Qiandao Lake

Qiandao Lake was created in 1959 when the Xin'an river was dammed for hydroelectricity, flooding a valley and leaving the hilltops standing as more than a thousand wooded islands across five hundred square kilometres. The water is unusually clear for a Chinese reservoir and supplies bottled water sold nationally. Beneath it lie the two towns of Shicheng and Hecheng, drowned intact with their walls, arches and carved buildings, rediscovered by divers in 2001 and preserved by the cold still water; diving there is technically demanding and tightly controlled. Above water, ferries run island circuits, and cycling routes follow the shore.

What you actually see

• The island archipelago - more than a thousand wooded hilltops in the reservoir.
• The clear water - unusual visibility for a Chinese lake.
• The submerged towns - Shicheng and Hecheng preserved on the lake bed.
• The ferry circuits - boat routes between the developed islands.

When to go

April to October for boating and warm weather; summer weekends and holidays are extremely busy. Autumn is quieter and clear. Diving to the submerged towns requires certification, permits and an operator, and is rarely available.

Honest expectations

The underwater towns cannot be seen by ordinary visitors; access is restricted to technical divers on organised expeditions. Island tickets and ferries add up. The developed islands are commercial with staged attractions.

Nearby

Hangzhou lies northeast; Huangshan is southwest across the provincial border.