Dongting Lake is located in northern Hunan Province, spanning cities and counties such as Yueyang, Miluo, Xiangyin, Wangcheng, Yiyang, Yuanjiang, Hanshou, Changde, Jinshi, Anxiang, and Nanxian, on the south bank of the Jingjiang River in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It is China's second largest freshwater lake, anciently known as Yunmeng, Jiujiang, and Chonghu. The name "Dongting Lake" originated in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, named after Dongting Mountain (now Junshan Island) in the lake. The lake receives water from the four outlets of the Yangtze River—Songzi, Taiping, Ouchi, and Tiaoxian in the north, and connects with the four rivers of Xiang, Zi, Yuan, Li, as well as small tributaries like the Miluo River in the south and west, discharging into the Yangtze River at Chenglingji in Yueyang City.
At the end of the 1990s, according to calculations by water conservancy departments, the area of Dongting Lake is 2,579.2 square kilometers (some say 2,740 square kilometers), generally recognized as China's second largest freshwater lake. If the floodway area of more than 1,300 square kilometers (some say 18,780 square kilometers) from the four rivers of Xiang, Zi, Yuan, Li and the "four outlets of the Yangtze River" is added, the total area is 3,879.2 square kilometers (or 4,040 square kilometers). The circumference of the lake basin is 803.2 kilometers, with a total volume of 22 billion cubic meters, including 17.8 billion cubic meters of natural lake volume and 4.2 billion cubic meters of river channel volume. Dongting Lake is an important regulating lake in the Yangtze River basin, with strong flood storage capacity, which has defused countless floods in the Yangtze River and ensured the safety of the Jianghan Plain and Wuhan during the flood season.
History and Culture
Dongting Lake has been an important strategic location in history and the birthplace of Chinese traditional culture. The lake area is rich in historical sites, with the Yueyang Tower representing important tourism and cultural resources. It is also the birthplace of traditional Chinese agriculture, known as the "land of fish and rice," and is the most important commercial grain, oil, aquatic products, and breeding base in Hunan Province and even the whole country.
Representatives of Huxiang culture such as Zhou Dunyi and Zeng Guofan have played a positive role in promoting the progress of Chinese culture. In art, it is represented by Xiang Opera, Xiang Embroidery, and Flower Drum Opera. In poetry culture, Fan Zhongyan's Record of Yueyang Tower is the most famous. The "Dongting Fishing Song" has been widely spread since the Warring States Period, with smooth and gentle tunes and a strong local flavor. It became one of the national intangible cultural heritage projects in 2014. Dongting Lake is one of the birthplaces of human rice agriculture, and the wetland development model of Dongting Lake has always been a typical example of traditional agriculture.
Main Attractions
Yueyang Tower Scenic Area
Located in Yueyang City, Yueyang Tower, together with the Yellow Crane Tower and Tengwang Pavilion, is known as one of the "Three Great Towers of the South." It is the birthplace of Fan Zhongyan's Record of Yueyang Tower. Here, visitors can climb the tower to enjoy the spectacular panorama of Dongting Lake "holding distant mountains and swallowing the Yangtze River." They can watch the sunrise over the lake in the morning and admire the "Dongting Sunset" in the evening. The scenic area also has an exhibition of miniature models of Yueyang Tower through the ages, allowing visitors to understand its architectural history.
Junshan Island
Located in Yueyang City, Junshan Island is said to be the place where the Xiangfei (Ehuang and Nuying) sacrificed their lives for love. The island is rich in spotted bamboo (tear bamboo), enjoying the reputation of the "Island of Love Myth." With interlaced wetlands, tea gardens, and reed marshes, and inhabited by egrets, it is an ecological wonderland.
East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve
Located in the eastern part of Dongting Lake, the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 1,570 square kilometers. In 1992, it became one of the first six international important wetlands in China to join the Convention on Wetlands. It is an important migration channel for global migratory birds. From October to March each year, 217 species of birds, totaling 10 million migratory birds, overwinter here, where rare birds such as the white crane and white-headed crane can be seen. It is also the habitat of China's largest wild elk population, with about 132 finless porpoises and 50 elks living in the lake area.
South Dongting Lake Wetland
Located in Yiyang City, the South Dongting Lake Wetland presents a landscape of water towns, with crisscrossing lake branches, reed mazes, and scattered fishing villages. Here, visitors can experience traditional fishing and hunting cultures, dragon boat cultures, and other folk customs. The winding lake shoreline, set against Sun Mountain and Huashan Mountain, also serves as the green lung of the city.
