Travel Guide Dian Chi 滇池

To the south of Kunming, Dian Lake (海dianchi) covers a surface area of 340 km ². Due to its size, it is the 6 th freshwater lake in China. As it is located in a plain surrounded by mountains, the Chinese say it is the «shining pearl of the plateau». Surrounded by hills with slopes covered with pine trees, teens, bamboo and fish, the lake is a pleasant walk. When it is beautiful, the water is crystal clear, when it makes wind, waves in the white foam rise up. In the vicinity of the lake there are various monuments such as:the Contemplation Pavilion (Daguan Lou),the Majestic Flag Temple (Huating Si),the Temple of Supreme Splendor (Taihua Si).The contemplation pavilion is undoubtedly the most famous of the area. Built in 1690 but damaged twice in wars, the current building, composed of two floors of square shape and a roof covered with yellow tiles, was restored in 1866. It is located opposite the Yongyue source. The columns framing the pavilion door have two long sentences of 180 pictograms each, composed by Sun Ranweng, popular poet Buyi who lived under the Qing dynasty. According to the Chinese, this is the «longest sentence under heaven».