Xingyun Lake 星云湖

About Xingyun Lake

Yue Liang Wan Wetland Park offers one focused place to see the transition from planted shore to open water. The corridor supplies changing perspectives on the lake and its vegetation, while wintering birds add seasonal interest. These wetlands also perform a water-management role, so use the public park paths and respect any maintenance closures rather than treating every part of the shore as recreational space.

The lake formed in a plateau fault basin and historically drained northeast through the Yudai River (玉带河) into Fuxian Lake (抚仙湖). Its water level was formerly about one to two metres higher than Fuxian's. An outflow-diversion project began in November 2003 to prevent polluted water entering the neighbouring lake; raising Fuxian's level reversed the flow. The project was completed on 23 December 2007.

Despite some improvement after the diversion works, water quality remained worse than Class V in 2009, reflecting the effects of agricultural and industrial development in the catchment. The traditional fishing season begins on 25 December and lasts fifteen days, with fishing prohibited for the remainder of the year. An opening-of-fishing festival and plateau fisheries trade fair have been held annually since 2005.

What to look for

• Yue Liang Wan Wetland Park combines open lake views with planted wetland edges.
• The lakeside ecological corridor reveals the pattern of shore vegetation and seasonal bird activity.

Location & getting there

Getting to Xingyun Lake

Approach from Jiangchuan’s Dajie urban area and use Yue Liang Wan Wetland Park on Xingyun Lake as the named road destination. Specify Xingyun Lake in Jiangchuan: Fuxian Lake also has a Moon Bay visitor area, which is a different place.