This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
Qifeng Lake is the largest man-made lake on the Youshui River, with an area of approximately 167 square kilometers and an average depth of 30 meters. Small islands are scattered across the lake like stars, and the shoreline winds and turns. The vast expanse of lake water ripples with emerald waves, stretching into misty distance where fish leap and birds fly. Along the lake, layered green mountains are dotted with tea and fruit trees, and springs and brooks flow from high mountain forests into the lake like silver ribbons—truly a scene of enchanting beauty. The painters Huang Yongyu and Long Qinglian once boated here and inscribed the words "Green mountains like a painting, emerald waters like a poem." The famous journalist and essayist Xiao Li sailed across the lake and exclaimed over its "misty, mesmerizing landscape." The renowned troubadour poet Peng Haodang spent a night on the lake, gazing at the moon and composing poetry, giving it the beautiful name "a fairyland on earth." Especially when summer arrives, while other places suffer scorching heat, the lakeside enjoys refreshing mountain breezes and a pleasant climate that makes visitors linger and forget to return.
By the lakeside there is also Jinfeng Zhou (Golden Phoenix Islet), said to be the resting place where golden phoenixes from Yuanling's Phoenix Mountain gathered in flocks. Both the islet and the lake are named after the golden phoenix. Beside Jinfeng Zhou is a small island shaded by green trees, round in shape like a golden phoenix's egg, hence named Fengluan Island (Phoenix Egg Island). Near the lake, Tongming Mountain rises steeply, surrounded by ancient trees, with jagged rocky outcrops shaped like a cat, adding a unique charm.
The entire Qifeng Lake is as smooth as a mirror, with green mountains like a screen, fish gliding beneath the surface, and boats weaving back and forth. The geological structures on both banks are unique, with mountains, water, forests, and caves all present—a typical karst landscape that stands out among scenic areas in China. There are twenty-one scenic spots in total, each connected to the next, vivid and lifelike. The cultural landscape is also very rich, with ancient sites such as the original site of the ancient city of Xiaxizhou. The national-level cultural relic, the Thousand-Year Bronze Pillar of Xizhou, was originally erected here. The ancient city of Xiaxizhou is now the location of Huixiping in Luoyixi Town.
