Yueyang: Culture, Tower and Dongting Lake

Wooden Architecture and History

In the municipality of the same name, Yueyang Tower stands 19.42 metres tall and is built entirely of wood. Its helmet-shaped roof is considered unique in China. The structure is supported by four rows of columns, twelve corridor columns and 20 eaves columns. From the west shore of Dongting Lake, the Yueyang Tower Scenic Area offers views of the lake. Together with the Pavilion of Prince Teng and the Yellow Crane Tower, it is one of Jiangnan’s three great towers; it is also the only one to have preserved its original Qing-dynasty structure.

Across the wider region, Yueyang Tower is 17.24 metres wide and has an area of 250.66 square metres. The Yueyang Tower Scenic Area covers 670 mu, or about 44.7 hectares. It is divided into an administrative area closed to protect cultural relics and an open leisure area. The site includes, among other places, Sanzui Pavilion, Xiao Qiao’s Tomb, Zhanyue Gate, Bianhe Street and Lv Dongbin’s Temple. Sanzui Pavilion lies north of Yueyang Tower. It was built in 1775 and rebuilt in 1867, when it was given its name.

Dongting Lake and Protected Nature

The East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve protects the wetland ecology and biological resources of Dongting Lake. It was established in 1982 and upgraded to a national nature reserve in 1994 with the approval of the State Council. It had already been included in the Ramsar Convention in 1992, becoming one of the first six Chinese wetlands covered by the convention. The reserve is an important wintering, breeding and stopover area for waterbirds; millions of geese and ducks spend time there each year. It is also considered a destination for ecotourism and environmental education.

Junshan Island is a 0.98-square-kilometre island in Dongting Lake, made up of 72 peaks and located twelve kilometres from the shore. It lies opposite Yueyang Tower. Reeds, shrubs, trees and tea gardens alternate with areas of water and mud; both woodland and waterbirds can be found there. Its natural scenery includes walks among green trees and red maples, as well as crisp autumn air and clear water. The combination of an island, diverse habitats and wetlands offers a different emphasis from the architecture around the tower.

Discover the World of the Lake

The Dongting Lake Museum also focuses on the lake. Its activities include collecting, research, exhibitions, education and tourism. Its subject matter ranges from geological development to ecological diversity. The “Natural Paradise” exhibition focuses on the wildlife of Dongting Lake and its habitats. Graphic explanations, interactive games and selected species illustrate the region’s plant and animal life. The “Dongting: A Peerless Lake” exhibition explores the lake’s origins through displays, immersive landscape reconstructions and multimedia films. These geological and ecological themes add another perspective on the region alongside its historic buildings.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When choosing a holiday rental, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip: the tower, pavilion and exhibitions offer a cultural focus, while the island, wetlands and birdlife bring nature and landscapes to the fore. This helps you choose a location that suits your travel plans, without treating culture and nature as one and the same experience. Yueyang’s four main transport routes are the Beijing–Guangzhou Railway, the Beijing–Zhuhai Expressway, National Highway 107 and the Yangtze River. They provide a geographical overview of transport in Yueyang.

Discover more destinations: Changsha, Loudi, Xiangtan, Hengyang, Zhangjiajie, Shaoyang, Xiangxi, Huaihua.

For the broader travel overview: Hunan.