Hongchun Wharf of Wanfeng Lake in Xingyi, Qianxinan

Hongchun Wharf (红椿码头) is the main sightseeing cruise terminal on Wanfeng Lake (万峰湖), located southeast of Xingyi City (兴义市), and is one of the best starting points for exploring the spectacular water-based karst scenery of the lake. Set in a sheltered bay surrounded by dramatic limestone peaks, the wharf is also located near the point where the Maling River (马岭河) flows into Wanfeng Lake. Across the vast emerald-green water, submerged stone forests, peninsulas, and clusters of karst peaks create a constantly changing landscape. Cruising between thousands of mountains rising from the water feels like traveling through a traditional Chinese ink painting. Combining sightseeing cruises, lakeside fishing, fresh lake fish cuisine, and beautiful evening scenery, Hongchun Wharf is especially impressive at sunset and is one of the essential stops on a Wanfeng Lake tour in Xingyi.

🌊 Must-Try Experiences at Hongchun Wharf

🛳️ Cruise Through the Water Karst Landscapes of Wanfeng Lake

Board a sightseeing boat at Hongchun Wharf and begin a scenic journey across Wanfeng Lake. As the boat moves into the open water, you can admire the remarkable Water Stone Forest, where limestone formations rise directly from the lake, before continuing through the dramatic waters sometimes known as the “Little Three Gorges on the Lake,” characterized by steep cliffs, narrow waterways, and densely packed karst peaks. From the cruise route, visitors can also enjoy distant views of the photogenic Jilong Castle (吉隆堡), a European-style castle standing beside the blue-green lake. The castle, mountain reflections, and surrounding water make the boat deck an excellent photography location, while the gentle lake breeze and continuous panorama of peaks reflected on the water provide an immersive introduction to the beauty of this vast plateau lake.

🌅 Watch a Spectacular Sunset from the Lakeside

Hongchun Wharf faces a westward-opening section of Wanfeng Lake, making it one of the finest sunset viewpoints around the lake. In the late afternoon, golden sunlight spreads across the water, turning the surface into shimmering layers of light while the surrounding karst peaks gradually take on warm golden tones. On clear evenings, colorful clouds and sunset reflections can cover much of the lake, creating excellent conditions for landscape photography. For this reason, many travelers deliberately choose an afternoon cruise so that they can enjoy the changing scenery from daylight into sunset directly from the lake.

🎣 Enjoy Relaxing Lakeside Fishing

Wanfeng Lake is one of China’s well-known freshwater fishing destinations, and the calm bays around Hongchun Wharf attract many fishing enthusiasts. Visitors can bring their own fishing equipment or rent basic gear locally, then spend a quiet afternoon beside the lake enjoying the slower pace of life. Several fishing-oriented guesthouses and simple fishing shelters can also be found around the surrounding lake area, making it possible for dedicated anglers to stay overnight and experience the peaceful atmosphere of Wanfeng Lake beyond the daytime sightseeing hours.

🍲 Taste Fresh Wanfeng Lake Fish

A number of local farmhouse restaurants are located around the wharf, with freshly prepared lake fish forming the centerpiece of many menus. Popular regional specialties include Buyi-style fish with sour bamboo shoots and crispy fried small river fish, both reflecting the distinctive food traditions of the local Buyi ethnic community. After completing a cruise or lakeside excursion, enjoying freshly cooked fish at a restaurant overlooking the water is an excellent way to combine Wanfeng Lake scenery with the flavors of southwestern Guizhou.

📷 Overlook the Lake from Hongchun Viewing Platform

A viewing platform near the wharf provides a higher perspective across Wanfeng Lake, allowing visitors to take in broad views of the water, surrounding bays, and continuous karst peak forests. Even travelers who do not take a boat cruise can stop here to appreciate and photograph the large-scale mountain-and-water landscape for which Wanfeng Lake is famous.

