Baofeng Lake: The Jade Pool in the Sky

Cradled snugly among the jagged quartz peaks of Wulingyuan, east of the towering peak forests that have made Zhangjiajie world-famous, lies a body of water that feels like a secret tucked into the mountains. This is Baofeng Lake — the Lake of Precious Peaks, widely praised as a classic of alpine lakes, and the quiet, shimmering counterpart to Zhangjiajie’s soaring stone spires.

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Part of the Wulingyuan UNESCO World Heritage Site, this high-mountain lake sits 438 meters above sea level, cupped within a natural basin of sandstone cliffs and dense subtropical forest. Stretching 2.5 kilometers through the gorge, its emerald waters cover 30 hectares and plunge to an average depth of 72 meters — a stretch of calm, deep green surrounded on all sides by sheer peaks and forested ridges. Long known locally as a “jade pool in the sky”, it offers the softest, most serene side of Wulingyuan’s dramatic landscape.

The classic way to experience Baofeng Lake is by wooden boat, gliding silently across its mirror-smooth surface. As the boat drifts away from the dock, the mountains unfold around you like a slow-rolled scroll painting. Every bend reveals a new rock formation shaped by centuries of water and weather, each with its own quiet legend. There is the Goddess Peak, its soft silhouette leaning over the water like a Tujia maiden gazing at her reflection in the lake; on misty mornings, she seems to float half-veiled in cloud, as if about to lean down and touch the surface. Further along, the half-face of the Pig God Rock peeks from the cliff — a stone profile said to be the mischievous Zhu Bajie from the classic Journey to the West, caught sneaking a look at the bathing goddess and left with only half his face visible as punishment. Nearby, twin peaks form the shape of a giant golden toad; when the full moon hangs low between them on clear nights, it looks as if the toad holds the moon gently in its mouth.

At the southern end of the lake, Baofeng Waterfall tumbles down a multi-tiered cliff in a veil of white spray, its soft roar carrying across the water. This cascade is famous beyond China’s borders as one of the filming locations for the iconic Water Curtain Cave in the 1986 television series Journey to the West. For generations, locals have climbed the stone steps behind the falling water, feeling the cool mist on their faces and looking out through the curtain of water at the lake and peaks beyond — a view that feels like looking out from a hidden fairy world.

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For those who wish to look down rather than out, Yingwo Village — the Eagle’s Nest Stronghold — perches high on the mountain ridge above the lake. Once an ancient fortified village, it now offers sweeping panoramic views over the entire lake and the rolling sea of peaks beyond. Hidden among the trees higher up also stands Baofeng Temple, a quiet mountain monastery where the scent of incense drifts through the forest, mixing with the sound of wind in the pines.

Baofeng Lake is more than just a scenic lake. It is the gentle, lyrical counterpoint to Zhangjiajie’s bold, towering peak forests — a place where the drama of the mountains softens into quiet reflection, where stone and water and sky blend into perfect harmony. At roughly two hours for a complete boat tour and waterfall walk, it is the most relaxed, unhurried experience in all of Wulingyuan, and a reminder that the greatest natural wonders come in both soaring and quiet forms.