Taihu Source - Pristine Streams and Waterfalls

Taihu Source is located at the southern foot of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, and as its name sug[...]

Taihu Source is located at the southern foot of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, and as its name suggests, it is the source of Taihu Lake. Known for its pure mountain streams and cool waters, it gained national attention in 2007 when Yao Ming and his wife took their wedding photos here, turning this once-obscure spot into a popular destination in the Yangtze River Delta.
The Taihu Source scenic area is not large, and the tour route is very simple, consisting of a single path that leads from the entrance to the source of Taihu Lake and then back. The trail is not steep and is easy to walk, taking about two to three hours to complete. The streams in Taihu Source are not very large, but there are several waterfalls worth visiting. In summer, visitors can wade into the streams for a refreshing dip, which is one of the charming aspects of Taihu Source.

Upon entering the scenic area, the first sight is a golden toad statue in a pond, where many people try to toss coins into its mouth. Not far ahead, on the Longxu Wall, clusters of Longxu grass grow vertically on the cliff, swaying in the breeze, creating a spectacular scene. The next point of interest is a large ‘Source’ rock by the roadside, indicating that this is the source of Taihu Lake. This rock is often used as a symbolic landmark for visitors to take photos with. In front of the rock is Yunbi Pond, where visitors can splash around in summer, and there are bumper boats available for play (around 50 yuan).

Near the Siyuan Corridor, there is a gold osmanthus tree adorned with red cloth strips, known as the ‘Tree of Love’ planted by Yao Ming and his wife. There are also displays about their wedding photo session here, which has become one of the scenic spots. Further ahead is the Monkey Playfield, where a group of lively monkeys appear, and visitors can buy feed and take photos with them under the guidance of the keepers. Although the monkeys are generally gentle, there is still a possibility of a ‘gentle blow’, so it is important to follow the keepers’ instructions, not to tease them excessively, and not to tease them while eating.

Continuing on, after passing through Fengshen Valley, Drunken Flower Waterfall, and Shuanglong Pond, one will encounter an ancient Buddhist temple. Next to the temple, there is a teahouse where visitors can rest and enjoy the local cloud and mist tea before continuing their ascent. About 15 minutes behind the temple is the source of Taihu Lake, where one will pass by two more scenic spots, Bai Zhang Waterfall and Immortal Cave.

The water of Bai Zhang Waterfall cascades down the stone wall with a drop of over a hundred meters, making it one of the must-see waterfalls in Taihu Source. At the end of the scenic area is the source of Taihu Lake, where a special altar has been built to worship the god of the source, housing statues of water and wealth gods, with the heads of the twelve zodiac animals in front of the temple, from which the springs of Taihu Lake gush forth.

After taking photos and capturing memories here, you can retrace your steps back. The surrounding agritourism has developed rapidly in recent years, with Bai Sha Village being quite renowned. Both economical farmhouses for a few hundred yuan and resort hotels for several hundred yuan are available, making it a considerate option for an overnight stay. Additionally, Taihu Source is very close to the Shenlongchuan Scenic Area to the south, and tourists often plan to visit both attractions together.

Operating hours: Open all year round from 08:00 to 16:30.

Preferential policies: Children under 1.2 meters (excluding) enter for free; those between 1.2 meters (including) and 1.5 meters (including) enjoy half-price. Military personnel: Active-duty soldiers (with military officer ID) enter for free. Elderly: Those aged 60 (including) to 70 (excluding) with an elderly ID or ID card enjoy a discount; those aged 70 (including) and above with an elderly ID or ID card enjoy half-price. Local citizens of Lin’an: Locals of Lin’an enjoy a discount. Students: Full-time university undergraduate and below students with a student ID enjoy half-price. Disabled individuals: With a disability ID, enjoy half-price.

Service facilities: Parking lot: Taihu Source Scenic Area Parking Lot. Reference price: 20 per time; Address: Bai Sha Village, Taihu Source Town, Lin’an City, Hangzhou; Capacity: 400.

Essential tips: The water volume in the streams is quite substantial during summer and after rain, making the scenery particularly spectacular.