Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area

Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area

The Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area is also known as Wunian Island. Firstly, “Wunian” originates from Buddhist terminology, representing a shift in mindset. Secondly, the island’s exceptional natural scenery offers visitors a perfect opportunity to reconnect with themselves and find inner peace. It is hoped that every guest who comes to Wunian Island can truly "leave the island with a mind unburdened."

If Wunian Island is the essence of the Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area, then the essence of Wunian Island lies in the “Eight Scenic Wonders of Wunian.” They are: Verdant Plains, Smartweed Flower Sea, Reed Maze, Birds Singing by Orchid Shores, Sunset Drunkenness, Longshan Haze, Starry Sky Camp, and Wunian Island — a Mind Unburdened.

1. Verdant Plains

“Who says you have to go to Hulunbuir to see the grassland?” Anyone who says that must have been to Poyang Lake. Indeed, at its core, Poyang Lake is the true sea of grass in the south of the Yangtze — its emerald green grasslands are simply breathtaking. In winter, when Poyang Lake enters its dry season, millions of acres of oasis emerge from the exposed riverbeds. The air is exceptionally fresh, and the grasslands remain untouched by pollution. We can simply run wild and celebrate freely. The oppression of city buildings and the burdens of office cubicles are all diluted invisibly by the vastness of this land.

2. Smartweed Flower Sea

The Poyang Lake in autumn and winter could be called the most beautiful place in China — not one of them, but the one and only. If there is any rival, it would still be Poyang Lake. Because during this time, it's not just about watching birds, but also immersing yourself in endless flower seas. In the dry season, Poyang Lake’s water level drops, revealing vast shoals near the scenic area where smartweed flowers bloom in patches as far as the eye can see. The purple-red flower sea flourishes under the warm sunlight, resembling a rainbow reflected on the lake, utterly enchanting.

3. Reed Maze

If the grassland is the remedy for urban life, then the Reed Maze in the Poyang Lake Prairie Scenic Area is the mysterious tunnel that leads to the unknown. Every October, as the water recedes and the shoals emerge, vast reed marshes and Miscanthus flowers appear. From afar, they look like a snow-white expanse, but up close, they vary in hue — from milky white to faint red and light blue. By late autumn, under the glow of the setting sun, the reeds turn golden and dance in the wind.

4. Birds Singing by Orchid Shores

Every winter, tens of thousands of rare migratory birds travel across mountains and rivers to reach Poyang Lake. These birds mainly include wild geese, Siberian cranes, and swans. Particularly, 98% of the world’s Siberian cranes make the long journey here for the winter, earning Poyang Lake the title “Kingdom of the Siberian Crane.” These lively and adorable creatures roam freely and joyfully in the warm waters of Poyang Lake. Whether they are calling out, resting, or flying, along with the wildflowers blooming on small islets, every scene radiates a wordless beauty.

5. Sunset Drunkenness

The sunset over Poyang Lake is worth waiting for by every couple. Every moment of the Poyang Lake sunset is romantic. The warm sun ignites the vast surface of the lake, then gradually sinks lower, blending the lake and sky together. From champagne hues to pale yellow, the colors reflect on returning fishing boats and on the faces of fishermen, making the sunset here truly picturesque.

6. Longshan Haze

In front of Wunian Island lies the wide expanse of the lake, and on the other side of the water are hazy mountain ranges, with what seems to be fishing boats nearby. This place is actually called Longshan Island, the most famous traditional fishing village by Poyang Lake and within Poyang County. The island’s residents make their living from the lake, treating it as both home and livelihood. For generations, they have survived by fishing, working from sunrise to sunset, living diligently and simply. If you have the chance to visit the island, the fishermen will greet you with the most genuine and warm smiles.

7. Starry Sky Camp

The uniquely designed tent hotels and tent villas are the core accommodation options on Wunian Island, blending the distinctive natural wetland scenery of Poyang Lake with rich fishing culture. Right in front of the hotel lies a spacious and free-spirited tent campsite. During the day, you can gallop across the prairie, feeling an untethered sense of liberation, or relax by the infinity pool with a glass of wine. At night, you can gather around a bonfire and experience the feeling of “a few cups of light wine, with the lake breeze gently intoxicating.” Of course, for those who don’t drink, the open-air cinema on the island offers the chance to enjoy a romantic love story.

8. Wunian Island — a Mind Unburdened

In life, everyone should visit Wunian Island at least once. Here, you can listen to birds singing by orchid shores, explore the reed maze, lie on the verdant plains, admire the smartweed flower sea, capture the beauty of the sunset drunkenness, and take in the views of Longshan Haze. Without needing much time, you can experience the most essential beauty of Poyang Lake. Away from noise and the internet, let your mind wander freely on the Poyang Lake Prairie, rediscover your childlike innocence in the flower sea, and better understand yourself between sunrise and sunset. Grasslands, wetlands, lake waters, migratory birds, flower seas — this is what real travel is all about. Only here can a weary heart from worldly life finally find peace, and every visitor who comes with an open heart can truly “leave the island with a mind unburdened.”