Weishan County 微山县

Setting and landscape

The county is a narrow strip running from northwest to southeast, about 120 kilometres long and between 8 and 30 kilometres wide. Xuzhou (徐州) in Jiangsu lies to the south, Zoucheng (邹城) and Qufu (曲阜) to the north, Heze (菏泽) to the west and Zaozhuang (枣庄) to the east. The county government describes the Nansi Lakes as the largest freshwater lake in northern China. The Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河) runs through the county from north to south. The lakes hold 298 bird and 78 fish species, and harvested water plants include reed, wild rice (菰), lotus root, water caltrop and foxnut (芡实).

History

A county called Guangqi (广戚) was founded here under the Qin, with its seat at Xiazhen (夏镇), still the county seat today; in 128 BC the Han emperor Wu made Liu Jiang (刘将) Marquis of Guangqi. The Weishan name comes from Weizi (微子), a worthy of the Shang dynasty counted as an ancestor of Confucius, who was buried on the hill here. Water gathered around the hill in the mid-Ming period, and the new lake took the hill's name. During the war against Japan the lake was a base for the Railway Guerrillas (铁道游击队) and the Weihu Brigade (微湖大队).

What to see

Weishan Island (微山岛) sits in the middle of the lake, 2.5 kilometres off the east shore: about 6 kilometres by 3, rising to 91.6 metres, with 14 villages. It holds the tombs of Weizi, of Zhang Liang (张良), adviser to the Han founder, and of Muyi (目夷), a worthy of the Spring and Autumn period. Nanyang Ancient Town (南阳古镇) stands in Nanyang Lake (南阳湖) at the northern end, with the Grand Canal running through it. Its old sites include Guandi, Fire God and River God temples and the Kuixing Tower (魁星楼), and its lake channel and Lijian Lock (利建闸) are inscribed as World Heritage. The Weishan Lake National Wetland Park (微山湖国家湿地公园), begun in 2010, is laid out in eight zones, including bird-watching and reed-marsh areas.

Food and local products

The lake's four-nostril carp (四鼻孔鲤鱼) and Chinese softshell turtle were named court tribute under the Qianlong emperor, and Weishan Lake hairy crab and four-nostril carp are among four local products on a national list of the 100 leading geographical-indication brands. The county's food pages include Liuzhuang tube fish (留庄筒子鱼): crucian carp filleted along the backbone, blanched and rolled into tubes, served without bones or skin.

Highlights

• Weishan Island 微山岛: Island in the middle of the lake with the tombs of Weizi, Zhang Liang and Muyi.
• Nanyang Ancient Town 南阳古镇: Grand Canal town in Nanyang Lake; its lake channel and Lijian Lock are World Heritage.
• Weishan Lake National Wetland Park 微山湖国家湿地公园: Lake wetland park begun in 2010, laid out in eight zones.
• Four-nostril carp 四鼻孔鲤鱼: Lake carp named Qing court tribute under the Qianlong emperor.
• Liuzhuang tube fish 留庄筒子鱼: Crucian carp fillets blanched and rolled into boneless tubes.