3. Juyi Island

Juyi Island, located at the heart of Dongping Lake, covering an area of 1.5 sq km, was historically used as fortifications with a heavy guard for military defense purposes. It is said that seven heroes of Water Margin gathered here to avoid being arrested by the government and discussed their uprising.

There is a Cangmei Temple (Cangmei in Chinese means hidden plums) on the island commemorating Chao Gai who died here and loved plums. Chao Gai is the second chief of the heroes in the novel Water Margin.

Ticket price: 50 yuan per person

Juyi Island. [Photo/sdta.com]

4. Liugong Mountain Fortified Village and Water Fortress

Liugong Mountain Fortified Village and Water Fortress, built by Dongping Lake with a total investment of 200 million yuan and covering an area of 620 mu (41.33 hectares), is the largest one of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the major shooting site for the new TV series The Water Margin.

The Fortified Village is built on a cliff 22 meters above the lake,  136 meters long from north to south and 132 meters wide from east to west.

The Water Fortress, situated in the middle of 10,000-mu natural wetlands covered with lush reeds and with eight ancient warships, two observatories, and a 3600-sq-m water platform, is the place where the heroes of Water Margin trained their water army. It is connected by suspension bridges with the Fortified Village.

Ticket price: 50 yuan per person

Liugong Mountain Fortified Village and Water Fortress. [Photo/sdta.com]