Thousand Islets Lake

Thousand Islets Lake

Located in Chun'an County around 160 kilometers west of Hangzhou, in East China's Zhejiang Province, ( see China Map)Thousand Islets Lake is currently the largest man-made lake in China. It got its name from the 1078 islets in the lake. The lake is famous for its crystal-clear water and picturesque scenery. Covering an area of 573 square kilometers, the lake is more than one hundred times larger than West Lake in Hangzhou. A forest covers nearly 93 percent of the lake area, which is home to over 1,800 varieties of plants and 2,100 wild animals. With an average depth of 34 meters, its water visibility can reach 7 to 12 meters. See all beautiful lakes in China

Apart from its tranquil natural scenery, the lake also boasts exciting historical finds. Two ancient towns, both dating back more than 1,800 years, were discovered under the lake in 2002. After preliminary investigation, experts believe they might be the largest ancient building complexes found in China. The two towns were submerged 40 years ago to make way for a reservoir. Historical records show that the towns were filled with traditional Chinese buildings made of brick, stone and tile.

Biking Around the Lake

Biking  around the lake is an interesting adventure. The road is in good condition. It may take two days to bike all the way around. See our Thousand Islets Lake biking guide for more information.

The beautiful natural scenery of Thousand Islets Lake Cruise

On of the most popular ways to visit the lake is to Take a cruise boat around the lake and enjoy its beautiful scenery. There are many cruise routes for travelers to choose. All routes take travelers to some of the islands.

Transportation between Thousand Islets Lake and Hangzhou

Direct buses are available at Hangzhou West Long Distance Bus Station(杭州汽车西站). Buses are available from 6:00 to18:40 ,and run every 40 minutes.

Direct buses from Thousand Islets Lake are available at Qiandaohu Long Distance Bus (千岛湖长途汽车站). From 5:20 to 18:00, buses depart every 40 minutes.

Hi, I'm Lynn Ye
I updated this article on March 13, 2013
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Q: violet Asked on 2012-08-23 Reply
hi, is 3rd week of december a good time to visit hangzhou n the thousand islets lake? how long is the journey from hangzhou to xitang town.. tnx..
Dear Violet, Thanks for your question. It will be cold for visit the Thousand Island Lake, if your tour dates are flexible, it is suggest that you visit there before November. It takes 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Hangzhou to Xitang. Normally, you could have one day side trip to Xitang from Hangzhou. Please click here to get more information about Xitang: http://www.chinahighlights.com/hangzhou/attraction/xitang-town.htm As a travel agency in China, I am glad to arrange tours in Hangzhou, Xitang or other cities (include Hong Kong and Macau). Please feel free contact me at nancy@chinahighlights.net any time. Nancy Nancy Deng Replied on 2012-08-24
Q: tiqittaq Asked on 2012-02-06 Reply
How long is the bus trip from Hangzhou to Thousand Islets Lake
Hi Tiqittaq, You can take the bus to Thousand Islets Lake from Hangzhou western bus station. It departs in each 20 minutes, and it is about 2 hours drive tour. The price of the ticket is about RMB 60 per person. Regards, Coco Coco Yang Replied on 2012-02-07
Q: julie Asked on 2011-08-18 Reply
hi, how is the weather over thousand islet lake near end november,? is it off peak season?
Hi Julie, it's not very cold over Thousand Islet Lake at the end of November,you need to take rain gear and coat.If you choose to travel at that time, please pay close attention to the local weather forecast.It is off peak season then,but there are still some people think the best tourism season is from September to November,because of the pleasant weather. Nice day! lisa Replied on 2011-08-18
Hi Julie Yes, Lisa is right, it is the peak season to visit in November, and the temperature always between 12-19 centigrade and rain a little. William Huo Travel Advisor William Replied on 2011-08-19