Dòngtíng Lake

Dòngtíng Lake spreads across northern Hunan, receiving the Xiāng, Zī, Yuán and Lǐ rivers before its waters reach the Yangtze. Its shores change with the seasons, as summer floods cover low ground and leave a much smaller expanse in the dry months. Across the water from Yuèyáng rises Jūnshān, an island associated with ancient stories of spirits and immortals. The lake has long joined the waterways of Hunan to the great river, while its floods have shaped the surrounding settlements and fields.