✅ Why Visit Hongchun Wharf in Xingyi

🚤 Experience a Unique Water-Based Cone Karst Landscape

A cruise from Hongchun Wharf offers one of the easiest ways to see Wanfeng Lake’s unusual combination of water, limestone peaks, and submerged karst formations at close range. The landscape visually extends the cone-shaped peak forests of Wanfenglin (万峰林) from the land into the lake, creating a distinctive water-karst environment that is particularly attractive to international visitors interested in geology, landscape photography, and natural scenery.

📸 One of Wanfeng Lake’s Best Sunset Photography Spots

Thanks to the orientation of the surrounding bay, Hongchun Wharf offers excellent conditions for sunset photography. Both the cruise boat decks and lakeside viewing areas provide open perspectives across the water, allowing photographers to capture the setting sun, reflections, karst silhouettes, and changing evening colors without requiring a difficult hike to reach the viewpoint.

😌 Relaxed and Suitable for Travelers of All Ages

The sightseeing cruises are generally smooth and require no strenuous mountain climbing or long-distance hiking, making Hongchun Wharf suitable for families with children, senior travelers, and visitors looking for a relaxed sightseeing experience. Travelers can keep the visit simple with a short cruise or spend more time fishing beside the lake, enjoying local food, and watching the sunset, making the area flexible enough for different ages and travel styles.

🗺️ Easy to Combine with Wanfenglin

Hongchun Wharf is relatively close to Wanfenglin Scenic Area, making the two attractions easy to combine during a stay in Xingyi. Travelers can first explore the famous terrestrial peak forest, villages, and farmland of Wanfenglin before driving to Hongchun Wharf to experience Wanfeng Lake, creating a balanced journey that brings together karst mountains, countryside landscapes, and expansive lake scenery.

📋 Practical Visitor Information

📍 Location

Hongchun Wharf, Wanfeng Lake, Nanpanjiang Town, Xingyi City, Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province (贵州省黔西南州兴义市南盘江镇〔则戎乡〕万峰湖红椿码头). The wharf lies southeast of central Xingyi and serves as one of the principal departure points for sightseeing cruises on Wanfeng Lake.

⏰ Opening Hours

The wharf area itself is generally accessible throughout the day, while sightseeing cruises normally operate approximately 08:30–17:30 with boats departing at scheduled times. A typical visit takes around 1.5–3 hours, including the cruise, although travelers planning to enjoy lakeside dining, photography, or sunset views may wish to stay longer.

🎫 Ticket Information

There is generally no separate entrance ticket for Hongchun Wharf, and the main sightseeing expense is the cruise ticket. A standard sightseeing cruise has traditionally cost around RMB 60 per person and takes approximately 1.5 hours, while children under 1.2 meters may ride free under applicable operator policies. Jilong Castle is normally viewed from a distance along the cruise route; visitors wishing to enter or land at the castle area may need to purchase a separate ticket, while those who only want to photograph it from the water do not need to enter. Parking fees may also apply at the wharf parking area, and cruise prices, departure schedules, and child policies should be confirmed locally before travel.

🚗 Transportation Guide

Driving is the most convenient option, with the journey from central Xingyi to Hongchun Wharf taking approximately 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The road is generally in good condition, and parking is available near the wharf. Travelers using public transportation can take a rural bus from Xingyi South Passenger Transport Station toward Bajie (巴结) and get off near the Hongchun Wharf junction, although departures can be limited. Shared cars, taxis, or arranged private transfers are therefore more convenient for visitors who want greater flexibility.

💡 Travel Tips

The lake can be windy and ultraviolet radiation is strong on open water, so bring sunscreen, sun protection, and a light jacket even when the weather in Xingyi feels warm. Travelers hoping to see the sunset should consider a cruise departing at around 15:00, allowing enough time to enjoy the lake before evening. Because boats leave according to scheduled departure times, confirm the day’s cruise timetable before arriving, and remember that services may be suspended temporarily during strong winds or severe weather. When taking photographs on the open deck, follow crew instructions and avoid leaning over or standing too close to the edge of the vessel. After the cruise, you can enjoy fresh lake fish at one of the nearby farmhouse restaurants or return to Xingyi City for accommodation.