Thousand Island blessing

It was my second trip back to Qiandao Lake, or Thousand Island Lake, in Chun'an County, about 140 km southwest of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. Everything was still the same - the lake water remained emerald green and the islands were as splendid as before.

With a surface area of 573 sq km (almost the size of Lake Geneva in Switzerland), the 1,078 islands on the lake are a sight to behold. From flourishing woods and rich natural resources to clean air, Thousand Island Lake has it all.

During my last trip several months ago, I rented a bicycle from a youth hostel and cycled around parts of the lake's shore. The cycling experience was great as the area was almost traffic-free and offered interesting tourist attractions overlooking the serene lake.

The scenic area around the lake is a perfect place for sightseeing, mountain hiking and jungle trekking.

What I loved most about the cycling adventure was that it gave me the opportunity to witness the different faces of the lake from various locations around it.

Besides, the trip was a good respite from the hustle-bustle of the city, bringing me closer to nature.

Unlike the last trip, this time I spent more time taking a boat cruise and soaking up the beauty of the enormous lake.

After lunch, at the five-star New Century Resort Thousand Island Lake, I joined the rest of my tour companions for the cruise.

The stylish cruiser departed from a yacht club's harbor and headed to Meifeng Island, which is said to offer the most panoramic view of the lake.

As our boat cruised pass islands of various sizes, the tour guide repeatedly reminded us that what we saw was man-made.

But, the splendor of the lake was real. We couldn't believe what we saw - a flawless shoreline, lush greenery and clear water.

The area was dotted with islands and sightseeing attractions, linked by suspension bridges and harbors. Five Dragon Island, Fairy Dragon Island and many more tourist attractions are home to various wildlife species.

On arrival at Meifeng Island (known as Plum Blossom Peak), we took the cable car up to the top of the mountain.

Living up to its reputation as a must-visit tourist attraction, we could view a sweeping vista of more than 300 islands.

It felt like we were on top of the world, looking down from heaven at an exquisite work of art. The saying "one never knows the real beauty of Thousand Island Lake until one ascends Plum Blossom Peak" is justified.

The lake is divided into five zones: central, southeast, northwest, southwest and northeast, among which the central and southeast areas are well developed and boast more than 13 tourist spots.

Here, there is plenty to do. Visitors can rent an idyllic villa facing the lake or take a trip on a yacht. The typical one-day tour includes a boat ride and several tourist attractions, or simply camping overnight at youth hostels, while looking forward to biking and trekking activities the next morning.

Perhaps, the only activity that visitors cannot find here is sunbathing on beaches. However, they can swim in designated swimming areas on some of the islands, join a tour to witness fishermen make their catch (the largest haul in its history is 305,000 kg and the largest fish is 73 kg), and take a dive into the unexplored underwater world to discover the sunken cities of Shi (Lion) and He, dating more than 1,800 years.

Tourists who are planning to visit West Lake should not miss Thousand Island Lake, which is about 100 times the size of the former. It certainly lives up to its reputation as the Oriental Lake of Geneva.Asia News Network

(China Daily 11/15/2007 page18)