Located in Chun’an County, Zhejiang, Thousand Island Lake is just a short ride from major cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou. That’s one of the reasons why locals love it for weekend getaways. Whilst it is man-made, nature is at its full glory in this resort town!
We visited twice within the year, during Spring and late Autumn. On both occasions, we were greeted with heavy, grey clouds upon our arrival at Qiandaohu Railway Station but! Before we knew it, the clouds cleared and we were soon mesmerised by emerald islands scattered across a vast expanse of bejeweled waters. In the evening, clear blue skies often gave way to a majestic sunset that painted the world in hues of gold, pink and purple.
Here’s a list of Thousand Island Lake activities and travel tips for those of you who are planning for a fun, relaxing getaway from Shanghai or Hangzhou (beyond the usual boring stuff). For my fellow foodies, food recommendations are here.
Things to do in Thousand Island Lake
Take an escalator up Tianyu Mountain and slide down!
Located approximately 800 meters above sea level, Tianyu Mountain is the place to go for epic sunsets and scenic views. Think emerald islands and sparkling blue water stretching all the way to the horizon! The part that blew my mind? We went up the mountain via escalators, and took a water slide down. With my acrophobia, I was scared witless but it was an unbelievable experience. We booked our discounted tickets via Trip.com, which was cheaper than getting it on-site.
It is also possible to ascend Tianyu mountain on foot, or descent via buses but if conditions permit, go for the escalators and the water slide!
Walk/Cycle the Thousand Island Lake Greenway
The lakeside greenway is a network of trails that circle parts of the massive lake. The full loop covers over 140km, making it one of the longest lakeside paths in China! Since a getaway to Thousand Island Lake was supposed to be a relaxing trip, we set our ambitious spirits aside. 😛
Besides taking short morning/evening strolls, we explored parts of the greenway by cycling. We love the Rainbow path sections as well as the lakeside path along Voco Hotel towards Sunny Park and beyond.
Visit Qiandao Lake Beer Town (千岛湖啤酒小镇)
Designed to look like a Bavarian village, the “town” boasts colourful buildings, cobblestone streets, and central squares. It’s nice for a leisurely stroll but foodwise – I’m not impressed.
Shoppers’ alert! There’s not much to buy at Thousand Island Lake, unless you are into dried seafood products but at the Beer Town, I managed to get some pretty awesome beer facial masks (made locally!). Some shops sell Cheerday beer merchandise and local specialties, which are great as souvenirs too!
The family-friendly beer town includes an arcade, streetfood stalls, and outdoor go-kart track. During weekends, there are usually street performances, parades, and events. We visited during a weekday, and it was relatively quiet – just the way I like. 😀
There’s also the Cheerday Beer Museum for those who’d like a brewery tour, and a pretty lighthouse for IG-worthy shots.
Island-hopping/Boat Tours
There are several island-hopping boat tours that generally take up a full day (5-7 hours). You can either book via Trip.com or you are likely to be approached by touters near the wharf area. These tours tend to cover a few islands, with Mei Feng Island (梅峰岛) being the designated “must-visit”.
Personally, even though a day trip to the outlying islands is recommended as the “must-do” in Thousand Island Lake, it was a so-so experience to me, as it is a rather touristic thing to do. Besides, I do think that a visit to TianYu Mountain is a much nicer experience and there are awesome views of the Thousand Island Lake from atop.
Date night at the historic Qilong Alley (骑龙巷)
The historic cultural street, Qilong Alley, opens during the day but visiting at night is much recommended as it lights up prettily in neon light and lanterns. FYI, there’s not much else to do at Thousand Island Lake by night besides dining, listening to live music at the resort, etc.
Located in the heart of Chun’an town near the lake, Qilong Alley is rather quirky, and compact. This vibrant street is built along a steep, 118-step staircase, literally like “riding a dragon” up the hillside! There are tiny indie cafes, craft shops, local snack stalls, and artsy photo spots tucked between historic brick walls.
