China: New housing development next to Dianchi (Lake Dian) with its green algae fringe, near Kunming, Yunnan Province

Dian Lake (Chinese: 滇池; pinyin: Diān Chí) or Kunming Lake (Chinese: 昆明湖; pinyin: Kūnmíng Hú) is a large inter-land lake located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau close to Kunming, Yunnan Province. Its nickname is 'Sparkling Pearl Embedded in a Highland,' and it was the model for the Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace in Beijing.

It is a freshwater fault lake at 1,886.5 m (6,189 ft) above sea level. The lake covers 298 km2 (115 sq mi). It is 39 km (24 mi) long from north to south, and the average depth is 4.4 m (14 ft). It is the eighth largest lake in China and the largest in Yunnan Province.

Western Hills Forest Reserve (simplified Chinese: 西山森林公园; traditional Chinese: 西山森林公園; pinyin: Xī Shān Sēnlín Gōngyuán) lies in the Biji Mountain chain to the west of Kunming, China. It is visible from the eastern or northern banks of Dianchi Lake.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia