Qiandao Lake·the Xanadu: Attracted to Its Beauty at First Sight
In many people’s eyes, Qiandaohu Town is the byword of excellent water quality and an excellent ecological environment. The city is surrounded by mountains on four sides and situated on the banks of Qiandao Lake. It features rippling emerald-green water, scattered islands, and zigzag lake shoreline leading to secluded places. In early mornings when the fog enveloping the lake doesn’t fade, a small boat is occasionally seen sailing through, like a dreamy mountain and water landscape painting.
Chun’an County is the first ecological county in Hangzhou that doesn’t assess GDP and its Qiandao Lake features not only the vastness of Taihu Lake and the elegant charm of the West Lake.
With 1,078 islands, Qiandao Lake has more islands than any other lake on earth. Looking into the distance at the summit of Meifeng Peak, you will see seemingly countless green islands floating on the water surface just like pieces of plum blossom petals scattered all over. They are of different shapes and feature different scenery, full of vitality. It’s hard for people not to be moved by this kind of scene. Those who have only heard of Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) would think “thousand” is an adjective to describe many, but in fact, it’s a real qualifier that says the exact number of islands in the lake.
With an annual average temperature of 17 degrees Celsius, national ClassⅠWater Quality, a forest coverage of 82.5 %, and an air quality rate of 95% … Qiandao Lake, as an international garden city, is one of the worldly recognized livable areas.
In China's most developed Yangtze River Delta region, Qiandao Lake with such an excellent environment is definitely the most unique existence.
It is like an ideal Xanadu.
Chun’an · Millennial Ancient City: Gaining Insight at the Second Encounter
Almost everyone knows about Qiandao Lake, while Chun’an County, where Qiandao Lake is located, is not as good as the former in terms of popularity.
If Qiandao Lake stands for the stunning beauty of the world, then Chun’an symbolizes the profound historical and cultural connotation of the place.
Chun’an County is an old name. It was originally founded in 208, the thirteenth year of Jian’an of the Eastern Han, and has a history of over 1800 years. It is the place where Huizhou Culture and Jiangnan Culture integrated.
It was in Chun’an that Zhu Xi (朱熹), a famous Neo-Confucianist from the Song Dynasty once lectured and left behind him a famous verse; It was in Chun’an that Fang La (方腊) from the Northern Song Dynasty led an uprising; It was in Chun’an that Shang Luo (商辂) who served as the Prime Minister for three emperors was born; It was in Chun’an that Hai Rui, the famous honest and upright official served as the magistrate of the county for four years …
Now at the bottom of the vast Qiandao Lake still lie two well-preserved ancient cities. They are the witnesses of the dazzling culture and history of Chun’an County. Qiandao Lake is an artificial lake formed during the construction of Xin’an River Hydropower Station in 1959. As China’s first large-scale hydropower station, Xin’an River Hydropower Station has played a significant role in the power supply of Eastern China at that time. But also because of this, the then Chun’an County and Sui’an County were submerged into the bottom of Qiandao Lake permanently.
Later, the two counties merged to form the current Chun’an County and the current Qiandaohu Town was built on the new site.
Surrounded by mountains on four sides and being adjacent to Qiandao Lake, the newly built millennial town shines a new radiance attracting more and more people’s attention.
Weiping ·the Starting of Chun’an: When Looking Back, It’s True Love
If I have to pick an area that shared the most similar experience to that of Chun’an in the 23 towns and villages of Chun’an County, then it must be Weiping Town (威坪镇).
Backed by a mountain and adjacent to water, Weiping Town boasts of enchanting scenery with overlapping bamboos and greenery everywhere. It stands erectly as before after going through all those vicissitudes and transformations. The time gone by has never been able to reduce its brilliance.
Weiping Ancient Town is where the system of prefectures and counties system in Chun’an County first started. It was then known as Yongping Town (永平镇). It is the seat of the government of Xin’an Prefecture during the Western Jin Dynasty, the origin place of Xin’an Culture, and the earliest seat of government of prefecture along the mainstream of Qiantang River, governing six counties. It can be said to be the origin of Huizhou Culture, which was formed after the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Weiping, since ancient times, was abundant in talents. There are much-told tales such as “Both Brothers earned the title of Jinshi *”, “Both the Father and the Son earned the title Juren *” and “A Family with Three Jinshi’s”, and the majority of officials were known for outstanding political achievements.
*Jinshi (进士) refers to a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations in ancient China.
* Juren (举人) refers to a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level in ancient China.
Qianshi (钱时), a scholar of the Song Dynasty, was once personally bestowed by Lizong Emperor of the Song the title “Civilian Jinshi”. But he didn’t want to be an official, so he founded the first academy, Rongtang Academy (融堂书院), in Chun’an in the suburb of Weiping Town – Shufu. He had trained 13 Jinshi’s for the Song and Ming dynasties.
While in 1959, the water preservation project of Xin’an River Reservoir submerged the old Weiping Town at the lake bottom. In 1982, in the northeast of Weiping Town at the Wharf of Hongqiao Bridge, mountains were split apart, slopes were flattened and a town was built. Hence, Weiping Town is an ancient yet young town.
The now rising Weiping Town is situated on the banks of Qiandao Lake, boasting of picturesque scenery, an abundance of talents, resources, and convenient transportation with Qiandaohu Town only 45 kilometers away. What’s exciting is that Qiandao Lake-Mt. Huang Highway will be opened at the end of 2020, which will cut the travel time between Qiandaohu Town and Weiping Town from one hour to 25 minutes, a major leap forward in traffic development.
It is the sub-center of Chun’an County which implements the system of “One main center and two sub-centers”, and also the political, economic, and cultural center of the Weiping Area which has a population of nearly 100 thousand.
Qiandao Lake, a beautiful Xanadu, displays its stunning natural scenery.
Chun’an County, a long-standing millennial ancient city, retains abundant cultural connotation.
Weiping Town, a town kept by the time, records the cultural origin back to the beginning.
Qiandao Lake->Chun’an County->Weiping Town
It’s like the three stages of a relation.
Meet each other (Qiandao Lake), get to know each other (Chun’an County), and understand each other (Weiping Town).