Xinfengjiang Reservoir & Dam

Behind Wanlü Lake, surrounded by green mountains, islands, scenic waterways and hydropower heritage is the Xinfengjiang Reservoir in Heyuan.

Created by the construction of the Xinfengjiang Dam in the late 1950s, the reservoir transformed the surrounding valleys into a vast network of deep blue-green waterways, forested mountains and islands. Today, it is one of Heyuan’s ecological and tourism destinations.

The Creation of Xinfengjiang Reservoir

The history of the reservoir is closely connected with the development of the Xinfengjiang Hydropower Station that began in the late 50's as part of a major water-control and hydropower project. The Xinfengjiang River was dammed, creating a large scale reservoir surrounded by mountains.

Rather than looking like a conventional artificial lake, its numerous bays, islands and mountain valleys create the appearance of a vast inland water landscape.

About the Dam

The concrete gravity dam is approximately 124m high and 440m long.
The dam also became famous for its resistance to earthquakes. According to Heyuan authorities, it was the world's first concrete dam over 100m high to withstand a magnitude-6 earthquake.

Surrounding Landscape

The Xinfengjiang Reservoir extends through a mountainous landscape, with numerous islands, peninsulas and narrow waterways creating constantly changing views. The surrounding vegetation gives the water its characteristic green appearance and explains the area's name, 万绿湖 Wanlü Lake, which means “Ten Thousand Green Lake”.

The best way to appreciate the Xinfengjiang Reservoir is from the water.
You can travel through boat excursions between the reservoir's islands and explore areas that cannot be reached by road. Popular destinations within the wider Wanlü Lake scenic area include Longfeng Island, Shuiyue Bay.

The surrounding forests, mountains and waterways provide habitats for a wide variety of plants and wildlife.

This combination of clean water, forests and low-density development gives the reservoir a very different atmosphere from the urbanized areas of the Pearl River Delta.

---

More about Heyuan