Dajin Lake, located in Taining County of Sanming City, Fujian Province, is one of the top most beautiful Danxia landform in China, ranked by China National Geography Magazine. It covers a total area of more than 230 square km and can be divided into five scenic areas: Jinhu Scenic Area, Shangqingxi Steam Scenic Area, Zhuangyuan Rock, Luohan Mountain and Taining Ancient Town.
According to the investigation certification of 63 well-known geological experts, the Danxia Landform above Dajin Lake is the world's most complete development one with the widest varieties, richest landscapes, largest area and highest altitude.
Taining World Geological Park
In 2005, Dajin Lake National Geopark was accredited by UNESCO, and was upgraded to Taining World Geopark. The park covers a total area of 492 square km, which Danxia area occupies square km. Consisting of Stone Net, Dajin Lake, the Eight Immortals Cliff, Gold Naoshan, the four parks and Taining Ancient Town, it is a composition of adolescent Danxia Landform (as the main landform), granite, volcanic, tectonic geomorphology and other geological heritage.
Dajin Lake not only has unique landform landscape, but also offers "cave culture" spectacle. It is said that there were up to 130 temples in Dajin Lake area, and each one was built in caves on a hillside. So far there are only about 70 remained, including Ganlu Temple(Sweet Dew Temple), which was modeled with the most prestigious World Heritage in Japan - Nara East Great Buddha.
Five Main Scenic Areas in Dajin Lake
【Jinhu Lake Scenic Area】
Jinhu Lake is located in the middle of the park, originated from Jinxi Stream. After the hydropower station built here in 1980, the area of the lake’s surface is 36 square km. Since then, the vast deep clear water and the oddly-shaped Danxia hills became the perfect combination of dynamic and static, known as "the World’s First Lake Mountains” and it is very famous at both home and abroad. Now, Jinhu Lake is the largest artificial lake in China, with a water capacity of 870 million cubic meters.
【Shangqingxi Stream Scenic Area】
Shangqingxi Stream hides in between the valleys among the mountains. It is an incised meander in the valley formed by geological movement 65 million years ago. Sit in a bamboo raft and flow down along the stream, the scenery by the stream is very beautiful like the heaven.
【Zhuangyuan Rock Scenic Area】
Zhuangyuan means the Number One Scholar in Chinese. Zhuangyuan Rock is the representation of Taining Confucian culture and Taining World Geopark. It is said that, the No. one scholar Zhou Yinglong used to climb the rock and studied hard in the cave of the rock for 5 years when he was young. Later he became the No. One Scholar, and was revered as a sage. Subsequently ancient Confucianism students imitated the ancestors to read and debate in the cave.
Temples in Cave on Cliff
【Luohan Mountain Scenic Area】
Here you can find red Danxia cliffs, ancient trees, vines, mountains and water. You could see mountians looks like Luohans, hence the name.
【Taining Ancient City】
Taining Ancient City has a long history of more than 1340 years. Here you can see well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasties’ buildings. And you can find authentic local rural life of southern China.
Travel Guide
【Chinese name】: 泰宁大金湖
【Best time to visit there】: from April to October is the best time to visit there. But in July and October, there are often typhoons and storm.
【How to get to Taining Dajin Lake】: As the transfer to Taining Dajin Lake is not so convenient, it is recommended to rent a car with experience driver to visit there.