Lesser Yingzhou Island

Lesser Yingzhou

Located in the northeastern part of South Lake, it is an islet in the lake, facing the Yanyu Tower on the central island from north to south. Formerly called Lesser Yingzhou, it is commonly known as Little South Lake or Little Yanyu Tower. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the city river was dredged and the silt was piled here, forming a separate water area of about 8 mu. Initially used by fishermen to dry their nets, it gradually became a popular scenic spot.

During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, the local civil organization "Character Respect Society" in Jiaxing built a three-room ancestral hall in the northern part of the island to worship Cangjie. It is said that Cangjie was the ancestor of Chinese character creation during the time of the Yellow Emperor, later revered as the Sage of Characters to show respect. The ancestral hall originally housed a statue of Cangjie, who was depicted with a waist wrapped in leaves, a body covered in red skin, and four eyes on his head.

It was renovated in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924), and has undergone multiple repairs after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The current ancestral hall no longer has a statue. Covering an area of over 50 square meters and standing 12 meters tall, it features double eaves that curve upwards high, with stone steps leading up to it from both the north and south corridors. It is a pavilion-style building. To the south of the ancestral hall lies a pond, with paths on both sides separating the lake from the pond. To the south of the pond, lush flowers and trees thrive, and the famous Dancing Dragon Stone stands majestically facing south. The stone is 3 meters tall and 2 meters wide. It is also said to be called the "Snake Coiled Stone," frequently mentioned in historical documents. Ancient people praised its uniquely majestic shape, describing it as having “fierce eyes and clawing gestures” or being “like a hungry dragon dancing in a ravine.” It is said to be an artifact from the Tang Dynasty, while others claim it is a remnant of the flower-patterned stone from the late Northern Song Dynasty. The stone bears two seal-script characters: “Dancing Dragon.”

The stone was originally in Puyuan, moved to within the city of Jiaxing during the Ming Dynasty, and experienced many ups and downs. In 1953, it was relocated to the island from in front of Daniantang at Dongmen.

To the south of the Dancing Dragon Stone, willows shade the blooming flowers, and pavilions and terraces stand by the water, creating a serene and expansive scene. The northern part of the island connects to Lakeside Park via a zigzag bridge. The park was established in 1959, covering an area of over 20 mu, with green trees and grass. Pavilion by the lake offer a delightful place to sit and relax, providing a refreshing and carefree experience.

Jiaxing South Lake, located in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, is known as one of the “Three Famous Lakes of the Jiangnan Region,” alongside Nanjing’s Xuanwu Lake and Hangzhou’s West Lake. It has long been celebrated worldwide for its enchanting scenery described as “a light mist brushing over islets, with a gentle breeze seemingly approaching.” Situated to the south of Jiaxing City, it earned the name “South Lake.” Originally named Biao Lake or Machang Lake, it is also called East Lake. Southwest of Jiaxing City lies Southwest Lake, formerly known as Mandarin Duck Lake. Now, South Lake has been incorporated into the South Lake Scenic Area, which is located within Jiaxing’s urban district. The planned total area of the scenic zone is 276.3 hectares, including 98 hectares of water surface.

The South Lake Scenic Area is also a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national scenic spot, a nationally renowned red tourism classic destination, a famous tourist area along the East China tourism route, and one of China’s hundred patriotic education demonstration bases.

Jiaxing South Lake is not only famous for its beautiful scenery but also highly regarded by the world for hosting the successful conclusion of the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China, making it the birthplace of the CPC and an important revolutionary memorial site in modern Chinese history.

The central island is situated in the heart of South Lake, with a total area of 17 mu. In the 27th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1548 AD), Zhao Ying, the prefect of Jiaxing, organized the dredging of the city river and used the dredged mud to create the island. The following year, the Yanyu Tower was relocated to the island.

After the Qing Dynasty, additional structures such as the Qinghui Hall, Guyun Yi, Xiaopenglai, Laixu Pavilion, Jian Pavilion, Baomei Pavilion, the eastern and western Imperial Stele Pavilions, and the Fenzong Pavilion were successively built, forming a classical garden architectural complex centered around the Yanyu Tower. Pavilions, artificial hills, corridors, and ancient stone inscriptions are arranged in a well-spaced and harmonious layout, representing a typical Jiangnan-style garden.

Location of the Attraction

Nanhu Road, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province