Fuxian Lake stretches 35 kilometres south of Chengjiang through three counties, making it one of Yunnan's largest lakes. At 155 metres it is the deepest lake in Yunnan and the third deepest in China, and the water clarity is remarkable — on calm days the bottom is visible in the shallows to considerable depth, and the water itself has a distinctive blue-green colour quite unlike the murkier plateau lakes further north.
The lake's character varies by section. The northern end near Chengjiang has the most visitor infrastructure, with lakeside paths, cycling routes, and boat trips. The western and southern shores are quieter and more agricultural, with Dai and Yi villages and terraced fields coming down to the water. Cycling around the southern section takes most of a day and covers genuinely varied countryside. The water is clean enough for swimming in designated areas, which is not true of most Yunnan lakes.