Zhuzhen Chishan Lake (Luhe)

Thousand-mu pond cypress water forest (red foliage in autumn and winter), egret birdwatching corridor, lake on the Jiangsu–Anhui border. Chishan Lake straddles the border river between Jiangsu and Anhui provinces; thousands of pond cypresses stand in ranks in the lake, their roots submerged in the water, and in autumn the needles turn from green to red and then brown, forming a rare 'water forest' spectacle in East China, at its most colorful around December. Boardwalks and boat channels pass through the woods; the sight of egrets roosting on the branches and whole flocks of egrets startled up by the sound of paddles is a celebrated spot among birdwatchers. The park has a birdwatching corridor and a science hall; as an ecological hidden gem at the Jiangsu–Anhui border, visitor density is far lower than at city attractions, ideal for photographers and nature lovers seeking quiet.

Getting there: Luhe bus / self-drive