Leave City Cares Behind and Savor Life’s Simple Pleasures

I was drawn to Qiandao Lake by its scenic beauty, and by a need to escape from stress. ‘Thousand Islands’ – just the name sounds magnificent. On a sunny weekend, my friend and I drove here. Though it was summer, the thrill of fleeing the concrete jungle and arriving at this vast watery world kept the heat at bay.

The best thing about a road trip is being able to stop wherever you want. Along the way, the lake stretched wide, hills and water embracing each other, with misty, dreamlike views that felt like a fairyland. Gazing into the distance where water met sky, the rolling mountains seemed to appear and vanish, making you want to breathe in the fresh air deeply.

On the first day, we headed to Wenyuan Lion City. This site is a replica of the ancient city that has lain submerged beneath Qiandao Lake for a thousand years. I’d seen a live TV broadcast exploring the underwater ruins and had been fascinated ever since. It takes about an hour to drive from Qiandao Lake to Wenyuan Lion City, following the Chunkai Line with lake views all the way. If you have a camera, you’ll probably take even longer.

The original Lion City, over 1,400 years old, was named after the Wushi Mountain (Five Lions Mountain) behind it. It was home to many historic sites – ancient pagodas, memorial arches, Yue Temple, City God Temple, Zhonglie Bridge, Wushi Academy, and tombs from various dynasties. When the Xin’an Reservoir was built, the city was swallowed by the water. Its prosperity sank into the depths. Now, Wenyuan Lion City has been rebuilt on the lakeside at Jiangjia Town, the closest point to the underwater ruins, perfectly showcasing the submerged millennia-old city. As the ancient city slowly reawakens in memory, both the rebuilt town and the dream-makers who painstakingly restore it are truly awe-inspiring.

The moment we got out of the car, the towering gate of Wenyuan Lion City stood under blue sky and white clouds, majestic and imposing. Flanking the gate were lifelike stone lion sculptures – so grand!

Once inside, I made a beeline for the VR experience hall. There you can tour the entire underwater city in 360 degrees, getting a sense of every brick, tile, and blade of grass. The traces of a thousand years are sealed beneath the water, and now only through technology can we draw a little closer and glimpse its ancient elegance, while appreciating the sacrifice and courage of those who relocated over sixty years ago. I'd been longing to see the underwater city up close. Although I couldn’t dive to the lakebed myself, technology let me get near it, and that was satisfying enough.

Walking further in, the architecture all featured Huizhou-style white walls and dark tiles. Eaves curved upwards, windows were carved into wooden latticework – time-honored and classic. Tourists bustled about, creating a lively atmosphere. Beneath our feet, the flagstone path was simple and ancient; occasionally we spotted stones carved with the 24 solar terms. Stepping on them one by one, I suddenly felt like someone from the past, walking the land on square bricks. A strange sense of familiarity washed over me, so fleeting! I turned to my friend and mused: if it were a past life, who can say where we truly belong? This place really has a magical pull.

On the old street, white walls and black tiles lined up in neat rows, and photo-worthy spots were everywhere.

We were lucky enough to stumble upon a street parade, many of them intangible cultural heritage folk dances – lion dance, bamboo horse dance, shadow puppetry. After watching them all, we agreed the bamboo horse dance was the most fun. Performers wrapped themselves in red, green, yellow, white, and black cloth, with horse shapes tied front and back around their waists, leaping and prancing as if riding real horses. I genuinely envied the locals; these hometown memories, etched into their bones, will never be forgotten no matter how far they roam.

Loud, powerful gongs and drums paired with vivid performances instantly ignited the crowd’s enthusiasm – the place was packed with cheering spectators.

Inside Wenyuan Lion City, there’s also a performance stage called Lion City Hall, with daily shows featuring local Chun’an traditions. Every seat was taken, applause and cheers erupted constantly, and the performers deserved every bit of praise. Folk culture meets fun here, and all sorts of activities await exploration.

After the show, we wandered and snacked. All the local street foods were quite affordable, but since we’d come mainly for Qiandao Lake’s fish head, we only sampled them lightly. The organic fish head at Yichunfu Restaurant was absolutely superb. The creamy white broth, paired with tender tofu, was so fresh it almost zapped your taste buds. The fish meat was delicate, succulent, and springy – truly a local specialty.

While eating, a warm-hearted auntie told us that besides excellent folk activities, Wenyuan Lion City is also one of China’s few living heritage experience bases, with textile workshops. So after the meal, we rushed over. In the bustling city, the constant flow of traffic makes life feel like a hurried, superficial rush – busy all day with no time for simple pleasures or inner peace. But here, there are all sorts of DIY shops. With help from the shop assistants, you can let your creativity run wild, free from any rules. In just half an hour, you finish your own little work of art, enjoying the slow-paced life that the city can’t offer.

