Zibi Lake (茈碧湖), located in Eryuan County, Yunnan Province, is a natural freshwater lake formed by the depression and dissolution of the plateau. It is also one of the main lakes in the upstream of Erhai Lake and the source of Erhai Lake. Zibi Lake is also known as Ning Lake or Green Jade Pool, named after the precious aquatic plant it harbors – the Zibi flower. This flower, with heart-shaped leaves floating on the water surface, stems measuring seven to eight feet long anchored in the mud at the bottom of the lake, blooms in summer resembling lotus pods, mostly in yellowish-white hues, emitting a fragrance noticeable between noon and 4 pm, closing into bud form during other times.
Within Zibi Lake lies a rare natural spectacle known as “water flower trees.” On clear, sunny days, when one ventures to the heart of the lake by boat, they might be able to witness this wonder: from the depths of the clear and green waters, strings of glistening water droplets emerge, shining like a tree adorned with pearls under the sunlight.
Zibi Lake covers an area of 7.86 square kilometers (8.46 square kilometers including the Grass Sea to the southwest), with a length from north to south of 6.1 kilometers and a maximum width from east to west of 2.5 kilometers and a minimum of 0.75 kilometers. The total shoreline length is 17 kilometers, with an average depth of 11 meters and a maximum depth of 32 meters. The average water temperature is 14°C, with the lowest water level at 2052.8 meters above sea level and the normal water storage level at 2056.2 meters, with a total capacity of 93.224 million cubic meters. The lake’s water is clear and jade-like, serving as the main irrigation source for Dengchuan Dam. Backed by green mountains and facing the dam, Zibi Lake boasts a picturesque environment. To the north of the lake lies a pear orchard, while to the west stands the Black Valley Mountain, where Chengbi Tower and the Dragon King Temple were once built along the lakeside foothills.
Legend has it that long ago, there was a beautiful and capable fisherman’s daughter living by Zibi Lake, skilled in embroidering lotus flowers. The Dragon King of Erhai Lake sought to marry her and sent his men to propose. Upon hearing the news, the fisherman’s daughter rode a small boat onto Zibi Lake, tossing the meticulously embroidered white lotus flowers she made into the water. In an instant, the entire lake was covered in blossoming 36 jade flowers. Subsequently, the girl jumped into the lake and ended her life. To commemorate this fisherman’s daughter, every year on the nights of the 22nd and 23rd of the seventh lunar month, a sea lantern festival is held.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 day |
| Ticke Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
Location and Transportation
Zibi Lake is located in the northeastern part of Eryuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It is approximately 3 kilometers from the county seat of Eryuan and about 73 kilometers north of Dali Ancient Town.
To reach Zibi Lake from Dali Ancient Town, you can take a bus from the station opposite San Yue Jie (March Street, 三月街) to Eryuan County (洱源县). Upon arriving in Eryuan County, you can then take a taxi or a tricycle to reach the lake. If you’re heading to the pear orchard at Zibi Lake, you can take a boat from the Zibi Lake Pier. From Xiaguan in Dali City, there are also buses available at the bus station heading to Eryuan.
