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Qiandao Lake

Monastery

Qiandao (Thousand Island) Lake in Zhejiang was formed by a reservoir and features many wooded islets, boat tours, fishing and lakeside resorts popular with domestic and international visitors.

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In this guide

Qiandao Lake essentials

Address: Qiandao (Thousand-Island) Lake, Chun’an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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About Qiandao Lake

Qiandao Lake, often called Thousand Island Lake, is an artificial reservoir in Chun’an County, Zhejiang Province, China, created by damming the Xin’an River in 1959. The reservoir is known for its many forested islets and clear waters.

The lake holds more than one thousand islands; commonly cited figures list about 1,078 islets that vary in size and are a focus for boat tours, island-hopping and lakeside recreation. Popular activities include boat cruises, hiking on larger islands and visiting lakeside resorts.

The reservoir also covers the submerged ancient city of Shicheng (Lion City), which lies intact below the waterline and is noted by divers and researchers for its preserved stone structures. Scenic viewpoints and ferry services link the lake’s main tourist piers.

Qiandao Lake was formed when the Xin’an River was dammed for hydroelectric power in 1959, flooding valleys and ancient settlements. The newly created landscape rapidly became a regional tourist destination for its island-studded waters.

Qiandao Lake is in Chun’an County, Zhejiang Province in eastern China, within a mountainous, forested area of the province.

  • Islands and formation: Formed in 1959 by damming the Xin’an River, the reservoir created more than 1,000 islands; the commonly cited count is about 1,078 islands scattered across the lake.
  • Submerged city: The submerged city of Shicheng lies intact below the lake surface and is occasionally visited by specialised diving tours and researchers.

What to See#

  • Shicheng (Lion City): The submerged ancient city known as Shicheng or Lion City lies underwater beneath the lake and is noted for well-preserved stone architecture dating to before the lake’s creation.
  • Thousand islands: The lake contains more than one thousand islands formed by hilltops left above the reservoir when the valley was flooded after dam construction in 1959.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Qiandao Lake

For pleasant weather and smaller crowds at Qiandao Lake, go in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-October), avoiding major national holidays.

Spring
March-May · 10-25°C
Pleasant temperatures and good visibility-ideal for sightseeing and boat trips before the summer holiday peak.
Summer (busy and hot)
June-August · 25-35°C
Warm and humid with the highest visitor numbers; expect crowds during Chinese holidays and increased rainfall/typhoon risk in late summer.
Autumn
September-November · 15-25°C
Generally pleasant weather and fewer crowds than peak summer; early autumn can still be humid and occasionally rainy.

Weather & Climate near Qiandao Lake

Climate

Qiandao Lake's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1475 mm/year), wettest in June.

Air Quality: AQI 72 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberSeptemberNovember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-16°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 3° - 9° 4° 52 mm partly cloudy 79% 2.4 m/s 0.5 low 10.4h
February Acceptable 3° - 9° 5° 98 mm overcast 80% 2.0 m/s 0.6 moderate 11.0h
March Poor 7° - 13° 9° 146 mm overcast 79% 2.5 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.9h
April Acceptable 12° - 20° 16° 169 mm overcast 79% 2.7 m/s 1.2 high 12.8h
May Good 17° - 25° 21° 207 mm overcast 80% 2.7 m/s 1.4 high 13.5h
June Good 21° - 28° 24° 248 mm overcast 85% 2.6 m/s 1.3 high 13.9h
July Good 24° - 32° 33° 144 mm overcast 84% 2.7 m/s 1.9 very high 13.7h
August Good 24° - 31° 32° 105 mm partly cloudy 83% 2.4 m/s 1.7 very high 13.1h
September Very Good 20° - 27° 24° 122 mm partly cloudy 83% 2.4 m/s 1.3 high 12.2h
October Very Good 15° - 22° 19° 83 mm partly cloudy 79% 2.1 m/s 1.0 moderate 11.3h
November Very Good 10° - 17° 13° 62 mm partly cloudy 79% 2.0 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.6h
December Good 5° - 12° 7° 39 mm partly cloudy 77% 1.9 m/s 0.5 low 10.2h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Qiandao Lake

Qiandao Lake (Thousand Islands Lake) is in Chun’an County, Zhejiang. Regular intercity buses run from Hangzhou to Chun’an/Qiandao Lake (journey roughly around two hours by road), and many visitors drive from Hangzhou or join organized tours. Driving times vary by origin; from Hangzhou the trip by car or coach is commonly around two hours via the regional expressways.

Tips for Visiting Qiandao Lake

  • Take an early‑morning boat tour for calm water, better visibility of the islands and mirror-like reflections before winds pick up later in the day.
  • Avoid Chinese national holidays (Golden Week and early May) when the main docks and island tours become extremely crowded; if you must travel then, book boats and hotels well in advance.
  • Use the official passenger terminal in Qiandao Lake Town as your departure point and reserve seats on the scenic-boat lines the day before-walk-up tickets frequently sell out on busy days.