Located in Chun’an county on the western outskirts of Hangzhou, the lake is approximately 129 kilometers from the city. Qiandao Lake, literally meaning “thousand-island lake,” derives its name from the 1,078 islands within its waters. Being a reservoir that was formed after the construction of the Xin’an River Hydroelectric Power Station, it contains more islands than any other lake in the world. It is now considered a tourism area and a popular spot for holiday homes. Two ancient towns dating back a thousand years were submerged beneath the lake: Hecheng and Shicheng.