Northern and Southern Henan, Henan Province

Nanwan Lake

南湾湖Hiking & Outdoors · Photography · Nature

This provincial-level scenic area is not to be missed. Its broad lake stretches to the horizon, where water meets sky. On still days the lake mirrors the clouds; when waves surge,…

Nanwan Lake, Northern and Southern Henan

Key facts

Admission
¥60; boat ticket ¥40
Time needed
3–4 hours
Guidebook rating
3 / 5

From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2143. Open in Google Maps

About Nanwan Lake

This provincial-level scenic area is not to be missed. Its broad lake stretches to the horizon, where water meets sky. On still days the lake mirrors the clouds; when waves surge, it takes on the grandeur of the sea. Taking a small boat out on the lake on a moonlit night gives a feeling of wandering through an immortal's realm.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Nanwan Lake cost?

Admission to Nanwan Lake is ¥60; boat ticket ¥40, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.

How long should I spend at Nanwan Lake?

Plan on 3–4 hours for Nanwan Lake.

Where is Nanwan Lake?

Nanwan Lake is in Northern and Southern Henan, Henan Province, in the Central China of China. No. 188 Nanwan Street, Xinyang City

More places in Northern and Southern Henan

Jigong Mountain Scenic Area

Xinyang, in the south of Henan Province, is renowned for the lush forests of Jigong Mountain Scenic Area. Jigong Mountain takes its name from its main peak, which resembles a rooster with outstretched wings. Its scenery is beautiful, and summer temperatures are typically around 23 °C, making it an excellent place to escape the heat. It is praised with the saying “Green divides Henan from the Chu lands; commanding the three great rivers.” Scattered across the mountain are more than 200 villas built in the early 20th century by missionaries and merchants from various countries, each in a distinctive style and full of charm.

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Seventy-Two Pools Scenic Area

Mountains are the bones of the land and water its lifeblood; streams wind gently along the contours of the hills. The Seventy-Two Pools flow ceaselessly through all four seasons, with nearly a hundred stone pools, each shaped differently, a masterpiece of nature. It is hailed as “China's Number One Stone Stream.”

¥55 · 2–3 hours

Baligou Scenic Area

Forest cover in the scenic area reaches 90%, with more than 1,100 plant species. It features seven great gorges and thirty-six peculiar peaks, offering a sense of mystery and wonder at every turn. It gathers the essence of the Taihang landscape, combining uniqueness, danger, steepness, elegance and seclusion within a single valley, and has long been a famous destination.

¥160 (admission + round-trip shuttle bus) · 4–5 hours

Guoliang Village

Known as the “village hanging on a cliff,” Guoliang is a naturally formed settlement that retains a wild, primordial character. It is famous for its dramatic cliffs and the Cliffside Corridor, a passage of more than 1,250 metres carved by hand into the rock face. Highlights include Cliff Canyon, the Cliffside Corridor and the Film Village. More than 40 films and TV dramas, including *Walk Out of the Horizon* and *Hands Up!*, have been shot here, earning Guoliang the title “China's No. 1 Film Village.”

Included in the Wanxian Mountain scenic area ticket · 2–3 hours

Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area

Made up of four scenic areas: Guoliang Village, Nanping, Luojie Village and Zijing Mountain. Main highlights include Guoliang Cave, Guoliang Village, Heavenly Pool, the Hongyan Cliff Grand Canyon, Heavenly Pool, Lotus Basin and White Dragon Cave.

¥107; included in the Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area ticket · 1–2 days

Chinese Characters Museum

The museum presents the unbroken lineage of the Chinese script, including exemplary character specimens and explanations of the structural features and evolution of ancient characters. It holds 4,123 relics in total, 305 of them first-class, covering oracle bone script, bronze inscriptions, bamboo and wooden slips, and silk manuscripts. It is a great destination for anyone interested in the history of Chinese characters, the history of calligraphy, or the scripts of China's ethnic minorities.

2–3 hours