Which lake is known as the largest freshwater lake in China by surface area?

Poyang Lake is known as the largest freshwater lake in China by surface area.

The lake lies in Jiangxi Province and connects with the Yangtze River. Unlike a permanently fixed basin, Poyang is strongly seasonal: its area expands during the rainy season and contracts substantially during drier months. As a result, published surface-area figures vary according to the season and the definition used.

Poyang’s wetlands are internationally important for migratory birds. They provide winter habitat for Siberian cranes and other waterfowl, making the lake a major conservation site. Seasonal water exchange with the Yangtze also influences flood storage and river ecology.

The lake is sometimes confused with Qinghai Lake, which is China’s largest lake by surface area overall but is saline and lies in a closed basin. Poyang is the leading answer when the question specifies China’s largest freshwater lake.