Nansha Lake

Nansha Lake is a seasonal freshwater lake with multiple functions including flood storage and regulation, water transportation, aquaculture, irrigation and tourism. It occupies a pivotal position among Shaanxi’s land and water resources.

The upper reaches of the Ganhe River feature underground rivers, karst caves, solution trenches, stone teeth and other unique landforms. The middle and lower reaches consist mainly of granite, metamorphic granite, sand and gravel, with only a small amount of metamorphic rock, magmatic rock and red glutenite. This geological structure has shaped the continuous rolling hills and picturesque river-and-lake landscape seen today.

Boasting a distinctive natural feature — “a lake when the water level is high, and a river when the water recedes” — the lake forms a unique wetland ecosystem in the subtropical humid monsoon zone. During flood seasons every year, river water pours into the lake and submerges the floodplain, creating an expansive water surface. The lake wetland has long served as a major wintering ground for rare birds such as cranes, storks and swans, as well as a summer habitat for migratory birds including herons and swallows. Large flocks of migratory birds of diverse species have become a highlight of eco-tourism in Shaanxi Province.

Nansha Lake Reservoir was built amid the nationwide water conservancy campaign launched in 1958. Workers constructed a mountain dam at Wulangguan, the valley outlet, and completed the project after three years of hard work. The reservoir stretches 7.5 kilometres from north to south and 2.5 kilometres from east to west, with a backwater length of 5.1 kilometres. Its maximum water depth reaches 40 metres, and the widest part of the river basin measures 600 metres. The dam crest stands at an elevation of 560.8 metres, with a total storage capacity of 43.3 million cubic metres. It can irrigate 43,000 mu of farmland and generate 5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The scenic area enjoys a mild climate: cold-free winters and cool summers with abundant rainfall and humid weather all year round. Rainfall and high temperature occur in the same season, alternating between wet and dry periods. The annual average temperature is 14.2°C. The average temperature in July, the hottest month, is 25.3°C, while the average temperature in January, the coldest month, is 2.1°C. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,000 to 1,400 millimetres, mostly concentrated in late summer and early autumn. The frost-free period lasts more than 240 days a year. Influenced by terrain and climate, the forests show no obvious vertical zoning, mostly consisting of mixed deciduous forests and evergreen coniferous forests.

Transportation to Nansha Lake Scenic Area is very convenient. Special bus routes run directly to the county seat. Multiple passenger lines from Hanzhong to Chenggu, Erli and Tianming pass the scenic entrance. The Shangyuanguan Exit of the Xihan Expressway is only 3 kilometres away, and the under-construction Shitian Expressway will run right beside the gate of the scenic area.