Shiyan Lake

Shiyan Lake Ecological Tourism Area is located in Tiaoma Town, Yuhua District, Changsha City, Hunan Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national ecological tourism demonstration area. Based on forest ecological resources, the scenic area integrates natural landscapes, ecological leisure, and expansion experiences, with a forest coverage rate of 98% and a negative ion concentration of over 80,000 per cubic centimeter. The total area of the scenic area is about 10 square kilometers, including a water area of 450 mu, serving as a "natural oxygen bar" and "urban green lung" for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration.

History and Culture

Shiyan Lake is named after the abundant fossilized stone swallows. According to geological research, it was once a habitat for ancient marine life, and the lake bottom still contains fossils of ancient organisms such as stone swallows and conches from 300 million years ago. The Guandi Ancient Temple in the scenic area was built in the Tang Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,300 years. It is one of the best-preserved Buddhist temples in Changsha, enshrining statues of Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhou Cang, and enjoys prosperous incense.

Tiaoma Town, where Shiyan Lake is located, has a long history. It is said to be named after Guan Yu leaping over a stream here during the Battle of Changsha. The scenic area retains historical relics related to Guan Yu, such as Tiaoma Stream and Horse Drinking Trough, as well as ancient cultural sites from the Neolithic Age to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, showcasing the trajectory of early human activities in the Changsha area.

In modern times, Shiyan Lake has been an important ecological barrier in Changsha. Developed as an ecological tourism area in 2002, it has become a model of combining ecological protection and tourism development in the integrated development of Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan.

Main Attractions

Shiyan Lake is the core landscape of the scenic area, with a water area of 450 mu, an average water depth of 15 meters, and a maximum depth of 30 meters. The lake water is crystal clear, meeting the national first-class drinking water standard. Islands such as Shiyan Island, Crocodile Island, and Monkey Island are located in the lake. Visitors can take a cruise to tour the lake, enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, or participate in water activities such as water motorcycles and dragon boat races.

Sky Glass Corridor

The Sky Glass Corridor spans both banks of Shiyan Lake, with a total length of 300 meters, a width of 3 meters, and an altitude of 150 meters. It is the first cross-lake glass corridor in Hunan Province. The bridge deck uses three-layer laminated tempered glass, capable of accommodating 500 people simultaneously. Standing on the bridge, visitors can overlook the panoramic view of Shiyan Lake at 360 degrees and experience the thrill of "standing in mid-air."

Forest Walk

The Forest Walk scenic area is located on the west side of Shiyan Lake, featuring a 6-kilometer forest trail with ancient trees and rare plants along the way. The "Thousand-Year-Old Camphor Tree" has a tree age of 1,200 years, a height of 28 meters, and a chest circumference of 6.5 meters, being one of the longest-lived camphor trees in Changsha. Negative ion monitors are installed beside the trail to display real-time air quality data.

Guandi Ancient Temple

Guandi Ancient Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty, covering an area of 3,000 square meters with a construction area of 1,500 square meters. The main buildings in the temple, including the mountain gate, main hall, and wing rooms, all feature Ming and Qing architectural styles. The Guan Yu statue in the main hall is 3.2 meters tall, holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, with a majestic demeanor. Three Qing Dynasty stone tablets are preserved in the temple, recording the historical evolution of the temple.

Jungle Crossing

The Jungle Crossing project is located on the east bank of Shiyan Lake, with 8 routes of different difficulty levels, totaling 1,200 meters in length, including 48 checkpoints such as high-altitude broken bridges, Burmese bridges, and cobweb crossings. The highest point of the project is 20 meters above the ground, suitable for visitors of different age groups, and is one of the large-scale outdoor expansion bases in Hunan.

Delicacies

Shiyan Lake Ecological Fish

Shiyan Lake Ecological Fish selects naturally grown black carp, grass carp, silver carp, etc., from the lake, which feed on natural water plants and have tender meat. The recommended dish "Steamed Ecological Fish" uses 3-5-jin silver carp, steamed with perilla leaves specialty of Shiyan Lake. The fish meat is delicate, and the soup is sweet, with an average consumption of about 60 yuan per person.

Tiaoma Braised Pork

Tiaoma Braised Pork is a local traditional famous dish, made from farm-raised local pig pork belly, cooked with wild mushrooms and winter bamboo shoots produced in Shiyan Lake. The meat is fat but not greasy, melts in the mouth, and has a rich sauce flavor, priced at about 58 yuan per plate. It is recommended to taste it at the "Guan Gong Family Banquet" restaurant in the scenic area.

Chopped Chili Fish Head

Chopped Chili Fish Head uses the head of Shiyan Lake ecological bighead carp, steamed with chopped chili peppers pickled with local Hunan red peppers. The fish head is large and meaty, and the chopped chili is fresh and spicy, appetizing. It is a classic Hunan dish, with an average consumption of about 45 yuan per person. It can be served with hand-made noodles dipped in the soup.

Sugar Oil Baba

Sugar Oil Baba is a traditional Hunan snack. Shiyan Lake's Sugar Oil Baba is made from local glutinous rice flour, with a crispy exterior and tender interior, drizzled with maltose syrup, offering a sweet taste. It is sold at snack stalls in the scenic area, 5 yuan for 4 pieces, made to order.

Shiyan Lake Cloud and Mist Tea

Shiyan Lake Cloud and Mist Tea grows in mountain forests above 300 meters above sea level, named for the year-round cloud and mist. The tea leaves are tightly structured, with a yellow-green and bright soup, and a mellow taste, having the effect of refreshing the mind. It can be tasted for free in the scenic area's teahouse, and bagged tea is sold at about 80 yuan per catty.

