Baiyang Lake: Deep in the Reed Marshes of Northern China

🌿 Baiyang Lake: Find a Poetic Retreat Deep in the Reed Marshes of Northern China Core Highlights Location: Xiong'an New Area, 2-hr drive from Beijing/High-speed train to Baiyangdian Station Best Seasons: June–September (lotus blooming), October (reed catkins flying) Must-try Experiences: Wooden boat ride through the reed marshes, lotus picking in the lotus garden, nostalgia in Gazicun Village Hidden Experience: Follow the fishermen at dawn to experience "reed cutting and mat weaving" 🌅 First Impression of Baiyang Lake: A Water Town Dream in Northern China At 5 a.m., dewdrops roll on the lotus leaves in the Lotus Grand View Garden like pearls. Take a wooden boat and slowly row into the reed maze. The boatman's long pole breaks the mirror-like water surface, startling a row of egrets. In the distance, the fishermen's wooden houses in the morning mist are faintly visible, and wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys. This is not the Yangtze River Delta, but it has a more untamed water town charm than the Yangtze River Delta. 💭 A Moment of Heartbeat When the boat passes through a reed alley that only allows one boat to pass, you suddenly encounter a large area of wild lotus flowers. Dragonflies perch on the pink and white petals. The boatman smiles and says, "The lotus flowers here don't need to be planted, they are all wild." Suddenly, I realized that the most touching scenery is never deliberately carved. 🚤 In-depth Guide 1. Waterway Exploration Classic Route: Cultural Garden Pier → Reed Maze → Lotus Viewing Garden (2-hr boat ride) Hidden Route: Ask the boatman to take you to the wild lotus marshes that only locals know about. 2. Lotus Culture Experience Lotus Picking in the Morning: Learn to pick lotus pods with the fisherwoman, and the freshly peeled lotus seeds are sweet and delicious. Full Lotus Banquet: Lotus leaf-wrapped meat, lotus root stewed with fish, fried lotus petals 3. Red Memories Gazicun Village: Relive the anti-Japanese war story of "Little Soldier Zhang Ga" Yanling Team Memorial Hall: See the wisdom of the water guerrillas 📸 Three Major Photo Spots Lotus Garden Viewing Platform At sunrise, drones capture the spectacular view of thousands of acres of lotus flowers blooming. Reed Maze Waterway In the afternoon, the sun shines through the reed leaves, casting golden speckles on the water. Fishermen's Evening Song Take silhouette photos at sunset, with returning boats carrying a full load of sunset glow. 🦀 Baiyang Lake Delicacies Salted Duck Eggs: Produced by free-range ducks raised by the lake, the egg yolks are oily. Stewed Mixed Fish: A dozen kinds of wild fish are stewed together, which is excellent with corn cakes. Scrambled Eggs with Lotus Leaves: Freshly picked tender lotus leaves are shredded and stir-fried, with a refreshing aroma. 💭 Taste Memory At a fisherman's restaurant, we ate freshly caught river shrimp. The owner picked up the net and said, "These shrimps die as soon as they leave the water. You are eating the freshest ones." Sure enough, the simple blanching made them so fresh and sweet that we squinted our eyes. 🏡 Accommodation Recommendations Waterfront Wooden House: You can see the lotus pond when you open the window (book 1 month in advance during peak season) Fisherman's Homestay: Experience the real life of fishermen Reminder: Hotels outside the scenic area are far away, so it is recommended to stay in Anxin County. ❗ Useful Tips Mosquito Repellent: There are many mosquitoes by the water, so bring strong mosquito repellent. Sun Protection: The water surface reflects strong ultraviolet rays, so SPF50+ is required. Note for Boat Rides: Each boat is limited to 6 people, and you can share a boat to save money. Environmental Protection Reminder: Do not pick wild lotus flowers to protect the ecology. 🌌 Final Spiritual Tremor Late at night, lying on a rocking chair in the fisherman's small courtyard, listening to the chorus of frogs and insects. Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the Milky Way, and the old fisherman next door hummed a fishing ditty passed down through generations. At this moment, I suddenly understood that the most precious thing about Baiyang Lake is not the scenery, but this slow life that is in sync with nature, which the city has long lost.