Baiyang Lake, historically known as Jiu Yang Lake, is located at the southwest of Minghe Ancient Town in Cixi. According to historical records, Baiyang Lake is an ancient lagoon that formed during the Han Dynasty, covering an area of 1,700 acres. During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang in the Jinglong era (707-709 AD), he dreamt of a white dragon trapped in the shallow banks of Yaobei. He then ordered Zhang Pijiang, the county magistrate of Yuyao, to construct Baiyang Lake and connect it with Duhu Lake. In the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, Ye Tianlin, a local, funded the complete renovation of the old lake with stone. The lake has been reinforced and rebuilt multiple times after the end of the Qing Dynasty and after liberation.
Baiyang Lake, with its charm akin to that of the West Lake and its unadorned beauty like a piece of uncut jade, is nestled among the mountains, with vast misty waters and a gathering of waterfowl. The late Qing Dynasty poet Yao Xie once left behind the verse: ‘The empty water has no haze, the sky’s color floats and shines. A single green stretch leads the mountains far, and the thin mist contains the gradual dusk.’ The allure of Baiyang Lake also lies in its rich historical and cultural heritage. The renowned Buddhist scholar Hong Yi (layman name Li Shutong) once resided at Jinxian Temple; on the western hillside of the lake, there is a grand revolutionary martyrs’ cemetery, where nearly a hundred martyrs, including Zheng Xiahu, the organizer of the Cixi County Party Committee, Shen Bangqi, the special envoy of the Ningshao Agricultural Association, and Shen Yifei, are buried; across the lake from the martyrs’ cemetery stands Wu Jintang’s tomb, facing north to south, with an inscription on the tomb that reads Wu Jintang’s brief biography and a couplet he wrote himself: ‘For the love of lakes and mountains, I am willing to bury my bones, regardless of Feng Shui, just following my heart,’ from which one can see his deep love for his homeland. The lake is open all year round, with full-day access.
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