Covering a circumference of 400 kilometers, the Chaohu Lake is located in the middle of Anhui Province. It has a shape of a bird's nest, hence the name Chaohu Lake (Nest Lake). The Chaohu Lake is the fifth largest freshwater lake in China, and reputed as the Oriental Geneva for its location in the Golden Triangle of Anhui.
The Chaohu Lake is famous for its landscape. The Gushan Island and the Laoshan Island, like two jewels, are embedded into the middle of the lake. The Gushan Island covers an area of 0.86 square kilometers and has entertainment places and resort villages. Touring on the island, one feels like stepping into a fairyland. Three hot springs surround the lake, namely Bantang Spring, Fragrant Spring, and Tangchi Spring. Moreover, along the lakeside are also four national forestry parks, also known as four emeralds, namely Taihu Hill, Jilong Hill, Yefu Hill, and Tianjing Hill. Besides, great attractions of the Chaohu Lake also include five water-eroded caves, namely Xianren Cave, Ziwei Cave, Wangqiao Cave, Huayang Cave, and Boshan Cave.
Many sights spread round the Chaohu Lake, such as the Ziwei Cave and the Wangqiao Cave, which are famous for uncanny workmanship of the carved figures of Buddha, and Xianren Cave, which has various enchanting stalactites. With beautiful scenery, the Chaohu Lake has become the key tourism development zone and sanatorium of Anhui Province.
(China.org.cn May 6, 2008)
