Bailang Scenic Area is located in Bailang Town, Zixing City, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. Adjacent to Tian'e Mountain National Forest Park and Xingning Ancient Town, it is a typical lake-island scenic area. Bailang Town lies in the core area of Dongjiang Lake Scenic Area (a national 5A-level tourist attraction) and Dongjiang Lake National Wetland Park. The lake area within its jurisdiction covers 120,000 mu, accounting for half of the total area of Dongjiang Lake. With a sound ecological environment, green mountains, clear waters, and a forest coverage rate of 86%, Bailang boasts vast waters, numerous islands, and a combination of mountains, waters, forests, and fruits. Endowed with abundant natural resources, it is known as the "Little Erhai Lake" and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction.
History and Culture
Zixing was established as a county in the first year of Yonghe in the Eastern Han Dynasty (136 AD), initially named Hanning, with the county government located in front of Fenghuang Mountain (belonging to the former Jiushi Township).
Bailang is the place where Zhu De and Chen Yi led their troops to commemorate the first anniversary of the "Nanchang Uprising". It is also the birthplace of the Special Committee of Southern Hunan of the Communist Party of China (Zhongtang Yangjiaping Revolutionary Memorial Site).
Han Opera, which originated in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province, only survives in Bailang in Hunan Province and has been listed as one of the first batch of intangible cultural heritages in Chenzhou City.
Bailang is the hometown of Bai Wei, a famous national writer. Influenced by democratic ideas in her youth, Bai Wei developed anti-feudal awareness. She achieved fruitful results in literary creation and made important contributions to the development of modern Chinese literature.
Major Attractions
Dongjiang Lake
The lake has clear water and a broad surface, forming a delightful contrast with the surrounding mountains. The beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains is truly breathtaking. More than 20 islands are scattered on the lake, offering rich exploration and sightseeing experiences.
Circular Lake Highway
Starting from Changyingtou Wharf and ending at Bailang Village, the highway is approximately 15 kilometers long. There are multiple parking viewing platforms along the way. Visitors can tour by bike or self-driving to enjoy the scenery of Dongjiang Lake and feel the comfort of the breeze brushing against their faces.
Bailang Wharf
As the main departure point for boating tours on Dongjiang Lake, it provides various water transportation tools such as cruise ships and speedboats. Visitors can take boats to attractions like Doushuai Lingyan Cave and Fenghuang Island to experience the fun of water sightseeing.
Fenghuang Island
Named for its shape resembling a phoenix spreading its wings, the island is home to a large number of wild macaques. It is an ideal place to get close to nature and watch wild animals. With dense vegetation and fresh air, the island also offers a bird's-eye view of the magnificent scenery of Dongjiang Lake.
Doushuai Lingyan Cave
Formed 27 million years ago, the cave features a variety of spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars, which are like masterpieces of nature. With an area of 65,000 square meters and a depth of over 5 kilometers, it is known as the "No.1 Cave Under Heaven".
Tour Routes
One-day Tour Route: Arrive at Bailang Wharf in the morning, take a cruise to Doushuai Lingyan Cave and visit the magnificent cave scenery (about 2 hours); enjoy local delicacies such as Dongjiang Lake fish near the wharf at noon; in the afternoon, ride a bike or drive along the Circular Lake Highway to appreciate the lake and mountain scenery, stop at viewing platforms for photos on the way, and finally go to Fenghuang Island to watch wild macaques (about 3 hours) before returning in the evening.
Travel Tips
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or casual shoes for activities like cycling and hiking.
- In summer, the sun is strong, so take sun protection measures such as bringing sun hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen; in winter, the temperature is low, so keep warm.
- When taking a boat tour, follow the staff's instructions, wear a life jacket, and pay attention to safety.
- Learn about the opening hours of various attractions and the departure times of cruise ships in advance to arrange the itinerary properly.
- When tasting local food, choose regular restaurants to ensure food hygiene.
Notes
- Protect the scenic area environment: do not litter randomly or damage vegetation and public facilities.
- When watching macaques on Fenghuang Island, do not feed them to avoid being scratched.
- When driving by yourself, observe traffic rules, pay attention to speed limit signs along the way, and drive carefully as there are many curves on some sections.
- In case of thunderstorms, avoid staying by the lake or under trees and take shelter in a safe area in time.
- Keep personal belongings safe, especially in crowded places and on cruise ships.
Transportation
- Public Transportation: Take Bus No. 201 from Chenzhou urban area to Luowei Station in Zixing City, transfer to Bus No. 3 of Zixing City to Bailang Town Government Station, and then walk to the scenic area.
- Self-driving: Starting from Chenzhou urban area, drive east along Chenzhou Avenue, turn into Ziwu Highway, and then reach the scenic area via Bailang Highway. The whole journey is about 50 kilometers, taking 1.5 hours; starting from Changsha, drive along Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway, get off at Zixing Exit, and then reach the scenic area via Zixing Avenue and Bailang Highway. The whole journey is about 350 kilometers, taking 4.5 hours.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open all day, but the opening hours of individual attractions vary slightly: Fenghuang Island and Doushuai Lingyan Cave are open from 8:00 to 17:30; the cruise departure time at Bailang Wharf is from 8:30 to 16:00. For specific information, please refer to the official announcement of the scenic area on the day.
Tickets
Bailang Scenic Area is open for free, but separate tickets are required for some attractions: the ticket for Fenghuang Island is 80 yuan per person, the ticket for Doushuai Lingyan Cave is 70 yuan per person, and the cruise ticket price ranges from 50 to 150 yuan depending on the route.