Inland Freshwater – Qiandao Lake Dive Sites – China

About Inland Freshwater – Qiandao Lake

Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) in Zhejiang province is one of China’s most extraordinary freshwater diving destinations, a vast man-made reservoir created in 1959 by the construction of the Xin’an River Dam that flooded an ancient valley containing entire towns, temples, and bridges dating back over a thousand years. The lake covers 573 square kilometers with 1,078 islands scattered across crystal-clear water that reaches depths of over 50 meters. The submerged ancient town of Shicheng, perfectly preserved in the cold deep water at 26-40 meters depth, offers a truly unique diving experience where divers can explore intact Ming and Qing dynasty architecture including city walls, temples, houses, and streets that have been underwater for over six decades. The lake’s surface water is warm in summer but thermoclines create dramatic temperature drops at depth, requiring appropriate thermal protection. Freshwater fish species including giant carp, catfish, mandarin fish, and freshwater eel inhabit the submerged structures. Visibility varies from 3 to 15 meters depending on depth and season, with the best conditions in autumn when rainfall is minimal. The combination of underwater archaeological exploration, stunning surface scenery, and the surreal experience of diving through ancient Chinese architecture makes Qiandao Lake one of the world’s most unique diving destinations.

Highlights

• ✓Submerged ancient town of Shicheng with preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture
• ✓Over 1078 islands creating stunning surface scenery across 573 square kilometers
• ✓Freshwater diving with giant carp, catfish, and mandarin fish among submerged structures
• ✓Unique underwater archaeological exploration of thousand-year-old temples and city walls

Getting There

Fly into Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) then transfer by car approximately 2.5 hours to Qiandao Lake town. Alternatively, high-speed rail to Qiandao Lake station from Hangzhou takes about 1 hour.