Mochou Lake in Nanjing

Mochou Lake, historically known as Shicheng Lake and Hengtang, is located in the Shuiximen Street area outside Shuiximen in Jianye District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The lake covers an area of 32.33 hectares, with a length of about 680 meters from north to south and a width of about 770 meters from east to west. The lake surface elevation is 4 meters. It is the second largest lake in Nanjing's main urban area, second only to Xuanwu Lake. It is known as the "First Famous Lake in Jiangnan" and the "First Scenic Spot in Jinling". Mochou Lake is a shallow lake and a remnant of the ancient Yangtze River channel. During the Eastern Wu period, the area around Mochou Lake was part of the Jiangzhu region. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, the silt at the mouth of the Qinhuai River gradually accumulated and slowly moved northwest to Sancha River. The main channel of the Yangtze River also gradually moved northwest, causing the Bai Lu Zhou in the Yangtze River near Jiangdongmen to connect with the shore. The low-lying area at the confluence of the original Yangtze River and Qinhuai River left many ponds and lakes, and Mochou Lake formed as a lake during this period. On December 14, 1928, Mochou Lake was designated as Mochou Lake Park by the Nanjing National Government. In December 2019, Mochou Lake Park was announced as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. In August 2022, Mochou Lake was included in the cultural heritage protection list of place names in Jianye District, Nanjing.