Yueyang Attractions - Things to Do

 Yueyang Pavilion
 Dongting Lake
 Junshan Island
 
Yueyang is a splendid city with a 2,500-year history resulting in a rich heritage of cultural relics and inspiring landscapes. Notable among these are the Yueyang Pavilion and Dongting Lake, both of which are 'National Key Tourist Attractions'.
 

 Yueyang Pavilion - The Yueyang Pavilion (Yueyang Lou) is located above the city's Western Gate with Dongting Lake located in the west. Its architecture is very special because the whole building is made of wood and not brick or stone, with just four pillars to support the entire structure. Over the centuries, many famous people have left their mark here such as the famous politician and writer Fan Zhongyan (989-1052) who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).
 
Many historic sites lie alongside the Miluo River, which is located on the east side of Dongting Lake. The famous patriot Qu Yuan who lived between 340 BC and 278 BC during the Warring States Period is worthy of mention here as he finally plunged himself into the Miluo River. The Quyuan Tomb and Quzi Temple are top destinations among the cultural relics left in this area. Each year people along the Miluo River hold a grand Dragon Boat Race in memory of Qu Yuan during the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.
 
The newly discovered Zhang Guying Village is an ancient architectural cluster built over 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is located at the foot of Bijia Mountain in the mountainous Weidong area east of Yueyang County and is 73 kilometers (about 45 miles) from the downtown area of Yueyang City. Enjoying the fame as the 'Folk Imperial Palace' and 'First Village under the Sun', Zhang Guying Village covers an area of 50,000 square meters (about 12 acres) featuring carved pictures on surface of the building, a zigzag laneway and the occult dooryard. The architectural style imparts an air of mystery.
 

 Dongting Lake - Dongting Lake is the second 'must-see' tourist destination located southwest of downtown Yueyang. Its beauty lies in the width of the water surface. This is especially so at dusk when nocturnes are sung under the moon from fishermen's boats, giving rise to a sense of romance and poetry! Junshan Island in the lake faces Yueyang Lou (Pavilion). Here visitors can discover many small pavilions, ancestral temples and a number of wells. Varieties of bamboo and tea plants grow profusely on the island thanks to its rich soil, mild climate and plentiful rainfall. The characteristic green tea produced here is Junshan Yinzhen Tea, a tea that enjoys a great reputation both home and abroad. The Dongting Gold Tortoise is a small creature native to the Island, and good for medicinal purposes.
 
The Nanhu Lake located at the southern suburb of Yueyang City has an area of 20 square kilometers (about 8 square miles) and connects with Dongting Lake in the west. Nanhu Lake is newly developed as one of China's water sports venues and here tourists can find aquatic amenities that include a showboat, motorboats and water bicycles. Notable landmarks are the historic Song Dynasty Sanyan Bridge located at the eastern end of the lake, and the scenic Longshan (Dragon Mountain) and Guishan (Tortoise Mountain) on the south side. Nanhu Lake is the venue for the International Dragon Boat Festival, a major annual event that is a great attraction.