Taihu Lake is situated 4 km southwest of Wuxi, it consists of Meiliang Lake and Lihu Lake.
With an area of 2250 square kilometres and an average depth of 2 metres, Taihu Lake (or Lake Tai) is the third largest freshwater lake in China.
Some 90 islets, large or small, plus the presence of many fleets of fishing junk boats add to its landscape, making it a remarkable spectacle.
The best way to experience the beauty of the lake is to take a boat out to one of the three small islands that lie off the shores of the peninsula. They are known as the "Islands of Immortals," since classical authors imagined that Daoist sages and nature spirits would be drawn to a place of such great natural beauty, and also separated from the human world by the lake.
Although the immortals aren't frequent visitors today, their legends have inspired a range of scenic spots hidden beneath the islands' trees.One of the most impressive is a giant bronze statue of Lao-tzu, its green patina blending with the surrounding forests. Many other small temples and dot the islands.
Boats run to and from the islands all day, and they are included in the price of admission to the garden. Some tour groups also arrange for cruises on historic seven masted junks, once used as fishing boats but now restored for tourism. Cruising the lake on these classic ships is unique and memorable way to experience the lake.
What to see:
Meiliang Lake
A bay of Taihu Lake covering approximately 200 square kilometers. It is the best spot of Taihu Lake Scenery Zone.
Turtle Head Islet
It
was originally founded in 1918. Then Hengyun Mountain village, Guangfu temple, Taihu Lake Villa and Zhen Park were built one after another. In the 1980s, it was largely expanded and its total area reaches 321 acres.
Luding Hill
Situated on this are Xizi Pond, Fanli Hall, Jin'ou Pavilion, Shutian Attic and Youyou Pavilion. There is an island called Three-hill Island with an area of about 30 acres, 3.6 kilometers south of Turtle Head Islet in Taihu Lake. They are miraculous for their isolation, smallness and exquisiteness. The highest peak of Three-hills is named Three Peaks. The Huicui building was constructed on the southern slope of Three Peaks.
On the top of the highest peak stands the Poem Tablet Pavilion, built according to Wen Zhengming, an outstanding scholar's poem about Taihu Lake.
Lihu Lake
,With another name Five Li Lake, is a bay of Taihu Lake in the northwest, covering an area of 9.5 square kilometers. It is named after the legend of Fanli and Xishi (one of the four famous beauties in ancient China). Li Garden, formerly Fanli's residence occupies a corner of Lihu Lake covering an area of some 202 acres.
Fourty percent of this area is covered with water. It includes four tourist areas: Four Season Pavilion, the core of the park, South Dan Lakeshore, New District and Rockery Group. Among them, the Old Bridge was constructed by Rong Desheng in 1934. The 375 meter-long bridge links Turtle Head Islet and the urban district. The New Bridge was constructed in 1984.