The lake at the centre of the Jigongshan scenic area is the natural gathering point of the mountain. Surrounded by forested hills and older villas, it's a peaceful spot for a walk along the shoreline path or a slow boat ride on the water. The reflections of the surrounding trees — pine, bamboo, and the occasional flowering magnolia — make it attractive for photography, and the benches along the bank are usually occupied by older visitors who have come for a morning of unhurried sitting rather than active hiking.
The lake was enlarged and formalised as part of the resort development in the early twentieth century. A small bridge crosses the narrower section at one end, and the walk around the full perimeter takes about thirty minutes at a relaxed pace. The water is clear in spring and early summer before the rains; after the late summer typhoon remnants that often bring heavy rain to southern Henan, it turns murkier but the surrounding forest is its most vivid green.