Taihu County

Taihu
太湖县
Taihu in Anqing
Taihu in Anqing
Anqing in Anhui
Anqing in Anhui
Coordinates: 30°27′14″N 116°18′32″E / 30.454°N 116.309°E / 30.454; 116.309
CountryChina
ProvinceAnhui
Prefecture-level cityAnqing
County seatJinxi
Area
 • Total2,040 km2 (790 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total430,465
 • Density210/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
246400

Taihu County (Chinese: 太湖县; pinyin: Tàihú Xiàn) is a county in the southwest of Anhui Province, China, bordering Hubei Province to the west. It is under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Anqing and contains its westernmost point. It has a population of 560,000[when?] and an area of 2,031 km2 (784 sq mi). The seat of government is located in Jingxi Town.

Taihu is noted for its "Huating Lake" with its mountains and scenic waters. The lake was originally built for flood control and power generation with a dam constructed in the 1960s. Although it was formerly blamed for destroying large areas of farm land, it has evolved into a popular tourism location.

The county has a long history of Zen, an important tributary of Chinese Buddhism.