Baofeng Lake

Baofeng Lake: The Ultimate Guide for Foreign Visitors

Cradled in a natural basin at the heart of the Wulingyuan World Heritage area, Baofeng Lake is a jewel of emerald water surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs draped in subtropical forest. While Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars dominate the headlines, this hidden lake offers something different — a serene, contemplative beauty that unfolds slowly from the deck of a wooden boat as Tujia boatmen sing traditional folk songs that echo off the canyon walls. If the pillar forests are Zhangjiajie's drama, Baofeng Lake is its poetry.

Overview and Why Visit

Baofeng Lake (Baofeng Hu, literally "Precious Peak Lake") sits at an elevation of approximately 600 meters within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, about 7 kilometers south of the Wulingyuan entrance gate to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The lake is approximately 2.5 kilometers long and varies in depth from 40 to 120 meters. Its waters are remarkably clear and take on a deep emerald-green color from the reflection of the surrounding cliffs and forest canopy.

The lake is a natural reservoir formed when geological activity created a natural dam across a mountain stream. The result is a long, narrow body of water enclosed by near-vertical cliffs on both sides, creating a canyon lake of extraordinary beauty. The scenery has been compared to the Norwegian fjords, though on a more intimate scale and with subtropical vegetation replacing the Nordic evergreens.

For foreign visitors, Baofeng Lake serves as a peaceful counterpoint to the busy mountaintop viewpoints of the national forest park. The mandatory boat ride is a welcome respite for tired legs after days of hiking, and the musical performances by Tujia minority singers — included with admission — add a cultural dimension absent from the pillar-forest experience. The lake can be visited in a half-day, making it easy to combine with a morning or afternoon in the main park.

A Brief History

Baofeng Lake is deeply embedded in Tujia ethnic minority culture. The Tujia people — one of the largest ethnic minorities in China, concentrated in the mountainous areas of Hunan, Hubei, and Chongqing — have lived in the Wulingyuan area for centuries. Local legend holds that the lake was formed when a young Tujia woman, heartbroken by the death of her lover in battle, shed tears that filled the mountain valley. The lake's name in the Tujia language carries connotations of precious treasure, reflecting its importance in local culture and cosmology.

The lake area was relatively inaccessible until the development of the Wulingyuan scenic area in the 1980s and 1990s. A dam at the lake's outlet was reinforced and a boat dock constructed in the early 1990s, opening the lake to tourism. The decision to feature Tujia cultural performances as part of the boat tour was made to preserve and showcase the indigenous culture of the region, and it has become one of the most distinctive aspects of the experience.

In 1992, the lake was included in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area when it received UNESCO World Heritage status. A waterfall at the lake's entrance, cascading approximately 30 meters down a cliff face, was enhanced to create a more dramatic approach to the boat dock area.

What to See: The Complete Experience

The Entrance Trail and Waterfall

The path from the ticket gate to the boat dock winds through lush forest along a stream, passing a series of small waterfalls. The main waterfall near the entrance — approximately 30 meters high — is the most photogenic. The trail takes about 15-20 minutes and is paved with stone steps, gently ascending through a canopy of subtropical trees and bamboo. In the rainy season (April-September), the waterfalls are at their most impressive.

The Boat Ride

The centerpiece of a Baofeng Lake visit is the boat tour. Visitors board traditional-style wooden boats (each holding approximately 20-30 passengers) at the upper dock and are rowed or motored along the length of the lake, passing beneath towering cliff faces on both sides. The boats move slowly, allowing ample time to absorb the scenery — sheer walls of sandstone and limestone, covered in moss, ferns, and clinging trees, reflected perfectly in the still, green water.

During the boat ride, Tujia singers in traditional costume perform folk songs from the lakeside or from smaller boats. The songs — typically love ballads and harvest songs sung in call-and-response style — have a haunting quality that is amplified by the natural amphitheater of the canyon walls. Even if you do not understand the lyrics, the melodies and the setting create a deeply atmospheric experience. The singing is not merely decorative; it represents a living tradition that the Tujia community actively maintains.

The boat ride takes approximately 25-30 minutes. At the far end of the lake, the boats dock and passengers disembark to walk back along a trail that offers elevated views over the lake from above.

The Lakeside Walkway and Viewpoints

After disembarking from the boat, a walking trail follows the canyon rim back toward the entrance, passing several elevated viewpoints that offer bird's-eye perspectives of the lake below. From above, the emerald color of the water is even more striking, and you can see the boats tracing their paths across the surface. The trail takes approximately 30-40 minutes and involves some stairs (descending overall). It provides an entirely different perspective from the boat-level view.

The Tujia Cultural Square

Near the entrance/exit area, a cultural performance area features Tujia dance performances, craft demonstrations, and opportunities to learn about Tujia customs. The quality and schedule of these performances varies, but when running, they provide valuable context for understanding the indigenous culture of the Zhangjiajie region. The Tujia are known for their distinctive brocade weaving (xilankapu), their bark and leaf musical instruments, and their "crying wedding" tradition (where the bride cries for days before the wedding as a ritual expression of gratitude to her parents).

