Located in Chun'an County, around 160 kilometers west of Hangzhou, Thousand Islets Lake is currently the largest man-made lake in China. It got its name from the 1078 islets in the lake. The lake is famous for its crystal-clear water and picturesque scenery. Covering an area of 573 square kilometers, the lake is more than one hundred times larger than West Lake in Hangzhou. Forest covers nearly 93 per cent of the lake area, which is home to over 1,800 varieties of plant and 2,100 wild animals. With an average depth of 34 meters, its water visibility can reach 7 to 12 meters. .
Apart from its tranquil natural scenery, Qiandao Hu also boasts some exciting historical finds. Two ancient towns, both dating back more than 1,800 years, were discovered under the lake in 2002. After preliminary investigation, experts believe they might be the biggest ancient building complexes found in China. The two towns were submerged 40 years ago to make way for a reservoir. Historical records show that the towns were filled with traditional Chinese buildings made of brick, stone and tile.
