Dongjiang Lake 东江湖

About Dongjiang Lake

The visitor system links the lower river area with the dam and, on the relevant product, boats towards Doushuai Island. Mist depends on conditions and is not guaranteed by an early ticket. Decide whether the priority is the riverside viewpoint route or the longer lake-and-island outing, because they involve different transfers and a stricter return-boat commitment.

The reservoir, also known as Dongjiang Lake or Xiaodongjiang, lies on the upper Lei River (耒水), a tributary of the Xiang River, in Zixing, Chenzhou. It is a large hydropower project built mainly for electricity generation, with secondary flood-control and navigation functions. Construction began in 1958 and halted in early 1961; work resumed in April 1978, the river was diverted in November 1980, the reservoir began impounding water in August 1986, the first generating unit went into operation in November 1987, and the whole project was completed in 1992.

Dongjiang Lake lies close to the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and China National Highway 107, about 38 km from the Chenzhou downtown area, and covers an area of 200 square kilometers. The wider scenic area also takes in the Dongjiang Reservoir Dam, Hougu Mountain, Yongcui Gorge and Swan Mountain National Forest Park. Dongjiang Lake is designated a National Key Scenic Area (国家重点风景名胜区) and a national 5A tourist attraction (国家5A级旅游景区).

The Dongjiang Reservoir Dam is a hyperbolic arch dam of Chinese design; opening its gates sends water down into the gorge, breaking into fine droplets that form mist over the water. Upstream, on the Zheshui River, a white-water rafting course opened in 1995 and is also rated a national 5A tourist attraction, used as a training and competition site for the sport.

What to look for

• The narrow Xiaodongjiang waterway and its condition-dependent mist.
• The larger reservoir landscape reached from the dam-side boat connection.

Location & getting there

Getting to Dongjiang Lake

Begin at the Dongjiang Lake gate visitor centre in Zixing. Confirm the current shuttle route to the dam pier and the selected boat product; Chenzhou’s railway arrival is a separate road transfer from this entrance.