South Lake Scenic Area is located in Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction integrating natural scenery, historical culture and red tourism. Centered on South Lake, which boasts the scenery of "light smoke brushing the islets, gentle breeze about to blow", the scenic area covers a total area of approximately 5.86 square kilometers, including 3.4 square kilometers of water area. It encompasses regions such as the main island of South Lake, the Central Lake Island, and the Yuehe Historical Block. As the closing venue of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, South Lake has a profound red cultural heritage and, at the same time, features the beautiful scenery of a Jiangnan water town, forming a characteristic landscape of "one lake, one red symbol, one culture". The scenic area is home to iconic buildings such as the Yanyu Tower, the South Lake Red Boat, and the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall. Among them, the Yanyu Tower covers a construction area of about 1,600 square meters, and the new building of the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall has a construction area of 19,600 square meters. It receives over 3 million visitors annually and is a national patriotic education demonstration base and a renowned red tourism destination.
Historical Culture
The historical and cultural roots of South Lake can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. Archaeological findings show that ancestors lived here as early as over 7,000 years ago. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area around South Lake belonged to the Wu and Yue regions. After going through dynastic changes, a unique water town culture gradually took shape. In the Tang and Song dynasties, South Lake had already become a place where literati and scholars visited and composed poems. Poets such as Gu Kuang of the Tang Dynasty and Su Shi of the Song Dynasty left relevant poems here.
The most iconic historical event of South Lake is the convening of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1921. In July of that year, the First Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Shanghai. Later, due to interference, it was moved to a cruise ship on South Lake to continue. This cruise ship thus became a witness to the birth of the Communist Party of China and was known as the "Red Boat". In 1959, the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall was established, and a replica of the "Red Boat" was made for future generations to pay their respects. The Red Boat Spirit - "the pioneering spirit of breaking new ground and daring to be the first, the fighting spirit of firm ideals and perseverance, and the dedication spirit of serving the public and being loyal to the people" - has become the core connotation of South Lake's historical culture, making South Lake an important carrier for inheriting the red gene and promoting the revolutionary spirit.
In addition, the Yanyu Tower culture of South Lake is also unique. The Yanyu Tower was first built during the Five Dynasties, and the existing building was reconstructed in 1918. It got its name from the artistic conception of the poem by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty: "Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many towers stand in the misty rain". Literati of all dynasties left a large number of inscriptions and poems here, forming a strong poetic and cultural atmosphere.
Main Attractions
South Lake Red Boat
The South Lake Red Boat is located on the southeast bank of the Central Lake Island in South Lake. It is a single-clamped silk net boat replicated in 1959 according to the original appearance of the cruise ship where the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held. The boat is 16 meters long and 3 meters wide, divided into the front cabin, middle cabin, rear cabin and room cabin. The middle cabin is the place where the conference was held. As a symbol of the birth of the Communist Party of China, the Red Boat is a national key cultural relic protection unit and the core red attraction of South Lake. Visitors can board the Central Lake Island to look up at the Red Boat at close range, listen to relevant historical explanations, and feel the profound connotation of the "Red Boat Spirit".
Yanyu Tower
The Yanyu Tower is located in the center of the Central Lake Island in South Lake and is a landmark building of South Lake. The existing building is a reinforced concrete structure with an antique architectural style. The main building is about 15 meters high, with two floors, covering a construction area of about 640 square meters. The tower houses inscriptions by literati of all dynasties and related historical relics. In front of the tower, there is a stone stele inscribed with "Yanyu Tower", written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Climbing to the tower and looking into the distance, you can overlook the whole view of South Lake. The lake is vast, with small boats shuttling, and the beauty of the Jiangnan water town is fully displayed in the misty rain. It is an excellent place to enjoy the scenery of South Lake and a place where literati of all dynasties feasted and composed poems.
South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall
The South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall is divided into the old hall and the new hall. The old hall is located next to the Yanyu Tower on the Central Lake Island, and the new hall is located on the east bank of South Lake, which was completed and opened to the public in 2011. The new hall covers an area of 27,300 square meters and a construction area of 19,600 square meters. The main building is in the shape of "工" (gong), symbolizing that the Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the working class. With the theme of "breaking new ground", the hall systematically displays the historical process of the Communist Party of China from its birth to its growth through physical objects, pictures, scene restorations, multimedia and other forms. The exhibition about the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Red Boat is the core content. The hall also has a lecture hall, an interactive experience area, etc., and is an important place for carrying out patriotic education.
