Xinyu

Xinyu is a compact industrial prefecture in west-central Jiangxi, built up around iron, steel and, more recently, photovoltaic manufacturing. Its signature attraction is Xiannü Lake, a large reservoir dotted with wooded islands and linked to an ancient legend of a fairy and a mortal that is often cited as an origin of the Chinese 'seven fairies' folktale. The surrounding Mengshan and Dagang hills offer forest scenery and Buddhist and Taoist sites. Located on the Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway, Xinyu is well connected to Nanchang and Changsha. Despite its industrial base, the city markets itself around its love-legend and lake tourism.