East Lake, Wuhan

Overview

About

East Lake lies on the eastern outskirts of Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, south of the Yangtze: an area of 88 km² with 33 km² of water in six parts: Tingtao, Moshan, Luohong, Baima, Luoyan and Chuidi.

Tingtao, near the main gate, is a long narrow peninsula with the Qu Yuan memorial hall, the Xingyin Pavilion and China’s first sculpture park of fables.

Moshan, in the south-east, is a 4 km ridge rising to 118 m with water on three sides and the Moshan botanical garden at its southern foot.

Luohong has Luojia Hill, Hong Hill and Wuhan University.

East Lake is one of the largest urban lakes in China, 33 km² of water, about six times Hangzhou’s West Lake. Its winding shore has over a hundred bays, with the hills of Moshan and Luojiashan and institutions such as Wuhan University and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences along it. It became a scenic area in the 1950s, and Mao Zedong often stayed at the East Lake guesthouse. The East Lake Greenway, built from 2016, runs over 100 km round the lake and is where Wuhan walks and cycles.

It is in the first batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1982.

Travel tips

Getting there: Wuhan Metro Line 8 runs past East Lake, and many bus routes go to the Tingtao and Moshan entrances.

East Lake Greenway: a path for walking and cycling around the lake, with bike rental points; you can cycle across the lake from Tingtao to Moshan. The full loop is long, and most people ride one or two sections.

Tingtao and Moshan: Tingtao has the Xingyin Pavilion and the Qu Yuan Memorial; Moshan Hill gives a view over the whole lake, with the Cherry Blossom Garden and the Wuhan Botanical Garden below.

Wuhan University: the campus on Luojia Hill has old buildings to walk around. Visitors enter with their own ID card; in cherry blossom season places must be booked online in advance and are scarce. The rules change often.

Hubei Provincial Museum: on the west shore; book in advance; closed on Mondays. A replica set of the Marquis Yi of Zeng bells is played at set times.

Time: one day for Tingtao, Moshan and the greenway; two days with Wuhan University and the museum.

Season: mid to late March, cherry blossom time, is the busiest; lotus flowers bloom in July and August, but Wuhan summers are hot and humid; autumn weather is pleasant.

Main sights

Tingtao (“Listening to the Waves”): the peninsula inside the main gate, with the Xingyin Pavilion built in memory of Qu Yuan, his statue and memorial hall, and the Changtian Tower overlooking the lake.

Moshan: the hill on the south-east shore with Chu-culture buildings such as the Chutian Terrace, Chu City and Chu Market, and a summit view of the whole lake; at its foot the botanical garden and the cherry garden, whose blossom in March rivals Wuhan University’s.

Luoyan: wetlands on the north-east shore with a bird island and hides.

Luojiashan and Wuhan University: on the south-west shore; the Republican-era campus is a national protected site and its cherry avenue is thronged in March.

East Lake Greenway: walking and cycling paths round the lake, with bicycle hire; the lake-centre road crosses from Tingtao to Moshan.

Hubei Provincial Museum: on the west shore, home of the bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the sword of King Goujian of Yue.

Map

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