Fuxian Lake, part 4 of 5. All five notes.

Living by the north shore for two months meant I didn’t have to see the lake in a hurry. Every so often, I’d take a day to go somewhere else along it: Luchong in mid-July, the area around Taiyangshan at the end of the month, and the road from Taiyangshan towards the S-bend in early August.

It was the same clear water and open view that had made me stay, just seen from a different shore each time.

Luchong: rocks, sails and water over stones

At Luchong Scenic Area (禄充风景区), I sat on the rocks and under the branches, looking out at white sails against the water and layers of hills behind them.

Looking down was just as good as looking out.

Fuxian Lake seen from the rocky shore at Luchong.
Fuxian Lake seen from the rocky shore at Luchong.
A white sail on the lake, framed by rocks and branches.
A white sail on the lake, framed by rocks and branches.
Two more views of the lake at Luchong
A wide view across Fuxian Lake from Luchong.
A wide view across Fuxian Lake from Luchong.
The lake and distant hills beneath overhanging branches.
The lake and distant hills beneath overhanging branches.

The water was so clear that I could watch it moving over coloured stones, their outlines shifting with every ripple. This was the clarity that had made me stay in the first place.

Clear water over the stones at Luchong (6 seconds).

Away from the water’s edge, people sat at tables among the trees and flowers, in patches of shade by the shore.

Trees, flowers and the lake at Luchong (7 seconds).

Taiyangshan: coffee vans with a lake in front

The scenery around Taiyangshan Town (太阳山小镇) was beautiful too. Along the road there were lots of coffee vans. If you were tired, you could sit down for a coffee with Fuxian Lake right in front of you. It was a lovely place for that kind of break.

Wooden platforms and paths ran along the shore, with glimpses of blue-green water through the trees.

A lakeside deck overlooking Fuxian Lake.
A lakeside deck overlooking Fuxian Lake.
A path beside the lake near Taiyangshan.
A path beside the lake near Taiyangshan.
Coffee vans and outdoor seating near Taiyangshan (8 seconds).

I liked how the plants kept framing the lake differently: trunks and branches half hiding it in one place, tall stems in front of it in another, and then a sudden open view with a few white sails.

The lake seen through trees along the shore.
The lake seen through trees along the shore.
Tall stems against the lake and sky.
Tall stems against the lake and sky.
More scenery around Taiyangshan on 27 July
Sails and clouds over Fuxian Lake.
Sails and clouds over Fuxian Lake.
The lake and hills beyond a waterside railing.
The lake and hills beyond a waterside railing.
Clouds above the green slopes around Taiyangshan.
Clouds above the green slopes around Taiyangshan.
A lakeside lawn with a Fuxian Lake sign.
A lakeside lawn with a Fuxian Lake sign.

From Taiyangshan towards the S-bend

In early August, I went along the stretch from Taiyangshan Town towards the spot known as the “most beautiful S-bend” (最美S弯).

From this side, the shore curved in and out below the hills, with layers of cloud over the water, small white sails and long views across the bays.

White sails beneath layers of cloud on Fuxian Lake.
White sails beneath layers of cloud on Fuxian Lake.
A view across the bay, with buildings on the distant shore.
A view across the bay, with buildings on the distant shore.
More sails, branches and cloud along the way
Sailboats across the open water of Fuxian Lake.
Sailboats across the open water of Fuxian Lake.
The bay framed by branches along the shore.
The bay framed by branches along the shore.
Clouds stretching above Fuxian Lake, seen from the shore.
Clouds stretching above Fuxian Lake, seen from the shore.

The road was half the pleasure. It bent between rows of tall trees, then came out above a lakeside curve where cars had pulled over. From higher up, the whole bay opened out below, with umbrellas dotted along the shore.

A palm-lined road on the way from Taiyangshan Town to the S-bend.
A palm-lined road on the way from Taiyangshan Town to the S-bend.
Looking down over the bay and the umbrellas along the shore.
Looking down over the bay and the umbrellas along the shore.
The lakeside bend and another broad view
A bend in the lakeside road, with Fuxian Lake beyond.
A bend in the lakeside road, with Fuxian Lake beyond.

That was the luxury of staying a while: I had the lake on my doorstep, and still had time to go and see how it looked from somewhere else.

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About this note

This note draws on my own travels and photographs and videos.

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