Taihu Lake
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Taihu Lake (Chinese: 太湖; pinyin: Tài Hú; literally "Grand Lake") is a large lake in the Yangtze Delta plain, on the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang province. With an area of 2,250 km² and an average depth of 2 metres, it is the third largest freshwater lake in China, after the Poyang and Dongting Lakes.
Taihu Lake is linked to the famous Grand Canal. A number of rivers, including Suzhou Creek, originate here.
The surrounding region is one of China's largest grain-producing bases. The lake takes its credit for a thriving fishing industry as well as the ornamental limestone rocks that are native to no other place. These Chinese scholar's rocks are unique as a decorating material for the traditional Chinese gardens in the area (such as Suzhou) .
About 90 islands, some as tiny as few feet long, some as large as several miles, are scattered within the boundary of the lake area. The presence of many fleets of fishing junk boats, in adding to its landscape, makes the lake an attractive place to visit.
One of the best places to see Taihu Lake is from the Xihui Park (錫惠公園) in the west of Wuxi (無錫). From the top of Dragon Light Pagoda (龍光塔 Lóng Guāng Tǎ), there is a display of a panoramic view of Wuxi and Taihu. The park ended in Ming Dynasty styled Jichang Garden.
Taihu from its east shore is also very attractive. Here is in the region of Suzhou (苏州). An island called Donting grows a famous Chinese green tea called Biluochun. Three islands in the lake form the Sanshan Islands ('three hill islands'), one of the Chinese National Geological Parks. On the lake side, there is a kind of restaurant named as floating restaurant because the whole restaurant is in a big boat and is floating on the lake. People believe in such kind of restaurant you can have very fresh fish and vegetables growing in the lake. The view from the boat is also very enjoyable.
Tàihúshuǐ (太湖水, literally "Taihu Lake Water") is a local beer that uses water from the lake in brewing.
