Shimen Lake

1. Saddle Stockade (Thirsty Horse Drinking Spring)

   A cliff rising by the lake takes the shape of a saddle, with one end jutting into the water like a horse drinking. A precipitous mountain path cuts across the cliff face up to the flat summit covered with thick shrubs. Several houses once stood here as wartime shelters.

   On the lakeside cliff, Asia’s first cliff diving base has been built, equipped with 28-meter and 20-meter diving platforms. Two international cliff diving championships have been held here.
2. Mountain Azalea Pavilion

   Built on a hillock surrounded by water on three sides, this six-pillar covered pavilion marks the starting point of lake cruises. Benches and railings allow tourists to admire the lake and mountain scenery. In spring, visitors come here to enjoy blooming azaleas all over the mountains.
3. Lord Laozi Rock

   Located on the southwest side of the lake, a winding trail from the dam leads up to a natural giant cave also called Yuzheng Taoist Temple.

   In 1201, Chen Daoxie, the first patriarch of Taoism in Liancheng, built the temple inside the cave, set up the statue of Lord Laozi and spread Zhengyi Taoism, turning this spot into the first Taoist sacred land in Liancheng.

   The gate bears a couplet attributed to Laozi, composed of 14 rare archaic characters that look like heavenly script, puzzling numerous tourists.
4. Ripples on Green Isle

   This isolated island is surrounded by water on all sides. Rugged cliffs are covered with luxuriant trees. Standing on the islet and watching gentle waves lap the shore gives the place its name.

   The landing pier is on the northeast side. Halfway up the hill stands a crescent-shaped cave covering more than ten square meters, a perfect summer retreat. A two-story columned pavilion named Eight Sights Pavilion stands atop the hill.
5. Mad Monk Wearing a Hat

   Past Green Isle rises a peculiar peak. Its grassy summit and bare cliff below resemble a monk’s bald head wearing a straw hat, frolicking by the water. Locals also call it Wine Jar Peak, recalling the Hakka tradition of home-brewed rice wine and straw jar lids.
6. Lotus Peak

   A peak rises from the center of the lake like a lotus seed pod, with surrounding ridges unfolding layer by layer just like lotus petals mirrored in the lake water, forming a vivid lotus blossom emerging from the waves.
7. Monkey Beating the Bell

   After cruising 1.5 kilometers along the winding waterway, a huge cliff on the south bank looks exactly like a bronze bell, with a monkey-shaped boulder below as if knocking on it with its head.
8. Gate of Life

   Sail eastward past Green Isle. A narrow rock crack opens onto the water, with a dark hollow cave big enough for two or three people. Grass conceals the cave mouth. Sunlight shimmers on the water yet reflects a dark glow inside. This is known as the Gate of Life.

   It forms a perfect counterpart to the Root of Life on Guanzhai Mountain, blending masculine vigor and feminine tenderness between mountains and waters.
9. Elephant Playing in Water

   Near the entrance to Calabash Bay lies a massive boulder slanting in the lake, resembling a hippopotamus ready to lift its head above the surface. The lake widens and narrows repeatedly just like a gourd, where flocks of wild ducks gather and take flight at the approach of boats.

   Further along the bay, another cliff looks like a lumbering elephant dipping its long trunk into the lake and splashing water playfully as the boat stirs up ripples.