Lake Travel in Wuhan

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, is a city of lakes. The Yangtze River and the Han River flowing interlaced in the city separate it into three parts. Countless lakes and waterways extend in all directions. In ancient times, the area was called Yunmeng Ze (Yunmeng Lakes), the collective name of the lakes in Jianghan Plain in Hubei Province.

But according to the new survey by Wuhan Water Authority, the lake area in the city has dwindled 228.9 square km over the past 30 years. Almost 100 lakes have disappeared over the 50 years. The only existent 38 lakes still face the danger of being eroded.

Some big lakes in Wuhan have been developed into scenic spots or included in parks for sightseeing. The big lakes are listed as follows.

East Lake

Located in Wuchang district and surrounded by small parks, the East Lake is the largest urban lake in China. It covers an area of 33 square kilometers and is six times larger than Wuhan's West Lake. The East Lake scenic area is composed of six parts: Moshan, Tingtao, Luoyan, Baima, Luohong and Chuidi. There are a bird sanctuary, museums, gardens, boat rides, cycling, fishing and a public aquarium for locals and visitors' enjoyment.

Lotus Lake

The Lotus Lake is located at the foot of the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge in Hanyang district. Originally, it was a small pool. In 1990s, the Lotus Lake Water World was built there, and the lake has been known to the citizens since then. Today, it has been developed into a park. Covering an area of 17 hectares, the park is divided into the east and west parts connected by a land island. The pavilions, bridges and sparkled water form an attractive scene.

Moon Lake

Covering an area of 1.42 square km, the Moon Lake is located in the northwest of Hanyang district, Wuhan. It connects the northwest of Tortoise Mountain in the east, adjacent to the Ancient Guqin Terrace in the south, reach the Heshan Mountain in the west and close to Hanjiang River in the north. It is a fresh water lake blessed with unsurpassed natural resources. The beautiful Legend Mountain and Flowing Water which tells a story about the understanding and appreciation between friends in Warring States Periods (475BC–221BC) injects the cultural assumptions to the lake.

Ziyang Lake

Ziyang Lake is located in Ziyang Lake Park in Wuchang district, Wuhan. It is nestled against the Snake Hill in the north and faces the Yangtze River in the west. It is the only park in Wuchang district that owns natural lake. The lively park features calm lake, delicate pavilions and bushy plants. On weekends, it is full of children attending the courses of painting and calligraphy, and the seniors find it a nice place to take exercise.

Zhongshan Park

To see the beautiful lake sight, Zhongshan Park is also a must. It is one of the 100 famous historic parks in China. First built in the early twentieth century, at present it has been developed into a comprehensive park combing sightseeing, entertainment, amusement, food and drink. Visitors will be impressed by the green plants, fresh air and peaceful environment in the park.