Fuxian Lake & Chengjiang

One of China's deepest freshwater lakes, with jade-colored water, the Chengjiang Fossil Site recording the Cambrian explosion, and lakeside cycling and resort stays.

Fuxian Lake is in Yuxi, Yunnan Province, about 70 km from Kunming. The lake spans Chengjiang City, Jiangchuan District and Huaning County, and is one of China's largest deep freshwater lakes, with clear, deep-blue water. Chengjiang on the north shore is the hub for lodging and dining and home to the Chengjiang Fossil Site, a World Natural Heritage site. The west shore has Luchong, Mingxing Fish Cave, Guanglong Town and Red Beach; on the south shore, Jiangchuan District offers Gushan Island, the Fish Boundary Stone, Xingyun Lake and the Lijiashan Bronze Museum. The climate is mild year-round: the Nov–Apr dry season brings the most sunny days and the bluest water, while the May–Oct rainy season is cool but the water turns greener and showers are frequent. Classic activities include cycling the Time Boardwalk on the north shore at sunset, driving or taking the lake loop bus around the roughly 100 km lakeshore road, and spending half a day at the fossil site museum and Maotian Mountain. Getting there: direct buses run from Kunming South Bus Station to Chengjiang, and it's about an hour's drive via the Kunming–Mohan Expressway; sights around the lake are spread out, so self-drive, hire a car or rent an e-bike. Plan 2–3 days. Note: to protect water quality, swimming and most motorized water activities are banned on Fuxian Lake, and camping and barbecues are not permitted in the lakeshore ecological zone; the fossil site museum requires advance booking. Local specialties include kanglang fish cooked in a copper pot, Chengjiang lotus root starch and Jiangchuan bighead carp.

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