Wuhan East Lake Scenic Area is located in the city center in Wuhan, Hubei Province in central China. The Scenic area covers an area of 73 square kilometers, of which the lake covers an area of 33 square kilometers. East Lake is the second largest urban lake within a city in China.
Wuhan East Lake Scenic Area is divided into four areas: Ting Tao, Mo Shan, Luo Yan and Chui Di Scenic Areas. And each of them has its own typical characteristics and highlights. Ting Tao Scenic Area is suitable for waterside leisure walk and tour; Mo Shan Scenic Area is the best place to admire the beauty of flowers; the highlight of Luo Yan Scenic Area tour is watching birds in winter; Chui Di Scenic Area is fit for admiring mountain view and climbing hills. Among them, Ting Tao Scenic Area is the closest site to downtown Wuhan, as well as the most popular one for tourists.
【Ting Tao Scenic Area】
Ting Tao Scenic Area is located in the northwest of East Lake and is the first part open to tourists. There are main sites for you to explore in this area, such as Poetry-Reciting Pavilion(Xingyinge) and Qu Yuan Memorial Hall which are in memory of Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese Poet, Lang Cang Pavilion, Chang Tian Building, Lu Xun Square, Hu Guang Pavilion, etc.. In Lantern Festival every year, here will be held large “lanterns show”, which you shall not miss. Hubei Provincial Museum is also sited in this area, and you can take Bus Route 402 to visit Wuhan University or Moshan Scenic Area.
【Mo Shan Scenic Area】
Mo Shan Scenic Area is located in the southern bank of East Lake. There are a few botanic gardens in this area with abundant trees and flowers. The most famous ones are cherry tree/flowers, lotus flowers and plum blossom. Every day here will hold different Flower Festivals in accordance with different flower seasons. You can also take Bus Route 402 nearby to reach Wuhan University and Ting Tao Scenic Area.
【Luo Yan Scenic Area】
Luo Yan Scenic Area is located in the northeastern shore of East Lake. It is more like a wetland park featuring with the view of water, wetland, ancient trees, etc.. Every winter, here will gather thousands of cormorants from the northern China to spend the winter, as well as wild gooses, wild ducks, egrets. This is also a popular site for local newly married couples to take wedding pictures.
【Chui Di Scenic Area】
Chui Di Scenic Area is located in the southeastern shore of the lake. It is converted from the previous Ma’anshan Forest Park. The forest coverage rate in this area can reach up to 80%. There is a hill in the lakeside called Chui Di Hill and other small hills around. People usually do mountaineering or barbecuing in the park at weekends.
Tips for Exploring East Lake
Taking boat cruising would be a good way to explore in the Lake. In the crossing of Yanxia Road and Songzhu Road outside the scenic area (4 kilometers away from Ting Tao Scenic Area) is boarding dock for the cruise.
Each year in the East Lake are held all kinds of festivals in different time periods, such as Lantern Show, Cherry Blossom Festival, Culture Exhibition in Dragon Boat Festival, Lotus Flowers Festival, Chu Cultural Festival, etc..
Eake Lake is quite large and you can not cover all the places around it in one day. It is suggested to spend half day to tour one or two of the scenic areas in the lakeside, then move to visit other main attractions of Wuhan City.
For regular visitors, it is suggested to visit Ting Tao Scenic Area, Wuhan University and Hubei Provincial Museum for a day tour. If you are to visit cherry in April, it is suggested to visit Mo Shan Scenic Area.
Travel Guide
【Chinese name】: 武汉东湖风景区
【Recommended tour time】: It is recommended to spend half day to tour around the lake area.
Best time to visit: April to October would be the best time period in a year to visit East Lake in Wuhan. It is worth a visit in summer when lotus flowers open, but Wuhan is very hot in summer. In a day, early morning, late afternoon or sunset would be the best times to visit and for photography.
【How to get to East Lake in Wuhan】: As it is located in the central area of Wuhang city, it enjoys convenient transport from airport, railway stations, piers or bus stations in the city. It is only 8 kilometers away from Wuchang Railway Station and 30 kilometers from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Taking a taxi would be the most convenient way to get there. But if you want to save money, you can also take public bus. To reach Ting Tao Scenic Area, you can take Bus Route 411 or 578 to “东湖路梨园站”; to get to Mo Shan Scenic Area, you can take 402 or 403 to Wuhan Botanical Garden Station (Chinese: “武汉植物园”)