Wanlv Lake Scenic Area is located in Dongyuan County, Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Wanlv Lake is the largest artificial lake in South China. It gets its name because it is green in all four seasons and green everywhere. The scenic area covers a total area of about 1,600 square kilometers, including a water area of 370 square kilometers and a water storage capacity of 13.9 billion cubic meters. The lake water is of excellent quality, meeting the national Class I surface water standard, and is directly drinkable. Wanlv Lake is surrounded by mountains and dense forests, with a forest coverage rate of over 98%. There are many islands in the scenic area, each with its own shape. In addition, there are some distinctive buildings in the scenic area, such as the imitation ancient buildings in the Flowers in the Mirror Theme Tourist Area, which add a cultural atmosphere to the scenic area.
Historical and Cultural
Wanlv Lake was formerly Xinfengjiang Reservoir. Construction began in 1958, and the reservoir was completed and began storing water in 1969. At that time, in response to the national call for water conservancy construction, local residents actively participated in the construction of the reservoir. The completion of Xinfengjiang Reservoir not only solved local problems such as flood control, power generation, and irrigation, but also laid the foundation for the later tourism development of Wanlv Lake.
As time passed, Xinfengjiang Reservoir gradually attracted more and more tourists with its beautiful natural scenery. Because it remains green in all four seasons, it was named Wanlv Lake and began to be developed for tourism. During the development process, the scenic area deeply explored local cultural resources. Based on the Qing Dynasty novel Flowers in the Mirror by Li Ruzhen, it created the Flowers in the Mirror Theme Tourist Area, integrating scenes and cultural elements from the novel into the construction of the scenic area and enriching its cultural connotation.
Today, Wanlv Lake Scenic Area has become an important tourism calling card for Heyuan City. It not only showcases the beauty of natural scenery but also inherits and promotes local culture.
Major Attractions
Flowers in the Mirror Scenic Area
Flowers in the Mirror Scenic Area is one of the important attractions of Wanlv Lake Scenic Area. It was created based on the Qing Dynasty novel Flowers in the Mirror by Li Ruzhen. There are many imitation ancient buildings in the scenic area, such as the Kingdom of Women and the Kingdom of Gentlemen, vividly recreating scenes from the novel. Visitors can admire the exquisite architecture here and learn about the stories and culture in Flowers in the Mirror. In addition, the scenic area also has rich plant landscapes, with shady green trees and abundant flowers. Strolling through it feels like being in a fairyland. The scenic area also offers some performances and interactive programs, allowing visitors to experience the cultural charm of Flowers in the Mirror more deeply.
Water Moon Bay
Water Moon Bay is the only tourist area in Wanlv Lake with a swimming beach and water entertainment. The lake water here is crystal clear, and the beach is fine and soft. Visitors can enjoy swimming here to their heart's content and also take part in various water entertainment activities, such as motorboats and banana boats. There are rest areas and dining areas on the shore for visitors to rest and eat. The surrounding natural scenery is beautiful, with green mountains and clear water complementing each other, making it a great place for leisure vacation.
Dragon and Phoenix Island
Dragon and Phoenix Island is a beautiful island in Wanlv Lake, named for its shape resembling a dragon and a phoenix. The island is shaded by green trees, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, and its ecological environment is excellent. There are many rare plants and animals on the island, and visitors can appreciate the wonders of nature here. In addition, there are some viewing platforms on the island. Visitors can climb up to the platforms and overlook the beautiful scenery of Wanlv Lake. The island also has some distinctive folk performances and activities, allowing visitors to experience local cultural customs.
Wanlv Valley Resort
It is the first original ecological natural fishing village on the ring road around Wanlv Lake. Located by the southern lakeshore of Wanlv Lake and nestled against the beautiful and picturesque Nanshan, it is like a paradise away from the world, making people linger and forget to return. Relying on its uniquely favorable original ecological resources and after more than ten years of development, it now mainly includes attractions and entertainment projects such as Baiziwei Hotel, Fisherman's Courtyard, Dadousi Lake Fresh Restaurant, Lakeside Flower Fields, Nanshan Corridor, Ecological Garden, Wanlv Valley · Yu, and Water Sports Base. It is a high-end leisure resort integrating health and wellness vacation, Hakka culture, fisherman lifestyle, dining and entertainment, and business conferences.
