The Smallest 'Jewel' Island in Tai Lake: An Area of Less Than 2 Square Kilometers, Formerly Home to 615 Families
Introduction:
When we mention the 'Lake Tai', we all know it is the third largest freshwater lake in China. Lake Tai, as the birthplace of Wuchang Culture, is a natural historical museum, and the numerous ancient towns, ancient villages, and ancient islands along its shore are countless, like pearls scattered among the Tai Lake mountains and waters. The number is so large and the quality is so high, it's truly unparalleled in the world. Most of Lake Tai's area is located in Jiangsu Province, so when we want to experience the beauty of Lake Tai, we usually choose cities along the Tai Lake in Jiangsu, among which Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou are most familiar to us.
We know Lake Tai more as one of China's five largest freshwater lakes, and its shoreline has become known as 'a land of fish and rice'. Especially during the ten-month Tai Lake fishing season, renowned for the 'three whites' of Tai Lake freshwater, it's a 'foodie paradise' for many. Of course, the numerous cities surrounding Tai Lake also have 'the lake's lake scenery and mountain scenery', such as Wuxing Qihetu, which is an excellent place to admire Tai Lake scenery; everyone can find their own favorite scenery in Lake Tai.
However, because Lake Tai is so vast, spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, and there are so many cities surrounding it, not all the scenery has been discovered. There are also many unknown landscapes hidden in Lake Tai, for example, there is a 'miniature' small island in Suzhou Lake Tai – San Shan Dao. Although its area is only less than 2 square kilometers, and its highest peak is only 81.2 meters, it has naturally become a 'hidden paradise' hidden in Lake Tai.
Lake Tai has a total area of 2425 square kilometers, and the area of Suzhou Lake Tai is about 1700 square kilometers, accounting for 70% of Lake Tai. It can be said that the best scenery of Lake Tai is all in Suzhou. Because of too many wonderful scenery in Suzhou Lake Tai, it's easy to be forgotten, however San Shan Dao, located in the southwest of East Mountain Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, has become accustomed to being 'forgotten', and still has no vehicle access, requiring transportation by boat. So San Shan Dao has maintained the original 'hidden paradise' appearance.
Why is San Shan Dao called a 'miniature' island? The area of San Shan Dao, located in Lake Tai, is not large, only 1.8 square kilometers, which is relatively 'small' among inhabited islands in China; it is known for being 'small' on small islands in freshwater lakes. San Shan Dao got its name because it's a mountain island with two smaller islands, San Shan, Zhe Shan and Jue Shan. The main peak has an altitude of 81.2 meters, hence its name.
Although San Shan Dao is a small island, it has a long history, and there are detailed historical records dating back to the Han Dynasty. After the Han Dynasty's establishment of the Xiang Province system, it was always under the jurisdiction of Huzhou County, Ucheng, Zhejiang Province, in that time it was called 'Xiang Province'. Its heyday was during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, at that time San Shan Dao had 615 households and a total population of 3012 people. This data only includes the main island, not Zhe Shan and Jue Shan.
Located in Lake Tai, it still relies on boat transportation today, making San Shan Dao a 'hidden paradise' in the eyes of tourists. San Shan Dao is surrounded by the lake, with mild climate and distinct four seasons, warm in winter and cool in summer, surrounded by mountains and clear waves, with beautiful scenery, and was once called 'Penglai', with the reputation of 'Tai Lake Small Penglai'. It has been a scenic spot since ancient times, with 'Wu Mountain and Water, Tai Lake Fairyland' lake and mountain scenery, and is a brilliant gem in Lake Tai.
