Things to do in Yueyang
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Top 10 attractions in Yueyang
Lake Dongting
Lake Dongting is the second-largest freshwater lake in China. This body of water is a vast remnant left behind after the recession of the ancient Yunmeng Marsh, and it has been known as "800-li Dongting" since ancient times. Influenced by siltation and the division of sandbars, the lake is generally divided into East Dongting Lake, South Dongting Lake, and West Dongting Lake. It is surrounded by mountains on the east, south, and west, and opens to the Yangtze River in the north. The lakes, river channels, and sandbars are intertwined, creating a landscape of plains and water towns. Classic spots for viewing the lake include Yueyang Tower and Junshan Island. Climbing Yueyang Tower and looking out from the railing, the lake view is fully captured, perfectly matching the atmosphere of "embracing distant mountains and swallowing the Yangtze River" described in Fan Zhongyan's "Yueyang Tower Record." Junshan Island, located in the heart of the lake, is an iconic island of this vast lake. Historical sites such as the Tomb of the Two Consorts and Liuyi Well, along with the legend of the Xiangfei bamboo, are passed down here. The famous Junshan Yinzhen tea produced on the island is also quite well-known. In the Chenglingji area, where the lake water flows into the Yangtze River, you can also see the scene of the lake and river waters, which have different colors, converging and flowing majestically eastward. This lake area is known as a land of fish and rice. It is rich in fish such as carp, grass carp, and silver carp. Silverfish is a traditional specialty, and products from the lake area like Xiang lotus seeds are also famous. The water level of the lake fluctuates significantly with the seasons. During the high-water season, the misty waves reach the sky, while during the low-water season, sandbars are exposed and reeds stretch across the area. The scenery varies greatly depending on the time of visit. Every winter, large numbers of migratory birds arrive at the East Dongting Lake wetland to overwinter.Yueyang County · 10.2 km from downtown
Baling Square
Baling Square is located on the shores of Lake Dongting and is an extension of the Yue Yang Tower Scenic Area toward the lakeshore, adjacent to the food street Bianhe Street and Yueyang Tower Park. The square covers an area of approx. 48,400 m², and its iconic feature is the central "Hou Yi Slaying the Ba Snake" sculpture, which stands approx. 16 m high, has a net weight of 2,000 tons, and was designed and created by the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The sculpture is based on the legend of the Ba snake eating elephants from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*: legend has it that Hou Yi once slew the Ba snake at Lake Dongting, and the snake's bones piled up to form hills, from which Yueyang's ancient name, "Baling," originated. The sculpture also embodies the meaning of "Hou Yi shoots the Ba snake, and the people are at peace." The square is oriented east-west and is basically symmetrical, echoing the city's historical development axis. The central square is surrounded by sparse woodland and lawns, while the fish culture landscape areas on the north and south sides use architectural features to recreate the fishing scenes of Lake Dongting. The square descends in levels from east to west, with the Baling Grand Steps by the lake reaching the water's edge. Standing on the platform, you can take in a panoramic view of Lake Dongting. The stone railings along the lake are engraved with poems by scholars throughout history praising the lake. Zhanyue Gate, located by the square, is an imitation ancient city gate tower, and Yueyang's "city origin point" is also located on the square.Yueyang · 4 km from downtown
Bianhe Street
Bianhe Street starts from Yueyang Tower Scenic Spot in the south and faces Dongting Lake in the west. The total length of the street is more than 300 meters. It is a characteristic antique commercial street built on the basis of Yueyang Tower culture, Dongting culture and Baling culture. The architectural design of Bianhe Street is simple and elegant. The scattered Qingshitai Road and the melodious Guqin music add a touch of charm to this antique street. Walking along the bluestone road, there are inns, restaurants and tea houses on both sides, and the stage and pavilions are all blue bricks, blue tiles and white walls, carved windows and painted eaves, with scenery in the street and buildings in the scenery, simple and elegant. There are many gourmet snacks and handicraft shops along the street, which has become a food street in Yueyang.Yueyang · 4 km from downtown
Yueyang Museum
Hunan Yueyang Museum is located on the bank of the scenic South Lake in Yueyang City, facing east and west, and facing the International Dragon Boat Race Field. It was built with an investment of 16 million yuan by the Yueyang Municipal People's Government. The construction started in August 1996 and was completed and officially opened to the public on October 29, 1999. The museum covers an area of 11,000 square meters and has a construction area of 6,600 square meters. The name of the museum was written by the late famous social activist, Mr. Zhao Puchu, former president of the Chinese Buddhist Association.Yueyang · 1.4 km from downtown
Cishi Tower
