In the Song of River Water during the Six Dynasties, it writes: "The river water flows eastward. In Luoyang, there is a female named Mochou who can weave damask at age of 13 and pick mulberry leaves at the south of road at age of 14... Artocarpus lingnanensis is used for the beam of Family Lu's house constructed with lily magnolias. The room is full of the fragrance sent out by tulips and styraxes..." Mochou in this song is beautiful, kind-hearted and pleased to help neighbors and relieve poverty with the herb gathering and illness treating skills that she learned from her father since childhood. This is the origin of the legend about Mochou in Nanjing, and also the main source of "Mochou Culture". 

Mochou Lake was formed in Yuan and Ming Dynasty due to the shifting (it is said to be "moving westward", etc.) of waterways of Yangtze River. Before the Southern Song Dynasty, the location of Mochou Lake was exactly the egret island in the Yangtze River, namely, the surroundings of the egret island described in the verses, "three mountains are too far away, and the river is divided into two streams by egret island", in the poem Climbing Jinling's Phoenix Terrace written by Li Bai. Sunchu Restaurant was located on this island, and later renamed Libai Restaurant as Li Bai often enjoyed moon, drank wines and recited poems there.

In the 58th year (1793) of Qianlong period in Qing Dynasty, Li Yaodong, governor of Jiangning, donated salaries to renovate Mochou Lake on a large scale, and built over ten buildings along the lake, such as "Styrax Hall". Since then, Mochou Lake gradually became the place where scholars gathered together in Nanjing. 

In the third year (1914) of the Republic of China, Han Guojun, governor of Jiangsu allocated funds to rebuild Mochou Lake, and built a pavilion in the southwest corner by introducing water to the pool, which is very interesting. In the 18th year (1929), Mochou Lake was developed into a park, attracting lots of visitors.  

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the people's government renovated Mochou Lake, added buildings like Baoyue Building, Ferry Awaiting Pavilion, and Two-River Pavilion, planted lots of flowers and trees, expanded artificial hills, and newly created Mid-Lake Island, making Mochou Lake go back to the charm of the past.