Chenghai Lake

Follow the Lijiang-Yongsheng Highway from Cuihu to Qiaotou River, then drive 15 kilometres along the gravel road to reach Chenghai Lake. Situated in central Yongsheng County, the centre of the lake is 18.5 kilometres away from the county seat. As one of the nine major plateau lakes in Yunnan Province, it covers a total area of 77.2 square kilometres with a water storage capacity of 1.78 billion cubic metres. The average water depth is 25.7 metres, and the maximum depth reaches 35 metres. The water temperature ranges from 17.6℃ to 27.5℃.

The water of Chenghai Lake is as green as grass and as clear as a mirror. When the wind rises, rough waves surge like countless dancing flood dragons. Foam splashes everywhere amid roaring waves, just as if a grand orchestra is performing a magnificent symphony. Waves beat the shore, scouring sand and stones pure white and polishing the conglomerate rocks smooth, forming a white ribbon winding around the lakeshore. On sunny windless days, the lake lies amid green mountains and trees like a sapphire mirror framed with silver rims. In the crisp autumn weather, wild geese fly south. Flocks of herons, yellow and white wild ducks, seagulls and white cranes gather here. Some frolic in the water while others search for food along the bank. If children strike the side of a boat, flocks of water birds will take off in alarm. The chirping of birds and the splash of water break the peace of the lake. Swallows dart back and forth, somersaulting and skimming across the water, leaving ripples one after another on the still surface.

The early morning at Chenghai Lake is picturesque. Curling cooking smoke rises above farmhouses. Wooden fishing boats float on the water, with green hills, blue sky and white clouds all reflected in the lake. It seems as if birds are flying beneath the water and fish are swimming amid the clouds. Mountains stretch endlessly and the lake merges with the horizon. Cloud reflections in the water take on thousands of wonderful shapes, a feast for the eyes.

The lake at night holds boundless charm. Bright electric lights shine in villages, while fishing lanterns flicker on the water. Sit cross-legged on a sandy beach. In the distance, fishermen whisper to each other, exchange signals or hum folk tunes. Nearby, you can hear the ebb and flow of waves with alternating loud and soft sounds. If you are a poet, you will surely compose elegant verses; if you are a musician, you cannot help singing melodious songs.

Chenghai Lake serves as a natural swimming beach with pleasant water temperature suitable for visitors of all ages. More than ten kilometres of flat gravel shoreline stretches along the lake, spotlessly clean. You can swim in the lake for several rounds, then come ashore to enjoy distant views on rocks or rest quietly on the sand and enjoy unique leisure pleasure.

The lake boasts a wide variety of high-quality fish with delicious flesh. There are more than 20 indigenous fish species including common carp, white bleak, barbel, hook snout fish, small flower fish and crucian carp, with an annual output exceeding 100,000 kilograms.

Chenghai Lake is one of only three lakes worldwide where spirulina grows naturally. The lake water is alkaline with a mineralization rate of 9.1%. Benefiting from mild water temperature, dry climate, abundant sunshine and vast water surface, the spirulina cultivated here contains over 50% protein, eight essential amino acids for human beings, vitamin B12 and carotene. Spirulina farming here features low cost, high yield per unit area and superior quality. At present, five spirulina cultivation bases have been built on the southeast lakeshore, with an annual output capacity of over 1,000 tons of algae powder. Processed products such as Spirulina capsules, drinks, noodles, tablets and cosmetics under the Siprui brand sell well both at home and abroad and have won high praise from consumers.

Chenghai Lake also contains abundant natural gas reserves, with more than 20 natural gas seepage points, among which three are major ones: Tuanshanzui, 400 metres south of the big banyan tree in Heiwu, and Liujiawan at Haiyao.

Chenghai Lake is not only a treasure trove of natural resources for Yongsheng County but also a famous scenic spot, an ideal destination for holidays and water recreation.