On the southwest side of Lake Dongting stands a tower named Cishi Tower. The tower is 39m high, built of brick and stone, with an octagonal, seven-story structure. Its exquisite design stands tall by the lake, overlooking Lake Dongting, and is one of the "scenic highlights of Baling." The base is built with granite, and the tower body is constructed entirely of blue bricks, rich in the artistic style of the Tang and Song dynasties. Starting from the second floor, small Buddhist niches are set around each level, which originally contained Buddha statues. Small bells hang from the eaves, and whenever the wind blows, you can hear the pleasant, tinkling sound of the bells. The tower's exterior is exquisite, but unfortunately, it is solid inside; otherwise, it would also be a great place to overlook the beautiful scenery ofLake Dongting. Legend has it that in ancient times, there were water demons in Lake Dongting that often came out to harm the people, causing them great suffering. So, everyone pooled their money to build a pagoda to suppress the demons. Near the construction site lived a family whose members had mostly been swallowed by the fierce waves stirred up by the water demons, leaving only one person, known as Cishi. When she heard that a pagoda was to be built to suppress the demons, she donated all the money she had saved over the years and worked day and night, boiling tea and delivering water for the builders, running back and forth. Unfortunately, she passed away before the tower was completed. To commemorate her, people named the tower Cishi Tower and builtCishi Templenext to it.Yueyang · 3.8 km from downtown
Dongting Lake Town
The planning area of Dongting Lake Town is located on Zhilan Road in Dongting Lake Tourism Resort, Yueyang, along the southwest of Nanhu Lake. It is dominated by Lengjia Mountain and has a good scenic location. The total planned land area of the project is 3,200 mu, with a total investment of about 780 million yuan, and it is expected to receive about 400,000 tourists annually. Dongting Lake Town has created six major theme zones with the overall spatial structure of "one core, two axes and three belts", covering cultural experience, characteristic industries, farming experience, natural science, agricultural sightseeing, health and sports, etc., and relying on Dongting water culture, inheriting Hunan civilization, adhering to cultural characteristics, and reconstructing Dongting water town elements such as lakes, harbors, villages, and fields.Yueyang · 4.5 km from downtown
South Lake
Nanhu Lake was called Yonghu Lake in ancient times. It is connected to the vast Dongting Lake in the west. The Nanjin Port levee connects the two mountains like a long thin belt, which is the dividing line between the two lakes. The lake water spreads and overlaps between the peaks, reflecting the peaks and scenery, which is full of interest. It is now listed as a provincial natural scenic area and an international dragon boat race venue. The surface of Nanhu Lake is rippling with blue waves all year round, quiet and elegant. There is a Longshan Mountain on the south bank of the lake, which rises and falls from east to west, like a giant dragon flying on the water. There are nine independent hills in front of Longshan Mountain, which are arranged in a line towards Dongting Lake, just like nine turtles being chased by a giant dragon and swimming on the water, which is the scenery of "one dragon chasing nine turtles". There is an ancient three-eye bridge built in the middle of Zijing Dike at the mouth of Beigang Bay. In the past few hundred years, Zijing Dike has been the waterway leading to the outside world in Yueyang. Nanhu Lake has been a place for scholars to go boating, taste fish, drink wine, drink tea and recite poems since ancient times. Li Bai once wrote a poem praising it: "Nanhu Lake has no smoke in the autumn night, and you can ride the current straight to the sky." Now Nanhu Lake is also a newly opened national water sports base, with sports facilities such as pleasure boats, motorboats, and water bicycles. A new lake tour road, gardens, and pavilions have been built on the lake. Yueyang's annual International Dragon Boat Festival is held here.Yueyang · 2.8 km from downtown
Dongting Lake Museum
The Dongting Lake Museum is located in Liulinzhou Town, Junshan District, Yueyang City, Hunan Province. It is located on the banks of the Hao River in Junshan District and is close to Dongting Lake. It is a key project of Hunan Province and City. The upgraded Dongting Lake Museum is a landmark project in the planning and construction of the Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone. It integrates collection, research, display, publicity and education, tourism and leisure, and is a comprehensive, open, modern, and multifunctional lake museum. From the outside, its simple and majestic architectural appearance complements the shimmering waters of Dongting Lake, and the internal exhibition space vividly reproduces the charm of Hunan culture through digital technology. As a key supporting project of the Fourth Hunan Tourism Development Conference, the Dongting Lake Museum carries the important task of polishing Yueyang's cultural tourism brand and showcasing the heritage of Hunan culture.Yueyang · 11.8 km from downtown
Wujian Mountain National Forest Park
