Poyang Lake
Drive up to Poyang Lake from the south
The rugged beauty of rural Jiangxi Province, China, is Poyang Lake. At an average size of around 3,500 square kilometers (1,400 sq. mi), it is China’s largest freshwater lake, and is an essential stop off point for millions of migrating birds every year, as well as the habitat for the very rare freshwater finless porpoise, locally known as the jiangzhu, or “river pig.”
The Lake-View Pavilion in Wanghuting town plays a role in a popular story about the area.
One day, she suggested a stratagem to her husband, hoping that it would bring him victory. At first, General Chen rejected the idea, but he later realized that he did not have any better ideas. In addition, some of his subjects strongly recommended his wife's plan. He implemented her plan and won the battle.
During the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) General Chen Youliang battled with Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)) at Poyang Lake. Chen's wife often watched the battles from the pavilion, noting that neither side seemed to dominate the conflict.
On his way home from the battlefield, General Chen saw his beloved wife waiting for him in the pavilion. Planning to play a trick on her, he laid down his commander-in-chief banner. Seeing the banner on the ground, his wife thought that her husband had lost the battle and been killed because he failed to take her advice. She was so distressed that she jumped into the water and died.
Local fisherman on Poyang Lake
Local woman dries lake anchovies by the side of Poyang Lake
Local fish farmers make the fish into air-dried products for sale on the winter market
Paying Lake wetland is a well paved walking area…
…with amazing bird spotting places.