Food
Junshan Silver Needle Sliced Chicken
This dish is made by slicing chicken and cooking it with Junshan Silver Needle tea. The chicken is tender and fresh, with the fragrance of tea, offering a unique flavor. It can be tasted in many restaurants around Dongting Lake, with prices varying according to the restaurant grade, generally around 50-100 yuan.
Dongting Silver Fish Fried with Eggs
Dongting silver fish is a famous product of Dongting Lake. This dish combines the freshness of silver fish with the richness of eggs, featuring a tender taste and rich nutrition. It is commonly found in local restaurants, priced at approximately 30-60 yuan.
Yuanjiang Asparagus
Yuanjiang asparagus is a characteristic ingredient grown in the Dongting Lake wetland. Cooked asparagus is crisp and can be stir-fried or served cold. In surrounding restaurants, a portion of Yuanjiang asparagus costs about 20-50 yuan.
Artemisia Rice Cake
This is a traditional snack made from artemisia and glutinous rice flour. The cake is fragrant, soft, and waxy, with a unique flavor. It is sold at street snack stalls or some characteristic restaurants, usually priced at 10-20 yuan per portion.
Tickets
No ticket is required for Dongting Lake itself, but tickets are needed for surrounding attractions such as the Yueyang Tower Scenic Area and Junshan Island.
Opening Hours
Most natural areas are open 24 hours a day throughout the year. The best time for activities like bird watching in the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve is from October to March each year.
Tour Route
Starting from Yueyang urban area, first visit the Yueyang Tower Scenic Area, spending 2-3 hours feeling the charm of this famous tower and enjoying the panoramic view of Dongting Lake. Then go to Junshan Island, spending about half a day exploring the love legends and ecological landscapes on the island. If time permits, visit the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve to watch migratory birds and wetland ecology, which is recommended to arrange for a day. For those who want to experience water town folk customs, they can go to the South Dongting Lake Wetland in Yiyang City for a day. The entire itinerary is recommended to be arranged for 3-5 days.
Transportation
- Airplane: Arrive at Changsha Huanghua International Airport first, then transfer to long-distance buses or high-speed rails to reach cities around Dongting Lake such as Yueyang, Yiyang, and Changde. From Changsha Huanghua International Airport to Yueyang urban area, it takes about 2 hours by long-distance bus and about 1 hour by high-speed rail.
- Train/High-speed Rail: Cities like Yueyang, Yiyang, and Changde all have train stations and high-speed rail stations. Choose appropriate train numbers according to the departure place. For example, taking a high-speed rail from Beijing to Yueyang takes about 6-7 hours.
- Self-driving: If driving, you can go to cities around Dongting Lake via highways such as Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway. Taking the self-driving trip from Wuhan to Yueyang as an example, the whole journey takes about 1.5-2 hours.
- Urban Transportation: After arriving in surrounding cities, you can take buses, taxis, or rent cars to reach the scenic areas. For example, in Yueyang urban area, you can take a bus to the Yueyang Tower Scenic Area; to go to the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, you may need to rent a car or join a special line bus of local tour groups.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Yueyang Tower Scenic Area: As one of the Three Great Towers of the South, it has a profound historical and cultural heritage, allowing visitors to overlook the magnificent scenery of Dongting Lake.
- Junshan Island: With moving love myths and legends, it has a beautiful ecological environment and rich landscapes such as wetlands and tea gardens.
- East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve: An international important wetland and a paradise for migratory birds, where many rare birds, elks, and other wild animals can be observed.
Tour Tips
- Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) have pleasant climates, suitable for bird watching, lotus appreciation, and boating, with more outdoor activities arranged.
- Winter (November-February of the following year) is the migratory bird season, and ecological photography enthusiasts can bring professional photography equipment for shooting.
- When visiting, understand the opening hours and ticket policies of each attraction in advance and make travel plans.
- When tasting local food, choose restaurants with good reputations to ensure both taste and food safety.
Notes
- When visiting nature reserves, abide by the regulations, do not feed animals at will, or damage vegetation.
- When boating on Dongting Lake, be sure to wear a life jacket and follow the crew's instructions.
- Smoking is prohibited in some scenic areas, so pay attention to abiding by relevant regulations.
- Summer temperatures around Dongting Lake are high, so take sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures.
- When driving to the scenic areas, pay attention to traffic conditions, especially during holidays when congestion may occur.