The lake and side parks also are home to a vast number of lotus, reed and other plants.

[citation needed]It is a national and international tourist attraction flaunting its peaceful water scenes and vast lotus gardens.

Tourists can travel by boat into waters full of lotuses and pick seeds, leaves, and flowers.

Many Chinese know of the lake from film and literature portrayals of the experiences of residents and communist guerillas opposing the Japanese occupiers during 1939-1943.

[2]: 132 Baiyangdian is the setting for one of the classics in Chinese children's literature Little Soldier Zhang Ga by Xu Guangyao.