Drink the ‘best’ water in China
When planning our quick escape from Shanghai, Thousand Island Lake came up, and I was hooked on the lake’s reputation for its exceptionally clean and clear water. I was super excited to find that it is the source of the famous Nongfu Spring bottled water!
Not sure if it was psychological but the bottled water tastes much better (probably because I was on vacation) and it’s slightly cheaper. Some resorts will stock the fridge with complimentary cans of Cheerday beer, aka Qiandaohu beer (千岛湖啤酒), which were delicious. When in Thousand Island Lake, drink up!
Dive into an underwater ancient city
Beneath the lake’s surface lies the submerged remains of two ancient cities, dating back to the Han and Tang dynasties. It was intentionally flooded for the dam project, and Shi Cheng (Lion City) is often referred to as “China’s Atlantis” by divers. I didn’t try this but for those who are interested, you’d need to be a certified diver and get the relevant permission to visit.
Getting to Thousand Island Lake
Whether you are visiting from Shanghai or Hangzhou, the fastest and most efficient way to get to Thousand Island Lake is by high-speed train + shuttle bus/Didi private car. The main gateway is Qiandaohu Station (千岛湖站).
For those who plan to self-drive, take note to avoid major holidays, otherwise you’d be stuck on the road for a long, long while. Even on weekends, traffic could get busy. Taking the high-speed rail is much recommended.
Hangzhou East Station vs Hangzhou West Station
On both occasions, we took the high-speed train from Hangzhou. On our first trip, we boarded at Hangzhou West Station, which is newer and significantly less crowded. There are limited trains here though, and most people would travel via Hangzhou East Station, which we tried on our 2nd trip.
I usually prefer to avoid the crowd but the perks of boarding at Hangzhou East Station is the convenience of its convenient location, where you can do some shopping or buy Hangzhou specialties to enjoy during your journey. The journey from either station to Qiandaohu Railway Station takes approximately 1 hour.
From Shanghai Hongqiao Station
If you’re travelling from Shanghai, you can take the high-speed train from Hongqiao Railway Station. The journey will take you about 2 hours.
From Qiandaohu Railway Station to Scenic area
It was surprisingly easy to navigate the railway station, which was not too crowded. Upon exiting the station, we headed straight (literally) to the pickup/drop off area where we planned to take a Didi car. By a stroke of luck, we realised that there are official shuttle buses that drop off at hotels in the scenic area, so we hopped on.
Depending on your hotel location, the journey is around 30 – 40 minutes. The cost is about half the price of a Didi ride, plus there was a tour guide onboard to share information on location attractions. For couples travel, we would recommend going with the shuttle buses. On our subsequent trip, our travel group size was bigger, which made sense to go for the Didi ride.
Getting around Thousand Island Lake
By ride-hailing (Didi) or buses
Getting around Thousand Island Lake is really easy, where you can easily get a Didi ride. There are also public buses, some of which pass through the scenic areas near the lake.
Bicycle rental
There are bicycle rental shops as well as share-bikes, particularly around the lake area. The cycling trails are extensive, and it’s easy to explore Thousand Island Lake by cycling.
Tourist boats/ferries
There are organised boat tours to various islands across the lake. We booked our tickets directly at the ferry terminal, but you can also get it from Trip.com.
Walk everywhere
One of the reasons I love Thousand Island Lake is the walking trails around the lake. Many of the lake-front resorts are literally connected by parks and walking paths that allow one to keep walking while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
How many days in Thousand Island Lake is enough?
While visitors often opted from a 3D2N / weekend trip to Thousand Island Lake, I would recommend at least a 4D3N stay, especially if you’re a slow traveller like me. Being a resort town, Thousand Island Lake offers the opportunity to really slow down and relax. Having said that, there are plenty of activities to partake in as well!
Planning a visit to Thousand Lake Island? Here’s more on this travel gem:
- Thousand Island Lake: A Reservoir That Harbours Underwater Ancient Cities
- Qiandao Lake Fish Head (千岛湖鱼头) : Culinary Icon of Thousand Island Lake
- Destination of my dream: Thousand Island Lake
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The above information is based on personal experiences and should only be used as a reference.
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