Water released by the Dongjiang Lake Dam forms another small lake named Xiaodongjiang which is famous for its fog, becoming the most attractive spot in this tourist area. The fog is mainly caused by temperature difference. From every May to October, the somewhat colored fog would gently rise and spread during the sunrise or sunset, exposing tourists to a beautiful fairyland. Early in the morning, refreshing air and mountains are even more pleasing with the milky fog enveloping and later completely covering the lake. Particularly, the mist would change its color as the temperature, weather and sunlight vary.

 

As the temperature rises, the original still mist will begin to spread and float up, decorating the fishing boats on the lake and mountains on both sides into a landscape painting. In the morning, there will be fishermen performing the net casting, which tourists can appreciate and take photos of. Photos taken here have won domestic and foreign photography awards and Xiaodongjiang naturally grows to be a desirable place for photography creation around the country.

 

Dongjiang Lake covers a large area where quite a few tourist boats can compete to sail. As a breeze blows over, reflections of islands, mountains, the sky and clouds are all dancing with the ripples, unfolding a refreshing and elegant picture scroll that will definitely enchant people present at the scene. 

 

Then here comes another scenic spot—Bailang, a place characterized with islands and lakes. In spring, peach trees on the island are in full blossom. Beside the roads around the lake, walkways are set to allow tourists to enjoy the spacious water and grand mountain. You are guaranteed to ease your pressure and stress with such scenery in front of you. 

 

Longjing Valley is well-known for its steep mountains and beautiful waterfalls where tourists can breathe the air rich in negative oxygen ions that is rare in China, making it known as “the natural oxygen bar”.

 

Located in the heartland of Dongjiang Lake, Huangcao Town is the core scenic spot here with a forest coverage rate of 90%. Dongjiang Drifting, one of China’s best drifting projects, is thrilling with an overall journey of 26 kilometers, a drop of 75 meters from its starting point to destination and a total of 108 rapids. On both sides of the waterway stand intact virgin forests. As the waterway winds forward, rocks of different strange shapes can be seen everywhere.

 

 

Chenzhou city and Zixing city both put the ecological protection of Dongjiang Lake in the first place to protect its clear water and beautiful scenery. On the one hand,  efforts have been increased to implement the river and lake chief system; on the other hand, more efforts have been put into protection, management and supervision along with the problem-orientated principle to protect the water ecological environment. At present, progress has been made in the ecological public-welfare forest and afforestation projects in the Dongjiang Lake Basin.

 

Logging is all banned with the aim to protect water conservation forests. Forests, banks, villages and roads involved have been improved and protected by greening. The wetland projects such as Xingning River Estuary, Hangxi River Estuary and Huangcao Lake Shore are under construction so that the water flowing into Dongjiang Lake can be filtered and purified in a natural manner.

 

In Dongjiang Lake, net cages are ordered to be removed and passenger ships are required to install cabinets for sewage storage. Pollutants produced on ships are to be dealt with ashore and old and shabby boats are to be abandoned. No discharge of pollution from livestock and poultry breeding in the lake area is realized by closing or relocating pig farms within 500 meters along the coast of Dongjiang Lake. Besides, industrial and mining enterprises around are also shut down. 

 

The strictest water resource management system is implemented in the Dongjiang River basin to strictly control agricultural pollution and strengthen the management of industrial and domestic sewage outlets. Relevant departments jointly enforce the law of demolishing illegal buildings along the Xiaodongjiang and outlawing illegal restaurants and lodgings along. Artificial releasing is carried out. Fishing boats and oil pollution collecting ships are used to salvage flotsam on the lake surface. Forests within the visual range of the Dongjiang Lake are all classified as ecological forests.

 

A sewage treatment plant newly built is to fully collect and treat sewage in the towns around the Lake. Rural centralized domestic sewage treatment facilities, rural decentralized sewage treatment facilities, garbage transfer stations or garbage harmless treatment plants are being established step by step. Environmental volunteers often join in such activities as salvaging flotsam, picking up litter along the shore, patrolling and cleaning the beach.

 

Great efforts are made to boost the culture of water in Zixing City with the sustainable development of water resources. The city fully implements the “Tourism Plus” project to develop the integration of tourism with such five industries as culture, sports, mountains, agriculture and health care, initially forming a development pattern of regional tourism with Dongjiang Lake at its core. We will make scientific plans to create a path of prosperity under the principle of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and promote rural revitalization.

 

 

In early November 2017, Dongjiang Lake, as the sole representative of Hunan Province, made a speech at the meeting on exchanging experience on construction and management of typical national water conservancy scenic spots held by the Ministry of Water Resources.

 

Dongjiang Lake maintains its water quality at Class I surface water, which reaches the national first level for drinking water. Dongjiang Lake is the main water source for urban agglomerations in Chenzhou City, Zixing City and Guiyang City, and the strategic water source for building resource-economical and environment-friendly society in Hunan and urban agglomeration in Changsha City, Zhuzhou City and Xiangtan City.

 

To protect Dongjiang Lake, Hunan people have made unremitting efforts and finally built Dongjiang Lake a prettier place with a friendly environment. Dongjiang Lake is also a symbol of treasure which enables Zixing City to be ranked among the top ten economic counties/cities in Hunan Province for many years in a row.

 

In 2019, Zixing City was approved as a practice and innovation base of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, becoming the first city in Hunan Province to win such recognition.