Lake Hongfenghu

» Guiyang, Gui Zhou

Lake Hongfenghu Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The Lake Hongfenghu (Red Maple Lake) is in Qingzhen County and only 33 kilometers away from Guiyang. Covering an area of 57.2 square kilometers and holding 600 million cubic meters of water, it is the largest artificial lake on the Guizhou Plateau, 13 times as large as the Ming Tombs Reservoir in Beijing and over 10 times as large as the famous West Lake in Hangzhou.

Four parts of the Lake Hongfenghu

The Lake Hongfenghu is divided into four parts, the North, the Middle, the South and the Rear Lake.

The North Lake

The North Lake is known for its islands such as the birds Isle, the Snake Isle and the Turtle Isle. By the lake there is also an old military site of a king of the Miao people in the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1664). And there are also Han tombs dating back to 250 B.C..

The Middle Lake

The Middle Lake, which connects the North Lake to the South Lake, is surrounded by precipitous mountains and covered with dense pine and cypress trees.

The South Lake

The South Lake is famous for its karst caves, among them the General's Cave, the Fishing Cave, the Underground Cave and the Big Mouth Cave. The General's Cave has so much water in it that you have to take a boat to explore this 1400-m-long cave and enjoy exquisite natural formations while listening to fascinating legends told by the tour guide.

The Rear Lake

On the peak, one rock resembles an elegant fairy while another is like a smiling abbot. The Rear Lake is a crisscrossed by many branches of a river to such an extent that you simply cannot tell where the river starts and where the lake ends. When the pleasure boats make a turn, picturesque views come into sight: villages far and near, returning fishing boats, young couples hand in hand, and dancing girls of the Miao ethnic group forming a peaceful world.

Immortal beauty in different seasons

The intricate combination of the lake, the boats, the isles, the rocky hills and the water birds forms a picture of unique beauty. Tourists need to make a choice of time and scene according to their different tastes. In spring, one can enjoy the best of flowers when azaleas bloom in profusion; in summer, a vast expanse of clear water when all kinds of boats dot the lake; in autumn, the leaves of the maple trees turning red; in winter, hundreds of water birds coming to nest here as their winter home.

Other sights

Beside the lake there is the Red Maple Ridge with many red maple trees planted on and about it. In late fall, all the maple leaves turn red. That is how the lake got its name. Scattered throughout the lake are 178 islands, some of which resemble huge reefs, some look like screens and still others are just small rock-hills with water inside. By the lake there stands a Dong's Drum Tower with a Roofed Bridge in front of it and the Miao Village Museum just opposite to it. Besides, the new-built Buyi Village, Fengye (Red Maple Leaves) Villa and Golden-Dream Garden as a whole have formed a lovely garden of ethnic villages, not far from the Dong's Drum Tower.

Attractions around » Guiyang, Gui Zhou

Natural Scene

• Huangguoshu Waterfall
• Dragon Palace Scenic Area
• Lake Hongfenghu
• Tianhe Pool
• Xiaoqikong
• Huaxi Scenic Area
• Xiangzhi Valley
• Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve
• Feiyun Cliff
• Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve
• Maolan Karst Forest Natural Conservation

Historical Site

• Jiaxiu Tower
• Qingyan Ancient Town
• Zhenyuan Ancient Town
• Black Dragon Cave
• Hongfu Temple
• Longli Ancient Town
• Nine Dragon Cave Scenic Area
• Shiban Street
• Tunbao Cultural Village

Cultural Site

• Langde Miao Ethnic Minority Village
• Guiyang Forest Park
• Sanbao Dong Village
• Dong People's Village
• Tang'an Dong Village
• Wenfeng Park
• Nanhua Miao Village
• Datang Miao Village
• Basha Miao Village
• Qianling Park