Practical Information for Foreign Tourists

Tickets and Entry

Entrance ticket: CNY 96 (approximately USD 14), which includes the boat ride. The boat ride is mandatory — there is no option to walk the full lake edge without a boat.
Shuttle bus: A shuttle from the parking area to the entrance may be included or cost a small additional fee.

Opening hours: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM (peak season), 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (off-season). Last entry approximately 1.5 hours before closing.

Booking: Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. Unlike the glass bridge, advance booking is generally not necessary as the lake rarely reaches full capacity, except during major Chinese holidays.

How to Get There

From Wulingyuan town: Baofeng Lake is approximately 7 kilometers from the Wulingyuan entrance gate. Local buses and taxis run regularly to the lake entrance. A taxi from Wulingyuan town costs approximately CNY 20-30. Some hotels offer shuttle services.

From Zhangjiajie City: The lake is approximately 40 kilometers from the city center (about 1 hour by car). It is most practical to combine a visit to Baofeng Lake with time in the national forest park, using Wulingyuan as your base.

How Much Time to Spend

A complete visit — including the entrance trail, boat ride, lakeside walkway, and cultural area — takes approximately 2-2.5 hours. The experience is leisurely by nature and should not be rushed.

Best Time to Visit

Morning (before 10:00 AM): The lake surface is calmest in the early morning, producing the best reflections. Mist may linger in the canyon, adding atmosphere. Fewer tour groups at this hour.

After rain: The waterfalls are most impressive after rainfall, and the air is clean and clear. The forest greens are especially vivid when wet.

Autumn (October-November): The surrounding forest displays beautiful fall colors — oranges, reds, and golds reflected in the emerald water create a stunning color palette.

Food Nearby

• Near the entrance: A few small restaurants and snack vendors sell basic meals and drinks. Options are limited — eat a proper meal before or after your visit.
• Wulingyuan town: Your best bet for a full meal. The town has dozens of restaurants serving local Tujia cuisine and standard Chinese dishes. Try the smoked meats (larou) and wild mountain vegetables typical of the region. Budget CNY 30-60 per person.
• Bring water and snacks. There are few purchasing options once you are on the boat or the lakeside trail.

Insider Tips

• Combine with the national forest park. Most visitors spend 2-3 days exploring the Wulingyuan area. Baofeng Lake makes an excellent half-day activity on an arrival or departure day, or as an afternoon break after a morning in the forest park.
• Sit at the front or sides of the boat for the best views and photos. The middle seats are more sheltered but offer restricted sightlines. Position yourself during boarding — the front fills up first.
• The Tujia singing is a genuine highlight. Even if you find boat tours generally unexciting, the combination of the canyon acoustics, the traditional melodies, and the stunning setting elevates this beyond a typical tourist boat ride.
• Bring a rain poncho. If it rains during the boat ride, there is no shelter. The experience in light rain is actually very atmospheric, but getting soaked without protection is not pleasant.
• The lake is at its most beautiful on slightly overcast days, when the diffused light intensifies the green color of the water and eliminates harsh shadows on the canyon walls. Bright sunny days create more contrast but less color saturation.
• The walkway back from the boat dock is the part most visitors rush through — do not. The elevated viewpoints along this trail offer the best photographic opportunities of the entire visit.
• If you visit during the Chinese New Year period (January-February), the Tujia cultural performances may be expanded to include special holiday traditions.

Photography Tips

• Reflections are the signature shot. On calm mornings, the lake surface mirrors the cliffs and forest with near-perfect clarity. Compose your shots to include equal portions of the real landscape above and the reflection below, with the waterline running through the middle of the frame. A polarizing filter can either enhance or reduce reflections — rotate it to find the effect you prefer.
• The waterfall near the entrance is best photographed with a slow shutter speed (0.5-2 seconds) to create a silky water effect. A mini-tripod or bracing your camera against a railing helps. Visit after rain for maximum water flow.
• From the boat, photograph the canyon walls with a medium telephoto (50-100mm) to isolate sections of cliff, moss, and hanging vegetation. The textures and patterns in the rock are extraordinary at close range.
• The Tujia singers in traditional costume make excellent subjects. Their colorful clothing against the green water and gray rock creates vivid color contrasts. Use a telephoto lens from the boat for close-up portraits without intruding on the performance.
• From the elevated walkway, shoot downward at the boats on the lake. The contrast between the tiny boats, the emerald water, and the enormous canyon walls powerfully conveys the scale of the landscape.
• Autumn color reflections: If visiting in October-November, the fall foliage reflected in the lake creates extraordinary images. Position yourself at viewpoints where colorful trees overhang the water's edge.
• Mist and fog: Morning mist rising from the lake surface, threading between the canyon walls, creates ethereal images. These conditions are most common in autumn and early spring mornings.

Baofeng Lake is the quiet heart of the Zhangjiajie experience — a place where the spectacle gives way to serenity, where the mountains meet the water, and where the ancient songs of the Tujia people remind you that this landscape has been home to human communities for far longer than it has been a tourist destination. After the vertigo of the glass bridges and the drama of the pillar forests, the gentle rhythm of a boat on still green water is exactly the counterpoint your journey needs.