Thousand Island Lake & Its Underwater Ancient Cities

They said, “first impressions matter, for it sets up subsequent beliefs.” I was always sceptical about what “they said” but even I am susceptible to the halo effect.

My first impression of Thousand Island Lake (千岛湖) in China began when our high-speed train pulled into Qiandaohu Railway Station. The first thing that hit us was the sweet scent of fresh endorphin-boosting air. Enveloped by tall trees and hilly greens, we were still a distance from the lake but we were already charmed despite the gloomy cloud-filled sky. Pathetic city bumpkins we were indeed!

But I digressed. Here’s the deal about Thousand Island Lake, and why it’s worth a visit.

Where is Thousand Island Lake in China?

Thousand Island Lake could refer to a scenic mountain lake in California, USA or a pretty spot in Taiwan but don’t be distracted or confused! The Thousand Island Lake that caught my fancy is located in Chun’an County within Zhejiang Province, China.

It lies southwest of Hangzhou, approximately 2 hours away from Shanghai via high speed rail. Also known as Qian Dao Hu or Qian Dao Lake, this is a tourist destination that keeps me going back.

The Story behind Thousand Island Lake

In an earlier post, I shared about Thousand Island Lake being a man-made freshwater lake that took shape in 1959 after the completion of the Xin’anjiang Hydropower Station. In case you were wondering, there are over 1,078 large islands and thousands of smaller islets, which justified the lake’s name.

It is not just another man-made attraction though. Here’s the intriguing part of Thousand Island Lake: beneath the deceptive blue-green surface of the lake lies two ancient cities frozen in time.

Underwater Ancient Ruins of Shi Cheng (Lion City) at Qiandao Lake in China — Screen capture of CWDiving: Scuba Diving the Underwater Ancient Ruins of *Shi Cheng* (Lion City) at Qiandao Lake in China

Believed to have been built during the Tang Dynasty (nearly 1,400 years ago!), the Lion City aka Shi Cheng (not to be mistaken with Singapore) is an underwater city that was once the political and economic hub of the region. To divers, this is “China’s Atlantis” with surreal sightings of fishes swimming in the ancient streets and buildings with intricate carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and lions. I can’t help thinking of the Dragon King of East Palace. 😅

The lesser mentioned He Cheng, which dates back to the Han Dynasty (25 to 200 A.D.) was also flooded. Diving trips to these ancient cities used to be available but it seems strictly regulated these days.

Now, let’s go back to the Xin’an River Hydroelectric Station, which was China’s first large-scale water conservancy project. Besides the submergence of two ancient cities, this iconic project led to the relocation of ~290,000 people. It is believed that more than 1,300 villages and tens of thousands of acres of farmland were lost.

View from Tianyu Mountain at Thousand Island Lake

To visitors, Thousand Lake Island may be the perfect weekend getaway from nearby cities like Shanghai or Hangzhou. For the relocated families and their descendants, the lake is not just a tourist spot but literally the grave of their ancestral homes.

Have you visited Thousand Lake Island? Please share your memories or travel insights in the comment box below. I would love to hear from you.

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More on Thousand Island Lake:

The above information is based on personal experiences and should only be used as a reference. For more information on diving in Thousand Lake Island, here are some interesting reads for reference: