Scenery of Lake Tai

Scenery of Lake Tai

The charming Lake Tai, in great expanse of water of moderate depth, dotted with many reefs and isles and surrounded with elegant undulating green hills along crooked shorelines, is of special scenic appeal. 　　

With an area of 2,435 square kilometers, the lake measures 56 kilometers from east to west and 67 kilometers from south to north, with a circumference of 407 kilometers. Its total capacity amounts to 5,150 million cubic meters. About 62% of the lake area is under jurisdiction of Suzhou Municipality. 　　

The long history and cultural traditions of Lake Tai area can be traced to the Paleolithic Times, represented by the world-famous “Sanshan Culture”. 　　

The great natural beauty and valuable historical and cultural sites in the lake area have inspired the literary celebrities and men of letters of various times, who left in history many poems about the lake, adding luster to the wealth of Wu Culture. In 1982, the State Council designated the Lake Tai Scenic Area as a major scenic and historical site of China.