Why is East Lake special?
East Lake, the biggest scenery tourist attraction in Wuhan and also the largest lake within a city in China, is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River. It covers an area of 73 square kilometers, which is five times larger than the area of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Because of its winding banks and crisscrossing ponds and brooks, it is called “a lake with 99 bays”. The East Lake Scenic Area was formed from many famous scenic spots along the bank. The major sceneries are Tingtao (Listening to Surging Waves), Mo Hill (Millstone Hill), Luoyan (Diving Wild Goose), Baima (White Horse), Chuidi (Playing Flutes), and Luohong Hills.
Besides these, the Bird Forest with 200 kinds of birds; the mysterious East Lake Ocean Park, the biggest sand beach bathing area in inner China; the Friendship Forest, where many other cities' delegates together with Wuhan people have planted trees symbolizing friendship are all worth a visit.
East Lake Highlights
Tingtao Scenic Area
The Tingtao scenic area is featured by the rare sequoia, which is especially elegant in late autumn. The Listening-to-the-Waves Tower (Tingtao Xuan), is one of the famous buildings in this area, along with Land of Water and Cloud (Shuiyun Xiang) which serves as a teahouse. And the Tingtao Inn of Wine is a restaurant offering local fish dishes. On the north, the center of this area, is the Poetry-Reciting Pavilion (Xingyinge), built for memorizing works of Qu Yuan, the great patriotic poet of the State of Chu (one of the seven warring states before Qin (221BC-206BC) in China's first feudal dynasty. Many exhibits about this great poet are featured in this building including his well renowned literary masterpieces. In addition, the first allegory sculpture park in China is here displaying wonderful sculpture and allegories.
Mo Hill Scenic Area
Characterized by beautiful landscape, the customs of the State of Chu and unique gardens, the Mo Hill Scenic Area attracts many tourists. In this area, Chu culture is displayed in the Chu cultural theme park. More than 360 kinds of plants are nursed in 13 special gardens, with flowers blooming all the year round in the Botanical Viewing Garden. There are orchids and cherry blossom in spring; lotus in summer; osmanthus in autumn; and plum blossoms in winter. Two of the most famous are the Cherry Blossom Garden, which is said to be one of the world's three cherry blossom capitals along with Hirosaki in Japan and Washington in America. And the Plum Blossom Garden is listed as the top plum garden.
Other scenic areas include Luoyan (Diving Wild Goose), known for its serene environment; Baima (White Horse), with the white horse tombs; Luohong Hills, where the highly respected Wuhan University is situated.