Yuehe Historical Block
The Yuehe Historical Block is located near Zhongji Road, Nanhu District, about 2 kilometers away from the main scenic area of South Lake. It covers an area of about 90,000 square meters and is the most complete and largest existing historical block in Jiaxing urban area. Centered on Yuehe River, the block retains a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China on both banks, including shops, residences, guild halls, etc., with a construction area of about 70,000 square meters. The representative buildings include Jiahe Water Post, Gao Family Western-style House, Zongzi Culture Museum, etc. There are crisscrossing rivers and many ancient bridges in the block, forming a pattern of "three rivers and three streets". Now, various characteristic shops, restaurants, teahouses, etc. have settled in the block. Visitors can experience the market life of the Jiangnan water town here, taste special food, and feel the traditional folk culture.
South Lake Scenic Area - Xiaoyingzhou
Xiaoyingzhou is a small island in South Lake, located on the northwest side of the Central Lake Island. It covers an area of about 17,000 square meters and is also known as "Hulu Island" because it is shaped like a gourd. The island is covered with dense vegetation and green trees, and there are garden buildings such as pavilions, terraces, buildings and pavilions, with a quiet and elegant environment. There is a nine-bend bridge at the south end of the island connecting to the Central Lake Island, and a ferry at the north end can go back and forth to the bank of South Lake. Xiaoyingzhou is mainly dominated by natural landscapes, which is a good place for tourists to take a leisure walk and stay away from the hustle and bustle. Buildings such as "Guyun Yi" on the island were built in the Qing Dynasty and have certain historical value.
Food
Jiaxing Zongzi (Glutinous Rice Dumplings)
Jiaxing Zongzi is the most representative food around South Lake, famous for being glutinous but not mushy, fragrant and soft, and rich in fillings. Its history can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. It is made of high-quality local glutinous rice, fresh pork (or red bean paste, egg yolk, etc.) as raw materials, wrapped in bamboo leaves and boiled. Among them, "Wufangzhai" Zongzi is the most famous, founded in 1921, with many varieties such as fresh meat zongzi, egg yolk meat zongzi, and red bean paste zongzi. A single zongzi weighs about 100-150 grams, and the price ranges from 3 to 8 yuan. It can be bought in shops in the Yuehe Historical Block and around the South Lake Scenic Area, and is a must-try specialty food for tourists.
South Lake Ling (Water Chestnut)
South Lake Ling is a unique aquatic plant in Jiaxing South Lake, named after its production in South Lake, with a history of thousands of years of cultivation. Different from ordinary water chestnuts, South Lake Ling has no horns, also known as "round ling" or "wonton ling". Its shell is emerald green, and its flesh is white and tender, which can be eaten raw, cooked or made into dishes. The picking period is from August to October every year. The price of fresh South Lake Ling is about 5-8 yuan per catty. It can be tasted in farmers' markets and restaurants along the South Lake. Stir-fried South Lake Ling and stir-fried meat with water chestnuts are local characteristic dishes, with a sweet and refreshing taste.
South Lake Silver Fish
South Lake Silver Fish is a precious aquatic product in South Lake, about 7-10 centimeters long, transparent all over, with delicate and delicious meat, rich in protein. Traditional local practices include scrambled eggs with silver fish and silver fish soup. Scrambled eggs with silver fish are made by stir-frying fresh silver fish with eggs, with a tender taste; silver fish soup is made by simmering silver fish, mushrooms, eggs, etc., with a light and delicious taste. In restaurants by South Lake, a serving of scrambled eggs with silver fish costs about 30-40 yuan, which is an excellent choice for tourists to experience the lake fresh of South Lake.
Surrounding Food
There are many characteristic foods in Jiaxing urban area and around South Lake. The "Gangyagou" Tangyuan (sweet dumplings) shop in the Yuehe Historical Block serves Ningbo-style Tangyuan, with flavors such as sesame, red bean paste, and fresh meat, 6-8 per bowl, with a price of 10-15 yuan; the braised duck of "Sanzhenzhai" is made of local ducks marinated with secret sauce, with a bright red color and a moderate salty and sweet taste. The price of vacuum-packed braised duck is about 50-80 yuan per piece, which is easy to carry. In addition, traditional pickled products such as Zaodan (fermented egg) and pickled pork in Jiaxing are also quite distinctive, which can be bought in time-honored shops in the Yuehe Block.
Tickets
Open for free. The boat ticket is 20 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "嘉兴南湖景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the main South Lake Scenic Area (including the Central Lake Island, Red Boat, and Yanyu Tower) are 8:00-17:00 (April-October), 8:00-16:30 (November-March of the next year). The last return time of the cruise ship is 30 minutes before closing; the opening hours of the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall are 9:00-17:00 (admission stops at 16:00), closed on Mondays (except legal holidays); the Yuehe Historical Block is open all day, and the shops in the block are generally open from 9:00-21:00.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the tourist center of South Lake Scenic Area at 9:00 am, take a cruise ship to the Central Lake Island (the voyage is about 20 minutes), visit the Central Lake Island, pay respects to the Red Boat (30 minutes), and visit the Yanyu Tower (40 minutes); take the boat back to the east bank of South Lake at 11:00, and go to the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall (visiting time is about 1.5 hours); have lunch at a restaurant near the memorial hall at 12:30, tasting specialties such as South Lake silver fish and Jiaxing zongzi; go to the Yuehe Historical Block at 14:30 pm, stroll through the ancient street, visit the Zongzi Culture Museum (30 minutes), and experience the water town style; buy specialties such as Jiaxing zongzi in the block at 16:30, and end the trip. This route combines red culture experience and water town style tour, with a compact and reasonable itinerary, suitable for one-day tourists.
