Fuxian Lake, Luchong shore

Monthly water temperature temperature

The surface runs about 23.5 °C in August. The annual low is 10 °C in January and the high is 23.5 °C in July. The summer thermocline sits at about 10 m, where the temperature drops sharply. For October, the mean surface figure is 19 °C.

Mean water temperature by month (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
10	10.5	13	16.5	20	22.5	23.5	23.5	22	19	15.5	12

Safety safety

Fuxian is one of the few Chinese lakes still at Class Ⅰ. Yunnan University's long-term monitoring records transparency of 8–12 m and very low total phosphorus. Because of this, nutrient pollution from tourism is a politically sensitive issue and shore development is tightly restricted.

Safety notes (3)

• The drop-off is abrupt and there is no shelf to recover on. Weak swimmers should stay within 20 m of the beach where the water is under 2 m.
• The lake is 155 m deep and stays at 12–15 °C below the 10 m thermocline year round. Do not dive deep without a wetsuit.
• At 1,720 m altitude, UV is roughly 25% stronger than at sea level and the water reflects it. Wear a rash vest and high-factor sunscreen; sunburn here happens in 30 minutes.

Where to get in

• Gravel beach — Luchong bay south end; 30 m of firm gravel at 1:8, reaching 2 m, then the drop-off.
• Fishing jetty ladder — Small concrete jetty used by local fishers; the ladder puts you straight into 5 m of water.

On site

• Guesthouses and restaurants along the Luchong shore road
• Changing huts at the beach, ¥5
• Boat trips to the underwater ancient city site (viewing only)

Getting there arrival · entry · exit

Getting there

Fuxian Lake is 60 km south of Kunming, about 70 minutes by car on the G8511. Luchong is the main developed bay on the west shore and is signposted from the Chengjiang exit.

Come on a weekday. Luchong's beach is the most popular swimming spot for Kunming residents and weekend afternoons in July and August are extremely busy.

Getting in

Walk in over the gravel at the south end of the bay. You have about 30 m of waist-deep water, then the bottom falls away — this is the moment to start swimming rather than wading.

Because the surface reaches 23 °C in August this is a comfortable lake for a long swim, but stay parallel to the shore. The distance from the 2 m line to the 40 m line is only 110 m.

Getting out

Return to the gravel beach — the lakeside rocks north of it are slippery with algal film even in clear water.

Change at the huts. Local convention is to rinse in fresh water immediately; the lake's mineral content leaves a noticeable film on skin.

Depth profile

A narrow gravel and sand shelf to 2 m, then a rapid descent along the fault scarp that formed the lake: 10 m at 40 m out, 40 m at 150 m. Fuxian is a rift lake with no shallow margins, and the drop-off is the defining feature of swimming here.

Season window

May to October; the plateau sun is fierce at 1,720 m and afternoons are best avoided

Cold-water questions

How deep is Fuxian Lake?

155 m — the third deepest lake in China and the deepest in Yunnan. The drop-off starts within 40 m of the shore in most bays.

Is Fuxian Lake water drinkable?

It is Class Ⅰ source water, but do not drink it untreated — the lake is a working water supply with shore settlements. Bring your own water.