Stone Elephant Lake (Shixiang Lake)

The Stone Elephant Lake, aka Shixiang Lake, is located in Pujiang County, about 89 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of central Chengdu. It got its name for the Stone Elephant Temple by the lake. The lake is like a natural maze owing to the numerous bays and turnings. The highlights of the scenic area are Stone Elephant Temple, Stone Elephant Lake, various flowers and luxuriant Chinese red pine forest.

Map of Chengdu Stone Elephant Lake (Click to enlarge)

The Stone Elephant Lake was named after the Stone Elephant Temple by the lake. The temple was constructed in memory of the Great General Yan Yan of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). It is said that Yan Yan became an immortal and flew to heaven on an elephant there. With a history of more than 1,700 years, the temple mainly comprises the Jade Buddha Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Hall of the Goddess of Mercy, the Hermit Forest, and the Stone Lion of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). Tourists can learn about Buddhist culture which centers on kindness and compassion, and the culture of the Three Kingdoms which focuses on war weariness and love for peace.
 With a total area of 53 hectares (132 acres), the Stone Elephant Lake lies in a virgin forest. The water channels are like a maze, crisscrossing one another in a complicated pattern. Tourists may get lost when they row a boat on the lake. Nevertheless, the beautiful scenery will take away the breath of tourists. At dawn, they can watch the thin mist at the top of the green hills while singing a song. At dusk, they can listen to the chirps of birds that are returning to their nests, which is a unique and extraordinary experience.
 The Stone Elephant Lake organically combines the ecological environment with the planning of flowers. These flowers are planted not in green houses or flowerpots, but in earth directly. It is difficult to plant delicate flowers in earth, but the determined gardeners made it. As far as they are concerned, flowers can present their utmost beauty and vitality only in nature, and tourists can enjoy a feast of flowers only in nature. Every March, the largest Tulip Festival in Asia is held here. Tourists seem to arrive at a town of Netherlands while wandering in a sea of charming tulip flowers. In mid September, the whole lake is permeated with the fragrance of lilies during the Lily Tourist Festival.
 The forest coverage rate of the scenic area exceeds 90%. The whole lake is surrounded by Chinese red pines. The pines not only give off a large quantity of oxygen, but also fill the air with the scent of rosin, making the area a 'Natural Oxygen Bar'. When walking in the forest, tourists can breathe in fresh air with high oxygen content, which is good for their hearts and lungs.
 Take a bus to Stone Elephant Lake from Xinnanmen Bus Station. The buses depart at 9:00, 10:00, and 10:20. The trip takes about 1.5 hours, and the ticket fare is CNY 33.

Entrance Fee	CNY 80
Transportation Fee inside the Scenic Area	Boat: CNY 40 per person Battery Car: CNY 10 per person
Opening Hours	May to Sep.: 8:30 - 17:30 Oct. to Apr.: 9:00- 17:00