Huating Lake Scenic Area is located in Taihu County, Anhui Province, covering a total area of 257 square kilometers with a lake surface area of 100 square kilometers. It is situated in the southwest of Anhui and is under the jurisdiction of Anqing City. The scenic area boasts abundant tourism resources, surrounded by undulating mountains, peculiar peaks and rocks, waterfalls and springs, all of which are breathtakingly beautiful.
Huating Lake is known for its fragrance of flowers and fruits throughout the four seasons, and eco-agricultural activities such as chestnut picking and citrus picking are very popular among tourists. Here, you can experience the romantic island atmosphere, thrilling water sports, unique fishing village culture, close-to-nature forest adventures, and rural tourism with a local flavor.
The forest coverage rate of Huating Lake reaches 71%, with tall trees, well-arranged shrubs, and various herbaceous plants, forming distinct layers and seasonal vegetation landscapes. Huating Lake Wetland is an important habitat for migratory and breeding birds, with a large number of rare birds stopping and wintering here every year. The wetland has complete ecological functions and rich species resources, making it of great value for ecological and biological scientific research.
Huating Lake is also the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism. The second patriarch of Zen, Huike, meditated and preached on Lion Mountain by the lake for more than 30 years, passing on the Dharma to the third and fifth patriarchs, who also practiced and preached here. There are many temples in the Huating Lake scenic area, such as Haihui Temple, which has produced great monks of the Yangqi and Caodong sects. On Phoenix Mountain by the lake, an ancient temple from the Tang Dynasty, Xifeng Zen Temple, is still preserved. The temple, originally named ‘Lion Hermitage’, is a brick and wood structure facing east to west, and it is the venue for the fifth patriarch of Buddhist Zen. The temple is always filled with the fragrance of incense, and the sound of bells and chimes can be heard constantly, with believers coming and going, making it an important place for Buddhist activities in the province.
The entire text is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:00. Preferential policies include: Elderly: People aged 65 and above with valid documents are exempt from tickets; those aged between 60 and 65 with valid documents receive discounts. Journalists: Journalists with valid ID cards and original press cards issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication of the People’s Republic of China are free. Tour guides: Tour guides with valid ID cards and original electronic tour guide certificates issued by the National Ministry of Culture and Tourism are free. Children: Minors aged between 6 and 18 or with a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters receive discounts; those under 6 years old or with a height under 1.2 meters are exempt from tickets. Students, military personnel, and the disabled: Students with student IDs, military personnel with officer IDs, and the disabled with disability certificates enjoy discounted tickets. Parking facilities: [Wannian Wenbo Garden Parking Lot] Reference price: Free; Address: Economic Development Zone (County Expressway Exit), Taihu County, Anqing City, Anhui Province; Spaces: 1000
