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The Erhai Lake, known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake in ancient times, is named after its ear-like shape. It is a fresh water lake in the Yunnan Plateau at an elevation of 1972 metres. It starts at Dengchuan in the north and ends at Xiaguan in the south with a length of 42 km and width of 8 km. It is 116 km in circumference and covers an area of 250 square km. The average depth is about 11 metres and the total storage capacity is 2.5 billion cubic metres. The Erhai Lake is the second largest lake in Yunnan Province. Its vast pool of water, shining under the sun like a sheet of vivid green, and the snow mantles of the Cangshan Mountain reflected quiveringly in it, combine to form a breath-taking sight known poetically as "Silver Cangshan and Jade-like Erhar.
The Erhai Lake is a beautiful fresh water lake on the plateau. The water is clear and full of fish. Boating here makes one feel relaxed and happy. "the Snow on the Cangshan Mountain and the Moon reflecting in the Erhai Lake" is a perfect scene.
At the southern-most end of the lake is Erhai Park, which used to be a lonely miniature peninsular on the lake and a hunting resort for the King of the Nanzhao Kingdom. Erhai Park covers an area of more than 15,000 mu. The Mountain slopes are cocooned in luxuriant pines and cypresses and grass, and embroidered with clusters of camellias, azaleas, primrose, and exotic trees and flowers which can be found only in and around Dali.
Erhai Park that exists today was built in 1976 and includes an arboretum (with camellia, azalea and rare snow lotus), a zoo, a children's playground, and a public swimming pool. Winding paths weave through the hills in the park. The spot best for a good view of the Lake from the park is Guanertai, a pagoda that overlooks the surrounding scenery.
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