Located at 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 1,078 islets in the lake. The lake is famous for its crystal-clean water and picturesque scenery. Covering an area of 573 square kilometers, the lake is more than one hundred times larger than the West Lake in Hangzhou. Forest covers nearly 93 per cent of the lake area, which is home to over 1,800 varieties of plants and 2,100 wild animals. With an average depth of 34 meters, its water visibility can reach 7 to 12 meters. According to the national water evaluation water from the lake can be directly drunk.

In addition to its tranquil natural scenery, Thousand Islets Lake also boasts a large number of historical sites. Tow ancient towns, both dating back to more than 1,800 years ago, were discovered under the lake in 2002. After preliminary investigation, experts believe they might be the biggest ancient building complex found in China. The two towns were submerged 40 years ago to make way for a reservoir. Historical records show that the town was filled with traditional Chinese architectures with bricks, stones and titles.

The best time to visit is from October to November.