Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area
Hongjiannao is China's largest desert freshwater lake and a habitat for the relict gull. The lake was named for the alkaline soil found along its shores,…
Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area, Northern Shaanxi · Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥30
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Address
- Erlintu Town, Shenmu City
- Getting there
- Take a bus from Yulin North Bus Station to Shenmu, where dedicated minibuses run to Hongjiannao. Interprovincial buses from Yulin to Dongsheng District in Inner Mongolia pass by Hongjiannao; the journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and costs ¥12.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 679. Open in Google Maps
About Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area
Hongjiannao is China's largest desert freshwater lake and a habitat for the relict gull. The lake was named for the alkaline soil found along its shores, which can be boiled into a slightly reddish caustic soda. Legend has it that when Wang Zhaojun was married far away to the Xiongnu, she looked back toward her homeland from here, overcome with sorrow, and wept for seven days and seven nights. For this reason, Hongjiannao is also called 'Zhaojun's Tears.' Seven seasonal rivers flow into the lake year-round, and its misty waves stretch vast and seemingly imbued with spirit. Gazing at the sparkling water as waterbirds roam freely, you'll feel as though time has stood still.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area cost?
Admission to Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area is ¥30, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How do I get to Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area?
Take a bus from Yulin North Bus Station to Shenmu, where dedicated minibuses run to Hongjiannao. Interprovincial buses from Yulin to Dongsheng District in Inner Mongolia pass by Hongjiannao; the journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and costs ¥12.
How long should I spend at Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area?
Plan on 4–5 hours for Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area.
Where is Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area?
Hongjiannao Lake Scenic Area is in Northern Shaanxi, Shaanxi Province, in the Northwest of China. Erlintu Town, Shenmu City
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