Nanhu Lake Central Island in Jiaxing

Nanhu Lake Central Island in Jiaxing

The central island is located in the middle of Nanhu Lake, covering an area of 17 mu. In the 27th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1548 AD), Zhao Ying, the prefect of Jiaxing, organized the dredging of the city moat and piled up silt to form the island. The following year, the Yanyu Tower was relocated onto the island. After the Qing Dynasty, structures such as the Qinghui Hall, Guyun Yi, Xiaopenglai, Laixu Pavilion, Jian Pavilion, Baomei Pavilion, East and West Imperial Stele Pavilions, and Fangzong Pavilion were successively built, forming a classical garden architectural complex centered around the Yanyu Tower. With pavilions, terraces, artificial hills, winding corridors, ancient trees, and stone inscriptions arranged in a delightful layout, it is a typical Jiangnan-style garden.

Viewed from afar, Nanhu’s central island may not be large, yet resembles a potted landscape floating on the lake surface, lush with greenery. As you get closer, you can see numerous buildings nestled among the green trees, blending in perfectly. And once you step onto the island—wow—what an exquisitely perfect place.

Little island.

It is truly rare to have a nearly natural lake in the middle of a city. And the most important structure on the central island is undoubtedly the Yanyu Tower. Located beside the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake, the Yanyu Tower is in fact the core and symbol of the lake. The tower was first built during the Later Jin period of the Five Dynasties, initially constructed on the shore of Nanhu Lake. It was not until the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty that it was moved to its current location on the central island.

Through the vicissitudes of history, the Yanyu Tower underwent a major restoration in 2004. The present-day Yanyu Tower stands about 20 meters tall and covers an area of 640 square meters. The Yanyu Hall inside is particularly worth lingering in. The interior decoration and design maintain the style of the original era, with furnishings and ornaments such as lanterns also created in antique designs, showcasing its quaint and charming character.

In front of the Yanyu Tower, by the lakeside, lies a visitor-favorite boat. This boat was actually built in imitation of the layout of the vessel used during the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. To commemorate the significant event of the closing of the CPC's "First Congress" on the Red Boat at Nanhu, under instructions from the central and provincial party committees in 1959, this replica boat (the original boat having been lost during the War of Resistance) was constructed as the "First Congress Memorial Boat" to showcase the historical scene of the birth of the Communist Party of China.

Aside from its commemorative purpose, the Nanhu Red Boat itself is also well worth visiting. Though it may appear old and weathered from the outside, stepping inside reveals a whole different world. The interior is adorned with numerous decorative patterns of varying sizes. As many of these patterns are made of gold-plated materials, the space exudes a resplendent and majestic atmosphere, reflecting the glorious success of the CPC's First Congress back then.

In July 1921, the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China completed its final agenda aboard a painted pleasure boat on Nanhu Lake, declaring the founding of the Communist Party of China. The ship of the Chinese revolution set sail from Nanhu. In 1961 and 1981, the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government twice designated the Yanyu Tower on Nanhu Lake as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. In June 2001, the site of the CPC's First Congress in Nanhu, Jiaxing, was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Whether it's grand halls or small chambers, houses or pavilions, walls or flower stands on the island—all have been meticulously planned and arranged by master designers, fully reflecting their ingenuity and wisdom. Though not a garden in name, it is indeed a true garden, even surpassing ordinary gardens, for though small in size—just a few acres—and merely an island in the lake, it contains a little lake within the island.

Attraction Location

Nanhu District, Jiaxing City