Jingniang Lake is an expansive mountain reservoir with emerald green waters surrounded by the typical red cliff landscapes of the Taihang Mountains, presenting a spectacular scenery. Visitors can enjoy boat rides across the lake or ascend the nearby hills for scenic views and photography. Moreover, Jingniang Lake is legendary as the site of the famous story of Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin’s ‘Thousand Miles Delivery of Jingniang,’ where one can visit Jingniang-themed attractions to learn about the beautiful legend that has been sung for a thousand years.
Jingniang Lake scenic area is vast, mainly divided into the water-based tour area of the lake district and the Peninsula – Zhen Yi Island tour area, located opposite the lake entrance. The water-based tour area primarily focuses on boating and viewing the surrounding scenery, while Zhen Yi Island offers hiking and leisurely strolls through various attractions. Visitors to the scenic area can enjoy a combination of water and land tours, which takes approximately 5-6 hours.
The water-based tour area is a must-visit for most tourists at Jingniang Lake, and purchasing a combined ticket for the scenic area and boat ride allows for a boat tour. The boat travels east to west, circumnavigating the entire lake, taking 2-3 hours. The boat is equipped with a guide who provides insights into the essence of Jingniang Lake’s scenery and the historical anecdote of ‘Thousand Miles Delivery of Jingniang.
The boat’s final stop is at the Siyou Valley Wharf on Zhen Yi Island, opposite the scenic area’s entrance, marking the beginning of the Zhen Yi Island tour. Alternatively, without taking the boat, one can reach the island by crossing a lake bridge named ‘Magpie Bridge’ from the entrance. The island features a loop route; starting from the Mountain Inhabitants route on the left side, one can ascend to Song Zu Peak (also known as Taizu Peak or Gongzi Mountain) and then descend along the Red Leaf Ridge route on the other side, taking approximately 3-4 hours on foot. However, shuttle buses can save part of the road trip, and cable cars can save about an hour of hiking.
Zhen Yi Island is densely forested and offers a tranquil environment. Scattered throughout the mountain area are attractions such as the Black Pine Forest, Flower and Fruit Mountain, Vine Entangled Tree, Cloud Temple, Song Zu Peak, Red Leaf Ridge, Peach Blossom Realm, and Jingniang Temple. Visitors can enjoy natural scenery of mountains, waters, and trees, as well as visit temples for blessings, and memorial halls and statues dedicated to Jingniang. Among these, the Dragon Wall Rock Waterfall features gentle flowing water, Red Leaf Ridge boasts brilliant autumn colors, and Song Zu Peak offers a panoramic view of the grand gorge and lake, all of which are key spots visitors must not miss.
After visiting Zhongyi Island, you can directly follow the Magpie Bridge back to the main entrance of the scenic area, or you can take the thrilling high-altitude lake-crossing slide for an exciting experience. Operating hours: 05/01-10/07 from 08:00 to 19:00; 10/08-04/30 from 08:00 to 17:30.
Concessions: Children: Free for those under 1.2 meters (inclusive); half-price for those between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.4 meters (exclusive). Elderly: Free for those aged 70 and above (inclusive) with a valid ID; half-price for those aged 60 (inclusive) to 70 (exclusive) with a valid ID. Disabled: Free with a disability certificate. Students: Half-price for full-time undergraduate and below students. Military personnel: Free for disabled active-duty military personnel with their documents; half-price for active-duty military personnel with their documents. Service Facilities: Parking Lot: [Jingniang Lake Scenic Area Parking Lot] Reference price: 10 yuan per car for 7 seats and below, 20 yuan per car for above 7 seats; Address: At the entrance of the scenic area; Capacity: 1000 spots.
