Changshou Lake, body of water
Changshou Lake is a large reservoir in Chongqing's Changshou District, formed when the Longxi River was dammed in the 1950s. It covers roughly 65.5 square kilometers and holds 203 islands of varying sizes that together form the Chinese character for longevity when viewed from above.
The lake was created in the 1950s with the Shizitan Dam, China's first rock and concrete dam built with Soviet assistance as part of early hydropower development. The thousand-meter-long structure attracted visits from Chinese leaders who came to see this landmark project in water management and energy production.
The lake draws couples to the Romantic Magpie Bridge and Lovers' Slope, where visitors hang ribbons on the Wish-Making Tree to ask for blessings. These spots reflect how ancient symbols of love and long life remain woven into the way people experience and celebrate the landscape today.
Visitors reach the lake by taking a high-speed train from Chongqing's main station to Changshouhu station, a journey of about 30 minutes, followed by a short shuttle bus to the lakeside area. Swimming is not recommended due to deep sections, but boat trips, hiking trails, and paved cycling routes along the shores are popular, with reliable cell service and facilities concentrated near the main scenic zones.
The longevity character formed by the islands is not simply a visual pattern, but when flipped upside down, it transforms into the character for "long", creating a dual message of both long life and happiness. This double symbolic meaning, visible only from above, exists nowhere else on any lake in China.
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