Baofeng Lake Zhangjiajie — Boat Ride, Tickets & Time

What is Baofeng Lake?

Baofeng Lake is a long, narrow reservoir hidden among sandstone cliffs on the Wulingyuan side of Zhangjiajie. You see it from a boat, gliding past forested peaks that drop straight into green water, and it is the only water-based sight in the area’s main circuit.

It is not a natural lake. Local villagers dammed the gorge for hydropower in the 1970s, and the water filled in behind the dam. Today the lake is about 2.5 km (2 mi) long and averages around 72 m deep. It also appears in the classic TV series Journey to the West.

What is the visit like?

A standard visit is an easy loop: eco-bus to the pier, boat ride, eco-bus back. There is very little walking unless you choose the trail.

1. Enter and take the eco-bus a few minutes up to the pier.
2. Ride the boat for about 30 min with a guide’s commentary on board; boats are often greeted with Tujia folk songs.
3. Return to the entrance square and see Baofeng Waterfall, the lake’s outlet, about 80 m wide, on the way out.

If you have more energy, a steep trail climbs to the Yingwo Village area above the lake, with stone steps and quiet views. It adds about 2 hours.

What is the Yingwo Village trail like?

The trail is a steep loop of about 6 km (4 mi) that climbs roughly 300 m above the lake and comes back down to the entrance square. With the boat ride, the whole visit then takes about 4 hours.

Yingwo means “eagle’s nest”, after a bandit stronghold said to have stood on the summit. Nothing of the village remains, but the path passes One-Line Sky, a gap about 100 m high between two peaks where only one person fits at a time, plus cliffside walkways and two small temples. Few visitors take it, so it is quiet. The stone steps are steep and mossy, so it suits fit walkers in dry weather, preferably not alone.

How long do you need at Baofeng Lake?

Plan about 1.5 hours for the boat-based visit, plus travel time. That makes it a short stop to combine with something else on the same day, not a destination for a whole day.

How much is the Baofeng Lake ticket?

The adult ticket is CNY 110 (≈ USD 16), and it includes entry, the boat ride and the return eco-bus. It is separate from the forest park ticket.

Children under 14 and visitors 65 and over enter free. Opening hours differ slightly between sources, with shorter days in winter. Our ticket guide lists every park.

How do you get to Baofeng Lake?

Baofeng Lake is in Wulingyuan, close to the town and the East Gate of the forest park. The lake is about 34 km (21 mi) from Zhangjiajie city center. A taxi from the forest park area takes about 10 min and costs around CNY 10.

From the city, allow about 50 min to reach Wulingyuan by road, plus a few minutes more to the lake. If you are staying downtown, combine it with other Wulingyuan sights so the drive is worth it.

How does Baofeng Lake compare with other half-day sights?

Baofeng Lake is the gentlest of the short sights around Wulingyuan. Here is how it compares with the two it is usually paired with.

When is the best time to visit Baofeng Lake?

Go in the morning if you can, when the light is soft and reflections are best on still water. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for being out on the water.

The lake is a good choice in light rain or mist, when the plateau viewpoints of the forest park can be fogged in. See best time to visit for the seasons.

Local tips for Baofeng Lake

• Sit at the side of the boat. Window or rail seats give the best views of the cliffs; board early to choose.
• Use it as a rest stop. After a long day on the forest park trails, Baofeng Lake is an easy afternoon that still shows the sandstone scenery.
• Pair it with the glass bridge or the cave. Both are on the Wulingyuan side, so a half-day of each fills a day without long drives.
• Time the waterfall. The flow over Baofeng Waterfall is usually strongest around 10:00 and 14:00; plan your exit for one of those times if you want it at full flow.
• Check boats in winter. In the low-water months, boat trips can be suspended; ask us to confirm before you go in winter.
• Bring passports for free entry. Children and seniors enter free, but staff check ages against the passport.

Is Baofeng Lake worth it?

It is worth it as a relaxed add-on, especially with children or older travelers, or on a day of light rain. It is not worth a special trip from the city on its own. Our 1-day Grand Canyon and Baofeng Lake tour and the 4-day family and senior-friendly tour include it. Ask us to fit it into your days in Wulingyuan.