Suggested Itinerary：
If you plan to visit Wanlv Lake Scenic Area in Heyuan City, you can choose the following route:
After arriving at the scenic area in the morning, first take a boat to Flowers in the Mirror Scenic Area. Spend 2–3 hours touring the imitation ancient buildings, watching performances, and participating in interactive programs to learn about the culture of Flowers in the Mirror. At noon, dine inside or around the scenic area and taste specialty foods such as Wanlv Lake freshwater fish and Hakka stuffed tofu.
In the afternoon, take a boat to Water Moon Bay, where you can enjoy swimming and water entertainment and relax. After that, take a boat to Dragon and Phoenix Island to enjoy the natural scenery and distinctive folk performances on the island. End your visit before about 16:00, take a boat back to the main entrance of the scenic area, and conclude a pleasant journey.
Travel Tips：
Learn about the scenic area's ticket policy and opening hours in advance, and plan your itinerary reasonably to avoid delays.
Since the scenic area is mainly toured by boat between attractions, it is recommended to arrive early so that you can catch the boats on time. At the same time, pay attention to safety when boating and follow the instructions of the staff.
Water Moon Bay has water entertainment projects. You can prepare swimsuits, swim caps, and other items in advance so that you can fully enjoy the fun on the water.
Food inside the scenic area may be relatively expensive. You may bring some snacks and drinking water, but be sure to keep the scenic area clean and do not litter.
In summer, take sun protection measures, apply sunscreen, and wear a sun hat and sunglasses. In winter, keep warm.
If you are interested in photography, you can bring a camera. Wanlv Lake's natural scenery and cultural landscapes are both great subjects for photography.
Notes：
Protect the scenic area's environment, do not litter, and do not damage plants or the ecology in the scenic area.
While boating, wear a life jacket properly and do not walk around or play around on the boat to avoid danger.
When swimming at Water Moon Bay, pay attention to your own safety, do not go into deep water, and follow the instructions of the lifeguard.
When visiting imitation ancient buildings such as those in Flowers in the Mirror Scenic Area, follow the scenic area's rules and do not touch or damage buildings or cultural relics.
If you choose to drive yourself, obey traffic rules and park according to the parking lot instructions to avoid affecting other vehicles and pedestrians.
If you encounter an emergency in the scenic area, contact scenic area staff promptly or call the scenic area's rescue hotline for help.
Transportation：
Bus: There are buses from downtown Heyuan to Wanlv Lake Scenic Area. You can take Bus No. 10, but bus frequency may be low, so check the bus timetable in advance before traveling.
Self-driving: Visitors can choose to drive. Starting from downtown Heyuan, drive along Yuewang Avenue, Yingke Avenue, and other roads, and follow navigation instructions to the scenic area. There is a parking lot in the scenic area for convenient parking.
Taxi: Taking a taxi from downtown Heyuan to Wanlv Lake Scenic Area is relatively convenient. The fare depends on the actual distance and is generally around several tens of yuan.
Tourist shuttle bus: There may be tourist shuttle buses from downtown Heyuan to Wanlv Lake Scenic Area. You can ask local travel agencies or hotels for relevant information. Tourist shuttle buses are relatively convenient.
Opening Hours：
Wanlv Lake Scenic Area is open daily from 09:00 to 16:00. Visitors need to enter the scenic area before 16:00. Boat schedules within the scenic area are arranged according to the number of visitors and time, and generally there is a boat every certain interval. During public holidays or peak tourist seasons, the scenic area may adjust its opening hours appropriately. Visitors are advised to check the latest opening hours through the scenic area's official channels before going.
Tickets：
Admission: 198 yuan per person.