What to Do at Fuxian Lake | Is Fuxian Lake Worth Visiting?

Luchong Village sits on the west bank of Fuxian Lake, 20 kilometers from Chengjiang County Seat. Covering an area of 9.5 square kilometers, it boasts authentic fishing village vibes and is home to the rare endemic kanglang fish. Nestled between mountains and the lake, the village is shaded by ancient trees and has nurtured many talented figures. It was historically famed for the saying "Two scholars from one family, two imperial academicians within a hundred steps".

The scenic area features the picturesque Fuxian Lake, Brush Rack Mountain shaped like a writing rest, Jade Bamboo Shoot Mountain resembling a golden bell, towering ancient banyan trees, and the unique traditional water-wheel fishing technique. Its tourism resources fall into categories of waterscapes, biological sights, historical architectures and climatic landscapes. Well-equipped with various facilities and recreational activities, it is an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure and vacations.

Minibuses depart for Chengjiang County from Kunming South Bus Station every 30 minutes at a fare of 17 yuan. Daily shuttle buses run between Chengjiang County Seat and Luchong Village for 3 yuan per trip.

Ticket: 10 yuan for entry to Luchong Village within Fuxian Lake Scenic Area. Notice: The swimming area opens from 08:00 to 19:00.

Located at Haimen in Jiangchuan County, this spot marks the water outlet of Xingyun Lake. A 2-kilometer water channel named Ge River connects Xingyun Lake and Fuxian Lake. A jagged stone wall juts out of the river surface here. Legend has it that bighead carp from Xingyun Lake and kanglang fish from Fuxian Lake will turn back separately once they reach this rock, hence its name Fish-Dividing Rock.

Take a coach bound for Jiangchuan from Kunming East Bus Station (fare: 17.5 yuan). The trip is about 92 kilometers and takes 2.5 hours. Get off at Jiangcheng Town, then transfer to a bus heading for Mingxing and Chengjiang (19 kilometers, fare: 2 yuan) and alight at Fish-Dividing Rock.

Mingxing Scenic Area lies on the west bank of Fuxian Lake, on the border of Jiangchuan County and Chengjiang County, 12 kilometers away from Luchong Village.

Biyun Mountain stands a hundred meters west of the Chengjiang-Jiangchuan Highway, with Biyun Temple on its peak, which mainly features ancient-style Taoist buildings. A traditional temple fair is held here on the 3rd day of the third lunar month every year.

1.5 kilometers north of the mountain is Mingxing Fish Cave. The fishing season for kanglang fish lasts from March to September annually, where visitors can taste the local specialty — fresh fish cooked in copper pots.

Take a coach to Jiangchuan from Kunming East Bus Station (fare: 17.5 yuan, 2.5 hours' ride) and get off at Jiangcheng Town. Then transfer to a bus for Chengjiang and alight at Mingxing (fare: 3 yuan).

As the only island on Fuxian Lake, Gushan Island is situated in the southern part of the lake under the jurisdiction of Jiangchuan County, covering around 60,000 square meters. It faces Haimen Park to the south and Lotus Peak of Biyun Temple to the north. A local temple fair is held on the island on the 6th day of the sixth lunar month every year.

Visitors once took speedboats from Jiangchuan Wharf to reach the island. However, all motorized vessels have been banned since August 2004 to protect the lake water quality, making the trip less convenient. Nowadays, water bicycles are popular on the lake, priced at 20 yuan per hour. They are affordable and eco-friendly, yet not suitable for long-distance rides.

Ticket: 15 yuan

In 1992, Geng Wei, a professional diver who grew up beside Fuxian Lake in Chengjiang, Yunnan, discovered numerous relics of ancient man-made structures underwater. He has conducted more than 60 underwater explorations of the ruins ever since.

In June 2001, China's first underwater archaeological survey in a lake was launched at Fuxian Lake.

The second large-scale underwater exploration of Fuxian Lake kicked off on June 17, 2006.