Qiandaohu - During our trip in Zhejiang Province, one of the destinations I was most looking forward to visiting was Qiandao Lake, also famously known as Thousand Island Lake. Located in Chun’an County, this stunning man-made freshwater reservoir is renowned throughout China for its crystal-clear waters, scenic islands, fresh seafood, and peaceful natural beauty.
Qiandao Lake was formed in 1959 after the construction of the Xin’an River Hydropower Station. Today, the reservoir contains an astonishing 1,078 lush green islands scattered across the lake, creating one of the most picturesque landscapes in China. Surrounded by rolling hills and forests, the lake has become a popular destination for scenic cruises, cycling, photography, and relaxing getaways away from busy city life.
Before even arriving at Qiandao Lake, we encountered something interesting while arranging transportation. Initially, I checked the ride fare using Didi, China’s popular ride-hailing app, and the quoted price for a direct journey from our Hangzhou hotel to our hotel at Qiandao Lake was nearly RMB500.
Wanting to explore cheaper alternatives, we approached the front desk staff at our hotel for assistance. The front desk was extremely helpful and contacted a local tour desk on our behalf. Surprisingly, the tour desk quoted us an even higher price of around RMB750 for the same journey.
Fortunately, the receptionist managed to help us find a private driver who agreed to take us directly from hotel to hotel for only RMB200. We immediately accepted the deal as it was far cheaper and much more convenient than the other options.
Interestingly, we also realised that there often seems to be a “foreign price” and a “local price” in certain parts of China, especially for transportation and tourism-related services. Prices can vary significantly depending on who is asking and how bookings are arranged. Thankfully, having helpful local staff made a huge difference for us.
Another option would have been taking the High-Speed Rail (HSR), but after calculating the additional taxi rides required to and from the railway stations, the total cost would have ended up around RMB200 anyway. In the end, the direct car transfer was clearly the most comfortable and convenient solution.
The journey itself was pleasant and smooth. About one hour into the drive, we stopped at a rest stop that completely surprised us. Unlike ordinary highway rest areas, this one looked modern and luxurious, almost like a shopping mall.
The most impressive feature was a huge aquarium built around the central elevator structure. Colourful fish swam around the transparent tank surrounding the lift, creating a unique and eye-catching design. Inside the building were shops, restaurants, cafes, and resting areas that made the stop feel more like a mini lifestyle mall than a roadside service station.
After continuing our drive through scenic mountain roads and countryside landscapes, we finally arrived at Qiandao Lake and checked into our hotel. The air immediately felt fresher and cleaner compared to the city, and the calm atmosphere around the lake was incredibly relaxing.
Naturally, one of the first things we wanted to do after checking in was try the local cuisine. We walked to a nearby restaurant for lunch, determined to sample the lake’s most famous specialty — the legendary Qiandao Lake Fish Head Soup.
This dish is considered the defining culinary treasure of Qiandao Lake. The soup is made using the lake’s famous “big head carp,” a freshwater fish known for its tender meat and rich flavour due to the exceptionally clean water conditions of the lake.
When the dish arrived, the serving was enormous. The fish head itself was massive, simmered in a spicy and oily broth together with tons of chilli on top. The fish tasted incredibly fresh and tasty but spicy.
We also had stir fried eggs with green peppers.
Another stir fried vegetable dish with toufu. Alongside the meal, we also tried the local Qiandao Lake Beer. The beer paired wonderfully with the fish dishes and added to the authentic local dining experience. Cheerday is the Qiandaohu beer brand company.
As we enjoyed lunch overlooking the peaceful surroundings, I realised that the journey to Qiandao Lake had already become memorable even before exploring the islands themselves.
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