Chihlin Lake Introduction
Qilin Pond, originally named "Dawashui", is a small pond located at the foot of Dongding Mountain and serves as the first stop for entering Phoenix Valley Scenic Area. Glittering in the sunlight, it reflects the blue mountains and red-tiled roofs, boasting a picturesque scenery that rivals the lakes and mountains of Switzerland, and is acclaimed as one of the Eight Scenic Wonders of Nantou. Surrounded by rolling hills, neatly arranged terraced tea trees line the mountainsides by the pond. The pond is stocked with fish, offering opportunities for fishing. In the early morning and at night, a thin layer of mist envelops the area, creating a charming sight. Strolling along the path around the pond, one can appreciate the natural beauty of the lake and mountains, where wild ducks and swans leisurely swim, while gazing at the layers of mist shrouding Dongding Mountain. From the top of Qilin Pond, the view becomes even more expansive; one can overlook the entire Dawashui, look north towards Jiji along the Zhuoshui River, west towards Zhushan Township and the Chianan Plain, and east towards the Phoenix Mountain Range and the Dongding terraced fields on the opposite bank. The beautiful scenery is truly mesmerizing. Qilin Pond was originally a small pond at the foot of Dongding Mountain. 150 years ago, villagers from Yonglong utilized the natural landscape surrounded by mountains to build a dam to store water for irrigation purposes, which gradually expanded into a large body of blue water. Today, the pond covers an area of approximately 13 hectares, surrounded by tea gardens. From morning till night, the gentle mist enhances the beauty of the landscape, and it is regarded as one of the Eight Scenic Wonders of Nantou.
