The working people in ancient China had their own unique way of timekeeping. According to them, a whole day is divided into 12 periods instead of 24 hours and each of the period is called Shi Chen in Chinese. The then Shi Chen is equal to the current two hours. As the sun rises and sets, let's have a look at what a day Qiandao Lake is like?

5:00-7:00  Mou Shi (卯时)

Crowds in twos and threes are slowly flocking into the quiet and elegant Qiandao Lake High-Speed Railway Station. Outside the platform are endless green hills, sparkling lake water, fruitful fields and gardens, and countryside farmhouses with smoke curling up. When the first ray of sunlight breaks through the sky, the city begins rejuvenating after a whole night of silence.

7:00-9:00 Chen Shi (辰时)

The sun moves slowly towards the middle of the sky, gradually covering the lake with its bright sunlight. Small boat creates ripples on the lake. A cool breeze gently touches visitor's cheeks, blowing a few strands of beautiful hair. This is the 5A scenic spot Qiandao Lake. The Lake area covers 573 square kilometers, and its water storage capacity can reach 17.8 billion cubic meters. The 1,078 lush islands scattering around the lake are the origin of the lake's name, which literally means the lake with one thousand lakes.

9:00-11:00 Si Shi (巳时)

At the bottom of Qiandao Lake lie the over-one-thousand-year-old ancient Lion City and Hecheng City, while in the southwest of Qiandao Lake stands the Wenyuan Lion City, a duplicate of the Lion City. High city walls, simple and elegant Hui-style architecture, exquisite workmanship of seven archways, wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings ... All are full of charm and in natural unity. 

Qiandao Lake Longchuan Bay retains the life traces of Zhiqing (or the educated youth, referring to the young people who—beginning in the 1950s until the end of the Cultural Revolution, willingly or under coercion—left the urban districts of the People's Republic of China to live and work in rural area) among its unrivalled ecological environment.

11:00-13:00 Wu Shi (午时)

The busy morning ends and people are having a short break. In the countryside, lanes are always cool, even in summer, and it's in these lanes that villagers chat or have lunch together.

13:00-15:00 Wei Shi (未时)

The sun begins to set, but it's still hot. The kayaks in the countryside drift down the river, creates a cloud of fine sprays. 

15:00-17:00 Shen Shi (申时)

Sit on Tianyu, which is over 300 meters above sea level, and wait for the sun to set. The steel overpass overlooking the surrounding landscape is an excellent place to capture the sunset, the bridge and other beautiful scenery of Qiandao Lake with your camera. Xiushui Street is also waiting for its magnificent moment.

17:00-19:00 You Shi (酉时）

The Qiandao Lake night cruise boats in the Urban Lake Area and the Central Lake Area have been fully equipped for an adventure. You can board a painted boat which is swaying in the lake or hop on a tourist boat to enjoy night views of mountains in the distance. Fishing boats, the lake, the islands and the trees on the banks witness the rapidly changing views of the sunset.

19:00-21:00 Xu Shi (戌时)

The lights are on and the night is fading. Night carnival that belongs to the city is about to begin. Qilong Lane bursts into brilliance. The beauty of Qiandao Lake hidden in the city is displaying to the world. On Xiushui Street, tourists and citizens are having fun in Qiandao Lake Water-Splashing Festival. The show, Spirit of Water in Qiandao Lake, welcomes the moment of blooming, interpreting the sorrow and joy of Chun'an people.

21:00-23:00 Hai Shi (亥时)

The night of Qiandao Lake is lit by lights, and the landscape belt along the lake is glittering with bright lights. The night breeze is cool.

23:00-1:00 Zi Shi (子时)

The number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreases and the noise of the day slowly fades away. People who have been busy all day gradually fall asleep. But the roadside midnight snack booths are warming up to welcome guests. The night is still long...

1:00-3:00 Chou Shi (丑时)

The whole city seems quiet, with only lights flashing.

3:00-5:00 Yin Shi (寅时)

Stars disappear slowly from the horizon, and cooking smoke begins to rise slowly in the countryside. A new day is about to begin.

（Executive Editor:Shuangli MA）