Admission Tickets

The package ticket is 160 RMB per person.

You can search for the official WeChat public account "长沙石燕湖景区" to get the latest updates. As of 2025-06-06, the official public account does not provide an online ticketing function.

Opening Hours

The scenic area is open year-round from 08:00 to 17:30, and extended to 18:00 in summer (May-October). Projects such as the Sky Glass Corridor and Jungle Crossing are open from 08:30 to 17:00, and the last boat departs at 17:00. The best visiting seasons are March-May (flower season) and September-November (autumn scenery). The "Shiyan Lake Azalea Festival" is held in mid-April, and the "Ecological Tourism Festival" is held in October.

Tour Routes

Shiyan Lake Ecological Tourism Area is recommended for a 1-day visit. The classic tour route is as follows:

Morning: Purchase tickets at the tourist center → Sky Glass Corridor (experience high-altitude viewing and take panoramic photos) → Forest Walk (visit the thousand-year-old camphor tree and breathe negative ions) → Guandi Ancient Temple (visit the Tang Dynasty ancient temple and pray for blessings).

Noon: Taste specialty foods such as Tiaoma Braised Pork and Shiyan Lake Ecological Fish at the "Guan Gong Family Banquet" restaurant, with an average consumption of about 60 yuan per person.

Afternoon: Take a boat tour of Shiyan Lake (40 minutes to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery) → Crocodile Island and Monkey Island (watch animal performances) → Jungle Crossing (experience outdoor expansion projects, about 2 hours) → Purchase souvenirs such as Cloud and Mist Tea and hand-made Ciba at the scenic area commercial street before returning.

If time permits, you can add projects like "CS Field Battle" (50 RMB/person) and "Cliff Swing" (30 RMB/person) to deeply experience the fun of combining ecology and entertainment.

Transportation

Bus: Take buses No. 229 and No. 209 in Changsha urban area to Tiaoma Town Station, then transfer to Xingtong No. 5 bus to directly reach Shiyan Lake Scenic Area. The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the fare is 5 RMB.
Tourist Special Line: Tourist special line buses from Changsha Railway Station and West Bus Station to Shiyan Lake depart daily from 8:00 to 10:00, with a fare of 20 RMB and a journey of 1 hour.
Self-driving: Changsha urban area → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway → Changsha Ring Expressway → Huahui Avenue → Shiyan Lake Scenic Area (about 30 kilometers, 40 minutes, toll fee about 15 RMB); Zhuzhou urban area → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway → Changsha Ring Expressway → Shiyan Lake Scenic Area (about 50 kilometers, 1 hour). There are 3 parking lots in the scenic area, charging 10 RMB per car per day.
Internal Transportation: Sightseeing buses in the scenic area run in a loop, stopping at main attractions, with a fare of 20 RMB per person for all-day use.

Must-visit Attractions

Sky Glass Corridor: The first cross-lake glass corridor in Hunan, 300 meters long, 150 meters above sea level. Experience the thrill of high-altitude viewing and glass plank road. The best shooting time is before 10 am (soft light).
Shiyan Lake Cruise: Take a cruise to tour the lake, enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, pass through Crocodile Island and Monkey Island, and watch animal interaction performances. The boat ticket is 40 RMB per person, and the whole journey is 40 minutes.
Jungle Crossing: An outdoor expansion project with 48 checkpoints, 1,200 meters long, 20 meters high at the highest point. Suitable for parent-child and team experiences, open from 08:30 to 17:00, ticket price 80 RMB per person.
Guandi Ancient Temple: A Tang Dynasty ancient temple, covering an area of 3,000 square meters, preserving Qing Dynasty stone tablets. The Guan Yu statue in the temple is 3.2 meters tall, allowing you to understand Buddhist culture and Guan Yu legends in the Changsha area.

Tour Tips

Visit from March to May to enjoy azaleas, cherry blossoms, etc., and from September to November to view autumn leaves such as red maples and ginkgoes. It is recommended to bring a camera to capture natural landscapes.
Shoe covers are required to enter the Sky Glass Corridor (provided for free by the scenic area). It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. Visitors with hypertension or heart disease should experience it with caution.
Jungle Crossing projects need to be reserved in advance. Children must participate under adult supervision. It is recommended to wear sportswear and carry drinking water.
Restaurants in the scenic area are concentrated near the tourist center. It is recommended to taste Shiyan Lake Ecological Fish and Tiaoma Braised Pork, with an average consumption of 50-70 RMB per person.
Take sun protection measures in summer. There are many mosquitoes on forest trails, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent. Some outdoor projects may be closed due to weather in winter, so check the scenic area announcement before traveling.

Notes

Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and violators will be fined 50 RMB; littering is prohibited, and garbage must be thrown into designated trash cans.
Running and jumping are prohibited on the Sky Glass Corridor, and sharp objects are prohibited to avoid damaging the glass bridge deck.
Wear a life jacket when taking a boat, follow the staff's instructions, and do not play or paddle in the boat.
Safety equipment must be worn for Jungle Crossing projects, and operations must be carried out strictly according to the coach's guidance. Changing the route without permission is prohibited.
Do not make loud noises in Guandi Ancient Temple, respect religious customs, and do not use flash when taking photos.
There are many mountain roads around the scenic area. Drive carefully when self-driving. Parking spaces are limited. It is recommended to arrive before 9 am on weekends and holidays.