Wujianshan National Forest Park is located in Linxiang, Hunan. Its predecessor was the Wujianshan Forest Farm established in 1958. The entire park has a mountainous area of 1,800 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 98%. There are more than 100 historical, cultural and natural landscapes in the park. It is a forest park with the theme of "green, leisure and culture". The park consists of five peaks: Jiaoding Mountain, Yingz.ui Mountain, Zhoujia Mountain, Wangcheng Mountain and Magu Mountain, hence the name Wujian Mountain. The park is very rich in forest resources, with more than 200 hectares of natural broad-leaved sub-forests, large areas of fir, sassafras plantations and large bamboo forests; more than 300 hectares of pine forests, forming a multi-level three-dimensional structure, integrating a green The wild forest. In the scenic area, there are also Xianggongchong where Qu Yuan lived and Wangying Mountain where he visited, the Dianjiangtai where Lu Xun, the Confucian Confucian of the Three Kingdoms, planned the Battle of Chibi, the Hundred Steps Ladder where Emperor Qianlong climbed, the Indifferent Museum, the World Stele Forest Museum and other cultural landscapes. The Dabei Temple in the park was built at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, which means "I Buddha is merciful and merciful, and saves all living beings". The World Forest of Steles Museum was donated and built by Mr. Dan Bo, director of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, bibliophile and contemporary Hongru. All the inscriptions in the museum are the handwritings of foreign heads of state, ancient and modern celebrities in the possession of Mr. Danbo's family. The Forest of Ten Thousand Steles is all hidden in the mountains and forests, and is integrated with nature.Linxiang · 6.7 km from downtown
Yueyang Church School (Hubin University) Former Site
Yueyang · 6 km from downtown
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Free things to do in Yueyang
Lake Dongting
Yueyang County · 10.2 km from downtownBaling Square
Yueyang · 4 km from downtownBianhe Street
Yueyang · 4 km from downtownYueyang Museum
Yueyang · 1.4 km from downtownCishi Tower
Yueyang · 3.8 km from downtownDongting Lake Town
Yueyang · 4.5 km from downtownSouth Lake
Yueyang · 2.8 km from downtownDongting Lake Museum
Yueyang · 11.8 km from downtownWujian Mountain National Forest Park
Linxiang · 6.7 km from downtownYueyang Church School (Hubin University) Former Site
Yueyang · 6 km from downtown
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What travellers say about Yueyang
悠哉悠哉01July 5, 2026
5.0
Last week, I went to Dongting Lake with friends. When we arrived in the morning, a thin mist was floating on the lake, creating a very atmospheric scene. We strolled along the lakeside path, enjoying the cool breeze carrying the moisture. We stopped at a roadside stall for some delicious fish; it was incredibly fresh. In the afternoon, we took a boat tour, where we could see the vast expanse of the lake, with Junshan Island appearing and disappearing in the distance. We spent the whole day there without getting bored, and every photo we took looked beautiful. I definitely want to bring my family back next time! 🌊
Lake Dongting
臭美January 31, 2025
5.0
I went to Baling Square after visiting Yueyang Tower, then crossed the pedestrian street and ran to the front to watch the sunset and relax. There weren't too many people there and no entrance fee was required, so I walked back slowly, feeling leisurely and comfortable. When I turned back and passed the big square, I realized that I almost missed the night view of Baling Square, where you can enjoy various snacks, ride a bike, and see Dongting Lake.
Baling Square
第二号爱人April 1, 2022
4.0
The street is also an entrepreneurial street here, so there are many entrepreneurial shops here, and the transportation is still good. The most famous commercial entities in Yueyang are connected here. Not far away is Yueyang Port and Yuxiangzi.
Bianhe Street
M47***39October 27, 2024
4.0
When you go to a city, you naturally have to visit the museum. The audio guide of Yueyang Museum is very good, full of pride in the city's history. The equilateral triangle on the pottery bells of the primitive era feels very time-traveling. Yueyang was comparable to the bronze civilization of the Central Plains during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the swordplay of the Qin-Chu war, the iron cavalry of the Three Kingdoms era, the flourishing poems and essays about Dongting Lake during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, and the phrase "worry first, then enjoy" in the Song Dynasty directly pushed the city's temperament to the peak of grandeur.
Yueyang Museum
Renee118July 31, 2025
4.0
慈氏塔坐落在洞庭湖南路西侧，比较醒目，塔高39米，为砖石结构，八角七层，是“巴陵胜状”之一，也算是这儿标志性的建筑吧！第一次看到它是晚上吃好饭散步消食，走到这儿附近。第二天白天出去 citywalk， 又来到了这里。边上的大橘猫在网上已是网红打卡地了。
Cishi Tower
周向斌September 14, 2023
5.0
Yes, it's a good place for a family outing on weekends. I will come back to visit again if I have time in the future.
Dongting Lake Town
gz当地向导伊妹儿October 3, 2021
5.0
When you arrive in Yueyang, you must check out Nanhu Lake, a natural lake derived from Dongting Lake. Nanhu Lake has beautiful scenery and is very interesting. It is a provincial natural scenic protection area and an international dragon boat racing venue, and it is very cost-effective.
South Lake
东风不负有情人May 9, 2021
5.0
1. A half-day tour of Wujianshan Forest Park on May 9, 2021. Enter from the East Gate and drive straight for one or two kilometers to the parking lot at the gate of the scenic area. Walk in and walk to the Forest of Steles (on the left) and you can climb up (do not continue along the road at this time). It will take about 20 to 30 minutes to climb the winding steps to the top of Yunlin Temple. It's a pity that Yunlin Temple has not been completed.
2. If you have good physical strength, you can walk along the asphalt road after entering the gate. You will pass a Taoist temple and walk for about an hour to a fork. At this time, choose the left and walk towards Yunlin Temple. It will take about half an hour to reach the entrance archway of Yunlin Temple. You can see Yunlin Temple after walking for a few minutes after the archway. You can overlook the entire Linxiang city at Yunlin Temple, and the scenery is good.
Wujian Mountain National Forest Park
