Lake Tai, Protected freshwater lake in Jiangsu, China.
Taihu spreads across Jiangsu province and contains roughly ninety islands scattered throughout the shallow waters. Most shoreline areas are backed by gentle hills and villages, while some inlets are fringed with reeds and aquatic plants.
The basin formed millions of years ago and filled with water from the East China Sea during a geological phase. Dynasties used the fertile surroundings for rice cultivation and fishing, turning the region into an economic center.
The name Taihu means great lake and appears in centuries of Chinese poetry and painting. Fishermen still work the waters today using traditional flat-bottomed boats designed for the shallow depths between the islands.
The best views come from hills along the northern and western shores, where paths wind through orchards and tea plantations. Boat trips to the islands depart from several piers and take between thirty minutes and two hours depending on the destination.
The Yuantouzhu peninsula takes its name from its shape, which resembles a turtle head when seen from the water. On clear days you can spot the silhouettes of distant islands from there, which seem to almost disappear into the haze.
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