Green islands
On the water.
EditQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EditQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · song songroov — CC BY 3.0 · Original uploader was Colipon at en.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · EditQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0 · 江上清风1961 — CC BY 3.0
A vast man-made lake in Chun'an County, west of Hangzhou, formed in 1959 when a hydroelectric station was built on the Xin'an River; its name means «Thousand Island Lake», as 1,078 large islands and thousands of islets are scattered across it. The lake covers about 573 square kilometres and forests cover more than 90% of the surrounding area, so the green islands look like beads scattered over clear water; some have playful names such as Bird Island and Monkey Island. Visitors hop between islands by boat, climb to viewing platforms over the scene and cycle the lakeshore roads, and the lake is known for its fish, cooked in the area's restaurants. The central lake area ticket is about CNY 185 including the boat trip, per visitor guides. The high-speed train from Hangzhou to Qiandaohu station takes about an hour, then a bus to the pier, so allow a full day or an overnight stay.
On the water.
Between islands.
Wide views.
Chun'an County, about 150 km southwest of Hangzhou
By high-speed train to Qiandaohu station in about an hour, then a bus to the pier; the ticket is about CNY 185 with the boat, per visitor guides.