Yuncheng Salt Lake
运城盐湖（解池）
An inland saltwater lake known as 'China's Dead Sea', whose salt ponds turn into colorful patches from algae and minerals, making for stunning aerial photography.
Yuncheng Salt Lake, known in antiquity as Jiechi, is an inland salt lake with over 4,000 years of salt mining history. It covers about 130 square kilometers and lies just south of Yuncheng's urban area. In the summer heat, microorganisms such as Dunaliella salina together with minerals turn the water red, orange, green and purple. Seen from above or from a drone, the ponds look like an artist's palette, earning the lake the name 'Seven-Color Salt Lake'. The scenic area has two main sections: the Seven-Color Salt Lake viewing area, reached by a boardwalk and ideal for photography, and the China Dead Sea floating area, where visitors float in highly saline water and enjoy mud baths, with separate tickets required. In cold winter weather, the salt ponds produce mirabilite crystals that form white 'glauber flowers' on the surface. The colors change with the weather and season, and they look paler on overcast days. The lake is about 5 to 10 kilometers from the city, and taxis are readily available. Check the official source for ticket prices. Brine can sting wounds, so stay on the boardwalk and do not step off it. Drone flights must comply with the scenic area's rules and airport airspace restrictions.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:30–18:30
Nearby sights
- Yuncheng Museum
- Changping Guandi Family Temple
- Mausoleum and Temple of Emperor Shun
- Xiezhou Guandi Temple
- Sima Guang Shrine and Tombs
- Shengtian Lake
- Li Family Compound (Yanjing)
- Dayudu Scenic Area