Xiechi Lake 运城盐湖

About Xiechi Lake

Its divided salt pans can change colour with algae, light and seasonal conditions, so the vivid aerial photographs are not a guaranteed ground-level view. The north shore's Chishen Temple and Hedong Salt Museum offer a practical way to connect the lake to the people who managed, worked and worshipped this economically important place.

Xiechi Lake formed during the Cenozoic Quaternary period. Salt has been extracted here for more than 4,000 years, with the product known as Xie salt (解盐), Lu salt (潞盐) or Hedong salt (河东盐); its taxation was once an important source of national revenue. Salt production at the lake is also considered to have driven Shanxi's later financial prominence, as trade in Ming-dynasty salt certificates known as yan yin, redeemable only at Xiechi Lake, allowed Shanxi merchants to accumulate wealth.

The lake system comprises Jie Pool (解池), Xiao Pool (硝池), Yazi Pool (鸭子池), Tangli Flat (汤里滩), Beimen Flat (北门滩) and Wuxing Lake (伍姓湖), together covering 154 square kilometres, with Jie Pool the largest; taken narrowly, the name Xiechi Lake refers to Jie Pool alone. The lake is rich in rock salt and mirabilite, which accumulated through long-term precipitation and evaporation.

Xiechi Lake lies in southwestern Shanxi within Yuncheng, on the northern foot of the Zhongtiao Mountains (中条山), and is the largest lake in Shanxi Province and the world's third-largest sodium sulfate type inland lake. The basin has no natural river inflow: the Su River (涑水河) drains into Wuxing Lake in the west before reaching the Yellow River.

What to look for

• The saline lake and former salt-pan landscape, with colours that vary rather than remain permanently red.
• The Hedong Salt Museum's salt-making interpretation and the Chishen Temple setting above the north shore.

The surrounding area

Southern provincial base for Guandi culture, Yongle Palace and the salt-lake landscape.

Location & getting there

Getting to Xiechi Lake

For a cultural introduction and a defined arrival point, head to Chishen Temple and the Hedong Salt Museum on the lake's northern side near Yuncheng's old south gate.

• Use designated lakeside viewing areas; a map point within a salt pan is not a public approach.