Beihu Egret Islet

Beihu Egret Islet

Egret Islet, located in the center of Beihu Lake, was originally called Hudun. Every late summer and early autumn, many egrets fly here and perch on the small island, hence the name Egret Islet. With a long history, it has been a prime moon-viewing spot since ancient times, attracting scholars and literati throughout the dynasties who came to the islet for sightseeing, tea-drinking, wine-tasting, moon-gazing, and poetry-reciting.

The original area of Egret Islet was only three acres. In 1984, during the dredging of North and South Lakes, the islet was expanded to 11 acres. The islet is covered with lush trees and offers wide, open views. The shimmering lake waters and the serene, picturesque mountain scenery are all visible from here.

The islet features structures such as a boat dock, corridors, a teahouse, a small stone arch bridge, and thatched pavilions. The entire architecture is small, delicate, and simple, forming an exquisitely appropriate and unadorned yet charming garden style.

“Moon Dew Pond” in Egret Islet

This creates the unique landscape feature of islands within the lake and lakes within the islands at North and South Lakes. With calm waters reflecting the surrounding mountains and lake scenery, it is one of the best spots in North and South Lakes for moon viewing. Nearby stands a stone tablet inscribed with “Autumn Moon over Ganhu Lake,” calligraphed by Mr. Chen Congzhou. Stone lanterns by the water cast faint glows onto the lake surface, complementing the bright full moon above, forming a natural scene described as “the full moon’s clear light condenses with dew, shining upon the water and making it even brighter.”

“Autumn Moon over Ganhu Lake” is one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Gan Chuan.” Famous literati such as Xu Xiangqing and Sun Yiyuan were known to cruise the lake, compose poetry, and engage in poetic duets, creating legendary tales. Yang Zi, the founder of the Haiyan Opera, often brought his singers and family to perform in the waterside pavilion, incorporating North and South Lakes into song and music, which further enhanced the fame of the lakes.

Address: Within the North and South Lake Scenic Area, Haiyan County, Jiaxing City

Type: Lake island/peninsula

Recommended visiting time: 1–3 hours

Phone: 0573-86513123 

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. It is included in the 80 RMB entrance fee for the North and South Lake Scenic Area.