Xinyang Nanwan Lake: Clear Waters and Beautiful Scenery, Enjoy Tea Mountains and Tea Tasting

👍️Reasons to Visit - Known as the "First Lake of Central Plains," this 75-square-kilometer lake is dotted with 61 emerald islands. The water is crystal clear with stunning natural scenery that's perfect for photos. - Combines six major features: "lake views, mountain scenery, forests, tea culture, birdsong, and playful monkeys," allowing you to experience diverse attractions in one trip. - As the main production area of "Xinyang Maojian Tea," you can deeply experience tea culture and taste authentic Xinyang Maojian tea. Detailed Address No. 188 Nanwan Street, Shihe District, Xinyang City, Henan Province, 5 kilometers southwest of Xinyang City. About 15 minutes by taxi from downtown, or simply navigate to "Nanwan Lake Scenic Area" when driving. Ticket Prices Entrance ticket: CNY 60 + boat ticket: CNY 40, combo ticket online price: CNY 110. Half-price discounts available for teachers with teaching certificates, students with student ID, and veterans with preferential treatment cards. 📅Travel Guide - Morning: Upon arriving at Nanwan Lake, first climb the Nanwan Lake Dam, one of New China's first large-scale water conservancy projects. From the dam, look east to see the island clusters and west to observe the "clear and muddy confluence line" where Shihe River enters the lake. Then take a cruise to begin your island tour. The first stop is Tea Island, where you can stroll along Tea Stream, enjoy tea garden scenery, and experience tea picking, processing, and tasting. Listen to legends about Lu Yu (the Tea Sage) at the Lu Yu Pavilion. - Noon: Enjoy a simple meal on Tea Island or the cruise boat, tasting lake fish and local specialties. - Afternoon: Cruise to Monkey Island to interact with over 200 Taihang macaques. Avoid wearing bright colors and watch your backpacks to prevent "robbery." Next, visit Bird Island where thousands of egrets nest from May to September. You can birdwatch in the egret protection area and enjoy mathematics performances at the Parrot Paradise and raptor flight shows at the Bird Art Theater. - Evening: Return to the dock and enjoy the sunset views of Nanwan Lake, experiencing the romantic golden glow on the lake surface. 🍜Food Guide - Nanwan Fish Head Soup: Made with bighead carp weighing over 8 pounds, simmered over low heat for 6 hours. The soup is milky white, the fish meat tender without fishy smell, and rich in selenium. - Braised Meat in Pot: Black pig belly pork with Nanwan dried bamboo shoots, slow-cooked in a traditional clay stove. The meat is richly fragrant, and the dried bamboo shoots absorb the meat juices, making it perfect with rice. - Stone Jelly: Made from wild mint and Chinese lantern seeds, served with osmanthus honey, refreshing and cooling. - Xinyang Maojian Tea: One of China's top ten famous teas. On Tea Island, you can brew a cup of early spring tea yourself and enjoy its lingering sweetness. 🏨Accommodation Guide - Lakeside Guesthouses: Recommended to stay in guesthouses within the scenic area, where you can see the vast lake from your window and enjoy the peaceful lake views in the morning, such as the characteristic lakeside inns near Nanwan Lake. - City Hotels: If you prefer convenience for shopping and dining, choose hotels along the Shihe River in downtown Xinyang, such as Wyndham Xinyang or Xiangge International Hotel, where you can also enjoy night cruises on the Shihe River. 💗Other Tips - Spring has large temperature differences between morning and evening, so bring a light jacket and sun protection. - When visiting Monkey Island, don't bring your own food for the monkeys and never touch them. You can purchase special corn kernels provided by the scenic area to feed them in designated areas. - Photography enthusiasts should bring telephoto lenses to capture birds in flight and morning mist over tea mountains.