Beyond weaving, there are exquisite bamboo-woven crafts and tie-dye items. Just looking at them is a treat, and if you're keen, you can walk in and try your hand at making them too.

Strolling around the ancient town, we snapped some photos, but looking at ourselves in the frame, we felt oddly out of place. Then it hit us – our clothes were all wrong! Spotting a “Republic Era Impressions” costume shop on the street, we went straight in. Dressed in cheongsams, we became part of a vivid brush-and-ink painting, gracefully drifting along the bluestone paths of this Jiangnan water town. Around the corner, there was a shop selling oil-paper umbrellas, with nostalgic settings and charming Republic-era style billboards – perfect for photos to share on social media.

At the end of the street was another unique shop – a nostalgia museum. Stories of the past live in what we’ve heard and seen, and hide deep in our hearts. But is memory itself the best way to remember? No, it’s the objects that carry memories. At the museum, as we looked at the old items and listened to the elderly curator tell their stories, we let our imaginations fill in the bygone days… This museum is definitely worth a visit!

For me, accommodation is the most important part of a trip. Only when your body is comfortable and rested can your spirit truly relax, and can you fully soak in a place’s local colors and human touch.

We chose the Lion City Art Stay inside the scenic area. At check-in, the staff patiently talked with us, asking about our preferences and arranging a room we’d love. Even the pickiest guest can find a themed room that suits them here.

Since we’d just tried weaving that afternoon, we were curious to see what a textile-themed room looked like. The guesthouse is divided by theme, scattered across the area. After checking in, the staff worried we might not find it and personally led us there. Along the way, they helped carry our luggage, pointed out where breakfast would be served the next morning, and told us to call anytime if we needed anything. Such attentive service made us instantly fond of this place.

The textile-themed room we chose was in the heart of the old town. Downstairs, in what looked like an activity center, performers were rehearsing, and crowds had gathered to watch. Going in through the side entrance, we found a lively little courtyard where our room was. Lush trees and a pavilion promised cool shade even at blazing high noon. Colorful koi swimming in the pond added a touch of liveliness to this charming space.

On the door hung an award for the art stay. Inside, the room was spacious, with a large bay window by the bench – perfect for brewing tea and chatting with a friend. What’s more, everything from the custom toiletries to the bottled water, and even the brochures, bore the Lion City mark. I think that’s what a good guesthouse is all about. When you travel, the unique imprints of a place are its greatest treasures. Lion City Art Stay aced the details!

As the full day wound down, my friend and I freshened up and lay in bed, letting our thoughts drift… Holding an oil-paper umbrella, walking the old bluestone paths, dappled old-timey light filtered through branches. Strolling a thousand years back, we unveiled history step by step, feeling the traces left by time, imagining the city’s hustle and bustle before it was submerged. Exploring the mysteries underwater, this oriental “Atlantis” will continue to guard its buried past beneath the blue waves, and keep telling its story here on the earth above.

The next morning was beautiful, and after a quick chat with my companion, we set off for the central lake area of Qiandao Lake, which includes Moonlight Island, Yule Island, Longshan Island, and Meifeng Island. We spent the whole day visiting all four.

Moonlight Island, the largest, is made up of several smaller islets. It’s arguably the best spot for couples. At the Moonlight Chapel, you can promise a lifetime together; on the floating bridge, you can feed the koi; and the wedding photo base helps capture romance and love.

Of the four, my favorite was Meifeng Island. I felt it best captured the lake’s true charm. We bought tickets and climbed to the top, where you can overlook all of Qiandao Lake. Surrounded by hills and water, the view was graceful and gentle, like a demure Jiangnan lady.

There are two ways to go up: by cable car, feeling the wind’s speed in an exhilarating ride, or by slowly hiking up, soaking in the tranquil natural beauty and your own reflections. As the saying goes, “Going up is easy, coming down is hard,” but here, coming down is much simpler. A grass-sledding ride offers a completely new experience. Though the track was short, it was thrilling and fun for a first-timer like me.

My last stop was the Tianyu Mountain Viewing Platform, where you can see the Qiandao Lake Bridge. Spanning 1,258 meters across the lake, its wing-like shape blends perfectly with the surrounding landscape. A stream of vehicles races across it, showing the harmony between humans and nature.

On a clear day, you can catch the sunset and afterglow from here, with the collision of red and blue hues nature’s exquisite work of art. The spacious platform and long boardwalk make it an ideal viewing spot, and visitors come and go, all captivated by the scenery. This is where I took the most photos on the trip; the prime location makes every snap look like a masterpiece, making me feel like a pro photographer.

And so, along this route, my Qiandao Lake journey came to an end. The time spent here left me with beautiful memories and a sense of the lake’s unique romance. Emotions change across eras, but isn’t the meaning of life exactly in seeking them out?