This article was originally published on
March 22, 2010, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.
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| Approach to Hongyuan Temple |
Shenzhen is defined by water. The name itself means "deep ditches," a reference to the drainage that takes the wealth of water in the area into the sea
There are numerous lakes--some artificial, some natural--and many of them have resort facilities: Honey Lake, Silver Lake, Xili Lake, and today's destination, Shiyan Lake.
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| The front of the main resort building |
It's a little bit "out of town," just across the border in Bao'an District, to the north of Nanshan. The rural setting lends itself to a pleasant Sunday afternoon visit.
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| The hot springs building |
The spa facilities are extensive. For a reasonable price you can bathe in the Yulu Hot Springs (a destination for a thousand years), as well as enjoying all the splendor of a Chinese spa: swimming, KTV, billiards, dancing, and lake fishing. Both Chinese and "Western" restaurants round out the experience. Business people might be interested in the conference facilities as well.
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| The rear entrance to the (then-)newly-restored gateway at the temple |
See
this article for more pictures of the Hongyuan Temple
Up the hill, behind the spa, is a small Buddhist temple, Hongyuan Si. In contrast to the large, crowded showplace at Fairy Lake, this temple is quieter, more contemplative. Although founded some 200 years ago, the temple has been undergoing restoration for the past decade.
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| Once you're there, the signpost will help you find your way around. |
Shiyan Lake and its features are easy to reach. From the underground bus garage at Windows of the World (Shijie Zhichuang) Metro Station, take bus 392 to the other end of the line. This puts you a few steps from the gate to the resort complex. There is a 10 yuan fee for entry to the grounds. You'll see the spa area first; beyond and to the right (up the hill) is the temple.
You can learn more about
Hongyuan Temple in another article.
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