Transportation
- Train/High-speed Rail: Jiaxing Station is about 3 kilometers away from South Lake Scenic Area. You can take bus No. 1 or 2 to "South Lake Scenic Area (Huijing Garden)" station and walk for 5 minutes to reach; Jiaxing South Station (high-speed rail station) is about 10 kilometers away from the scenic area. Take bus No. 93 to "South Lake Scenic Area (Huijing Garden)" station, the journey is about 40 minutes, and the fare is 2 yuan.
- Bus: Many bus routes in Jiaxing can reach South Lake Scenic Area, such as No. 1, 2, 3, 6, 23, etc., all stop at "South Lake Scenic Area (Huijing Garden)" station, with a fare of 1-2 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from Shanghai, exit at Jiaxing via Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, drive along Nanhu Avenue for about 5 kilometers to reach South Lake Scenic Area, the journey is about 1.5 hours; there are Huijing Garden Parking Lot, South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall Parking Lot, etc. in the scenic area, with about 500 parking spaces, and the parking fee is 5 yuan per hour.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from Jiaxing Station to South Lake Scenic Area costs about 10 yuan, and the journey is 10 minutes; taking a taxi from Jiaxing South Station to the scenic area costs about 30 yuan, and the journey is 25 minutes.
Must-visit Attractions
- South Lake Red Boat: A 16-meter-long and 3-meter-wide replica cruise ship, which is a symbol of the birth of the Communist Party of China, carrying important historical significance. It is the core attraction to feel the "Red Boat Spirit" and requires boarding the Central Lake Island to look up at close range.
- Yanyu Tower: The landmark building of South Lake, 15 meters high. Climbing the tower, you can overlook the whole view of South Lake. The tower contains rich historical relics and inscriptions, with both historical and cultural value and viewing function, and is the essence of South Lake's scenery.
- South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall: A large exhibition hall with a construction area of 19,600 square meters, which systematically displays the history of the Communist Party of China through various forms, especially the history related to the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Red Boat. It is an important place for patriotic education, open for free with rich contents.
- Yuehe Historical Block: A 90,000-square-meter historical block, retaining a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China, with crisscrossing rivers and many ancient bridges. You can experience the market life of the Jiangnan water town, taste special food, and feel the traditional folk culture.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to avoid peak hours on holidays (such as May Day, National Day), when there are many tourists and you need to queue for cruise ships. The best visiting time is 9:00-11:00 am on weekdays.
- Before visiting the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall, you can book a free guided service on the official WeChat public account. Through professional explanations, you can have a deeper understanding of the historical background. There are free regular explanations at 10:00 am and 14:00 pm every day.
- For tasting Jiaxing Zongzi, it is recommended to choose time-honored stores such as "Wufangzhai". The branch in the Yuehe Historical Block has a complete range of products, and you can watch the zongzi making process on site.
- Sunscreen measures should be taken when visiting in summer, as the water area of South Lake is open and the ultraviolet rays are strong; the wind on the lake is strong in winter, so it is recommended to wear scarves, gloves and other warm items.
- If you need to take a cruise ship to the Central Lake Island, it is recommended to check the cruise ship schedule in advance and arrange your time reasonably to avoid missing the last return ship.
Matters Needing Attention
- The South Lake Red Boat is an important historical memorial site. Visitors must maintain solemnity during the visit, and loud noises, climbing or touching the boat are prohibited.
- Photography and video recording are prohibited in the South Lake Revolutionary Memorial Hall. There is a storage area in the hall where items such as backpacks can be stored (free of charge).
- When taking a cruise ship, you must abide by the order, wear a life jacket, and do not walk around at will on the bow or stern. Please pay attention to safety.
- There are many rivers in the Yuehe Historical Block. Please watch your step while walking, especially when the road is slippery on rainy days to prevent slipping.
- When purchasing specialties such as Jiaxing Zongzi, pay attention to checking the production date and shelf life. Vacuum-packed products can be stored for a longer time and are suitable for carrying.
- Littering is prohibited in the scenic area. Trash cans are placed in areas such as the Central Lake Island and Yuehe Block. Please consciously maintain environmental hygiene.