Poyang Lake

( travelchinaguide.com, chinaculture.org )

Updated: 2011-08-29

Attractions in Poyang Lake

Dagu Hill

Dagu Hill

Dagu Hill is an island in Poyang Lake, which when seen from a distance, looks like a large shoe floating in the blue water. It is also known as Shoe Hill.

There is a sad but beautiful legend about the hill. A long, long time ago, a young fisherman named Hu Qing lived on the hill. One day he got a box when fishing on the lake, and when he opened the box, he found a pearl. On his way home, Hu saw a girl, dressed in green, wailing. He asked her why she was crying, and the girl told him that she had lost her precious pearl. Without hesitation, Hu returned the pearl he had found to the girl. The girl expressed her sincere thanks to him and then left. Another day a storm came up while Hu was fishing on the lake. Unable to see the shore, he was in grave danger. As he fought the storm, a maiden dressed in green and holding a glowing pearl appeared before him. Turning his boat toward the pearl, Hu was able to navigate his way safely to shore. The girl explained that she was a fairy named Da Gu, who had been exiled from the abode of the fairy mother. She had been sent to the earth to live alone in Poyang Lake because she had violated the holy rules in heaven. Hu and the fairy Da Gu fell in love, got married, and lived a happy life together. Meanwhile, Sheng Tai, the fishing overlord of Poyang Lake coveted the beauty of Da Gu and wanted to make her his own. The Jade Emperor learned that Hu Qing and Da Gu had become husband and wife, he sent his holy invincible army to capture Da Gu. At the same time Sheng Tai was attempting to kill Hu. As she was being carried off into the heavens, Da Gu saw her husband being tortured by Sheng . Attempting to save him, she dropped one of her shoes, which turned into a huge piece of rock that fell to earth and crushed Sheng's men. The cliff that formed when the rock fell is the present Dagu Hill.

Actually Dagu Hill is only one peak with precipices on its three sides. Covered with tall, straight trees, the island rises steeply from the lake, surrounded by water on all sides. Visitors who hike to the top of the hill are rewarded with a magnificent view of the vast Poyang Lake below. Along the way, you will see Heaven Flower Palace, with its majestic halls and splendid statues. In ancient times, the hill was a gathering place for scholars and businessmen. The buildings in which they met have been destroyed by wars and natural disasters, but you can still feel a strong sense of history on Dagu Hill.

Water fowl inhabit in Dagu Hill. One kind of the birds is called 'food-begging birds which have strong wings and sharp eyes. Tourists in boats enjoy throwing food to them, because no matter whether the food is tossed high in the air or dropped close to the surface of the lake, the food-begging birds catch it with precision.

Nanshan Hill

Another well known hill in Poyang Lake is Nanshan Hill, near Duchang county, which rises from the water like a dignified man standing in the waves. According to the legend, during the Western Han Dynasty, a wise man lived on Nanshan Hill. Emperor Wudi met the man during a tour of inspection in the southern region of his territory and offered him an official government position. However the wise man turned down the offer, saying that he was just a farmer and was not interested in fame or rank. Named for the humble wise man, 'farmer rock' is the main attraction of Nanshan Hill. There visitors enjoy the sight of clear, sweet spring water flowing from the rock all year round. Those who climb to the top of the hill enjoy a panoramic view of the lake and distant hills.

Lake-View Pavilion

Lake-View Pavilion, a large wooden structure, is located on the shore of Poyang Lake north of Wucheng Town. From the pavilion, you can see the majestic confluence of the Xiu and Gan rivers.

Lake-View Pavilion plays a role in a popular story about the area. During the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) General Chen Youliang battled with Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)) at Poyang Lake. Chen's wife often watched the battles from Lake-View Pavilion, noting that neither side seemed to dominate the conflict. One day, she suggested a stratagem to her husband, hoping that it would bring him victory. At first, General Chen rejected the idea, but he later realized that he did not have any better ideas. In addition, some of his subjects strongly recommended his wife's plan. He implemented her plan and won the battle. On his way home from the battlefield, General Chen saw his beloved wife waiting for him in the pavilion. Planning to play a trick on her, he laid down his commander-in-chief banner. Seeing the banner on the ground, his wife thought that her husband had lost the battle and been killed because he failed to take her advice. She was so distressed that she jumped into the lake and died.

Picturesque Poyang Lake

Lake-View Pavilion was originally constructed in the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 317-420) and the early part of the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280). The present exquisite pavilion was rebuilt by the local government in 1988. It has four floors and stands on a platform made of granite. The view from Lake-View Pavilion takes in the rivers, the lake, the fishing boats, and the birds that contribute to the beauty of Poyang Lake.

Poyang Lake Bird Protection Area

The Poyang Lake Bird Protection Area is a sanctuary for many rare species of birds. Measuring 224 square kilometers in area, it offers a mild climate and a habitat rich in aquatic plants and fish with no industrial pollution. In winter, Poyang Lake is home to the world's largest population of birds.

Every November, thousands of birds fly in from Siberia, Mongolia, Japan, North Korea, and the northeastern and northwestern regions of China. These migratory birds spend the long winter in Poyang Lake together with the native widgeons, egrets, and mandarin ducks, leaving gradually as the weather starts to warm in March. Poyang Lake is considered by many to be the largest bird sanctuary in the world. Every winter it plays host to 95% of the world's white cranes, a fact that gives it two of its popular names: 'World of White Cranes' and “Kingdom of Rare Birds”.

The white crane, which is one of the world's endangered species, is a large wading bird about 135 cm tall. All of its feathers are pure white except for a few black ones on the tips of the wings, which give it its alternate name of 'black sleeve crane'. Its sword-like beak is brownish yellow, and it stands on a pair of long, pink legs. White cranes mate for life, and because they can live 70 years or more, the Chinese call them 'immortal cranes' and consider them a symbol of propitiousness.

Migrant birds in Poyang Lake

Serious birdwatchers use telescopes to get a good look at the birds, which are very shy and will fly away if you get too close to them. Colorful birds are everywhere, skimming the surface of the water, soaring high in the sky, or circling and diving for a morsel of food. The elegant white cranes can be seen flapping their wings and playing with each other. There are so many of them that they can look like a great white wall - a truly incredible sight.

Other rare birds that can be seen here include white storks, black storks, bustards, pelicans, and many more.

Luoxingshi Rock

Luoxingshi Rock is located on the bank of Poyang Lake in Xingzi county. In fact, it is a little rock island that looks like a star floating on the surface of the water, because it rises and falls along with the water level in the lake. Although Luoxingshi Rock is a tiny place, it is well known as a gathering place for scholars, men of letters who met here during many dynasties, giving Luoxingshi Rock a strong cultural heritage. With its temples, stone towers and other structures, Luoxingshi Rock has become a must-see scenic spot in Xingzi county around Poyang Lake.

A panoramic view of downtown Poyang town