What is the specialty of Chenghai Lake in Lijiang?

Lijiang Chenghai's specialty is spirulina.

Produced in Chenghai Lake, Yongsheng, it is a tiny plant that floats on the water and is invisible to the naked eye. Under the microscope, its appearance is turquoise and unbranched, just like a coil spring, hence the name Spirulina. Chenghai Lake in Yongsheng, Yunnan Province is one of the three largest freshwater lakes in the world where spirulina grows naturally after Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Texaco in Mexico.

At present, the largest spirulina production base in the world has been built in the local area, including the "Sprui Group" in Chenghai with an annual output of 500 tons of algae powder, which is engaged in the development and production of snail powder. The algae slices, capsules and drinks produced by Lijiang Chenghai Spirulina Biological Food Factory won the gold medal in Korea International Food Expo, and the products sold well in the market.

Water environment of Chenghai Lake

There are few species of aquatic plants in Chenghai, including 14 family, 14 genus and 15 species. There are only two kinds of vegetation that can form a community, namely red grass and Myriophyllum, and there are no floating plants, emergent plants and wet plants. Red grass has the widest distribution range and is the dominant group of aquatic vegetation in Chenghai. Myriophyllum is common in Chenghai, but it is mostly distributed in points. Higher aquatic plants are distributed in the shallow water around the lake, forming a higher aquatic plant belt around the lake. The main varieties are Sophora alopecuroides, red grass and Myriophyllum.

There are 25 indigenous fish species in Chenghai, including carp, red-winged fish, pomfret, yellow croaker, small fish and crucian carp, and phytoplankton 125 species. It is also rich in whitebait, with an annual output of more than 700 tons of fresh fish. There are more than 40 species of birds and beasts around the lake, which is an important habitat for wild animals such as fish, waterfowl and migratory birds.