yunnan's "Pearl on the Plateau")
Located in Dali, Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province, and gets its name because its shape resembles an ear (sounds like “er” in Chinese). Its surface area and volume rank the seventh in China.
Erhai Lake was formed by the collapse of geological faults and is known as the "pearl on the plateau" due to its beautiful scenery. The main tourist attractions in Erhai Lake include Three Islets (Jinsuo, Chiwen and Yuji), Four Beaches (Malian, Mandarin Duck, Qingshabi and Daguanpeng) and Nine Meanders (Lotus, Big Crane, Panji, Phoenix Wing, Dill, Ox Horn, Bozuo, Gaopin and Soaring Crane). Apart from these places, the lake has other famous attractions, such as the Reflections of the Three Pagodas, the Nine Arch Stone Bridge and the Jade Dragon Playing in the Water. Many scenic spots surround the lake, such as Erhai Park, Xizhou Sea Center Pavilion, Haishe and Double Corridor. In the surrounding area, there are a large number of historical sites in the Erhai Lake tourist area, such as the Heavenly Mirror Pavilion, the Moon and Water Pavilion, the Zhuhai Pavilion, the Kwan-yin Pavilion, and the Putuo Mound.
4. Kanas Lake (Xinjiang's "God's Palette")
Kanas Lake is a mountain lake located in China, at the southern end of the Altai massif, on the border of the Siberian taiga, in the Altay prefecture of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Its name, of Mongolian origin, means 'fertile and mysterious country'. It is sometimes called "God's palette" because of the multiplicity and beauty of its colors.
The Kanas Lake Scenic Area is composed of natural landscapes and historical traces. The magnificent mountains, clear rivers, lush jungles, mysterious lakes and vast steppes are harmoniously integrated with Dianjiangtai of Genghis Khan's army and cave paintings. This gives it a high tourist, ecological, protection, scientific and cultural and historical research value. It is best to travel to Kanas Lake from late September to early October, when the plants around the lake begin to turn yellow and red, offering an incomparable view.
Qinghai Lake (China's Largest Saltwater Lake)
Qinghai Lake, located in Qinghai Province, is the largest saltwater lake in China. Its charm lies in its vastness, deepness and purity. The vast surface area of Qinghai Lake and the special brilliance of its blue waters under the sunlight are highlights. Surrounded by mountains and with flocks of sheep scattered across the grasslands like clouds, it forms a beautiful landscape.
These lakes have their own unique charm and beauty, each with distinctive landscapes and features. Whether it is the vast Qinghai Lake, the poetic West Lake, or the mysterious Kanas Mountain Lake, they all show the charm of China's natural and cultural landscapes. These lakes are not only masterpieces of nature, but also witnesses of human culture and history. They attract countless tourists to admire and explore, becoming a beautiful tourism attraction in China.