Shopping & Leisure

• Kaili Sunday Market
• Shiban Street

Lake Hongfenghu Highlights

Lake & Spring in Great China

• West Lake
• Lake Kanas
• Lake Namtso
• Lake Qinghaihu
• Lake Yamdrok
• Huaqing Pool
• Crescent Spring
• Lake Qiandaohu
• Lake Xuanwuhu
• Lake Taihu
• Slender West Lake
• Lake Hongfenghu
• Lake Dianchi
• Lake Luguhu
• Heavenly Lake
• Butterfly Spring
• Lake Erhai
• Longsheng Hot Spring National Park
• Lake Bitahai
• Lake Shuduhu
• Lake Napahai
• Red Carp Pond
• Hupao Spring
• Black Dragon Pool
• Lake Karakuli
• Tianhe Pool
• Lake Dongtinghu
• Baotu Spring
• Lake Daminghu
• Yuquan Park
• Lake Bosten
• East Lake Scenic Area

Lake Hongfenghu FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. When is the best time to travel to Guiyang?
2. Are there any travel tips about weather?

  Shopping

1. What good souvenirs can I buy there?

  Travel

1. Travel tips for you to Huangsuoshu Waterfall on best time

  Customs

1. What are some interesting festivals in Guiyang?
2. Does Guizhou have a lot of ethnic groups there?
3. Some customs about the Miaos

  Other Hints

1. Some warnings about hotels
2. Electricity

• Does Guiyang rain a lot?

  Guiyang has a pleasant moist subtropical climate with ample rainfall. It is neither hot in summer nor too chilly in winter. Guiyang is lucky as much as it does not suffer sandstorms and the pleasant climate makes it a cozy city in which to live.

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• Are there any travel tips about weather?

  Whether for escaping from summer heat or winter cold, Guiyang is definitely a good destination.

  However, due to the changeable weather on the Yungui Plateau where Guizhou is located, it is recommended that you take rain wear along with you and a folding umbrella is an asset! In addition, temperatures in the morning and the evening can often be rather low, so a windproof coat is necessary. The strong radiation from the sun means that you will also need our sun glasses and a sun hat - and don't forget your suntan lotion!

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• What good souvenirs can I buy there?

  Some special local products like traditional art works, or local food are decent gifts for you friends and relatives.

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• Travel tips for you to Huangsuoshu Waterfall on best time

  July and August is the best time to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall. During this period of time, there is a rich amount of water, making magnificent scenery. You can not appreciate such scenes during the lack-of-water period. An umbrella is suggested when you go to the waterfall, due to the giant size of the waterfall, you will be soaked wet without it.

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• What are some interesting festivals in Guiyang?

  Liu Yue Liu literarily means a date, June 6. Actually it is a festival held on the sixth day of the sixth Chinese lunar month, hence the name. This festival is an important day for Buyi people to worship the cook's god and the mountain god.

  Si Yue Ba is held annually on the eighth day of the lunar month. On this day, large numbers of Miao people put on their beautiful costumes and congregate in the center area of Guiyang City to celebrate this great festival by playing the Lusheng and flute, singing antiphonal songs and dancing.

  Di Xi is a form of local drama. It is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month at Huaxi by Buyi People and other minority groups. The performers put on masks and costumes and engage in dancing and singing. Generally the performance tells a story of a battle or the loyalty between friends of ancient times

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• Does Guizhou have a lot of ethnic groups there?

  Guizhou is a multi-region province. Apart from Han, there are about 17 other ethic groups that live here, such as Miao, Buyi, Dong, Yi, Shui, Hui, Zhuang, Yao, Man, Bai, Mongolia, Qiang and Tu.

  We suggest that you 'do as the romans do' when you go to visit Guizhou, because there are a lot of customs and taboos in the ethnic groups. Also respect their tradition to avoid conflict.

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• Some customs about the Miaos

  The Miaos usually keep open doors and are fond of drinking. Most of them can make home-made alcohol. Shaojiu is the most common alcohol. During a meal, the host might want his guest to drink some alcohol, if they refuse to drink, the host will not be happy. If you really can't drink, then please tell the host before the meal starts.

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• Some warnings about hotels

  Hotels in small towns such as Rongjiang and Congjiang are of significantly lower standard. Heating is sometimes not available and western style toilets usually unavailable.

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• Electricity

  The electricity used in China is 220 volt AC. Many middle and high-class hotel wash rooms have transformer plugs for electric shavers and hair dryers, but it is better to be prepared with an adapter plug.

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