Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake)

Qiandao Lake, or Thousand Island Lake, lies about 150 km west of central Hangzhou in Chun'an County, reached in roughly 2-2.5 hours by direct tourist bus from Hangzhou Qiaosi or West Bus Station. The reservoir was created in the 1950s by damming the Xin'an River, submerging an ancient valley and leaving more than 1,000 forested islets scattered across clear turquoise water, with the surrounding hills reaching their most vivid green in early summer. A day trip typically starts with the bus arrival at Qiandaohu Bus Station, followed by a scenic-area shuttle to one of the boat docks, where a cruise ticket covers a route past several of the larger islands, such as Longshan Island (with its Five Lions Mountain viewpoint) or Meifeng Island. Mornings are best for boat departures since the water is calmer and haze is lighter; afternoons allow time for a lakeside walk or a stop at a fish restaurant serving the region's specialty fish-head soup, made from the lake's own farmed fish. Because the round trip from Hangzhou takes roughly 4-5 hours total, an early departure -- ideally before 8 a.m. -- is recommended to leave enough daylight for one full boat route and a relaxed lunch before the return journey. Late spring through early autumn brings the clearest water and greenest hillsides, while cooler months can bring misty mornings that some visitors find scenic but that shorten the practical boating window.