Chengyue Island

Chengyue Island

“No trip to Huangshi is complete without visiting Cihu Lake, and no visit to Cihu Lake is complete without seeing Chengyue Island.” Located in the center of Cihu Lake, Chengyue Island is connected to Hangzhou Road and the city center by a large causeway. A short walk across a small bridge on the causeway takes you onto the island in the middle of the lake. From the island, you can admire the beautiful views of the lake and surrounding hills — the green embankment where you can hear orioles among the willows, the gracefully arched twin-arch bridge. The gentle breeze intoxicates visitors, making them feel as if they were “at West Lake instead of Cihu Lake...”

Cihu Lake, where the water meets the sky, has two islands: Chengyue Island in the southern half of the lake and Niuyu Dun in the northern half, facing each other from afar.

Strictly speaking, unlike the naturally formed Niuyu Dun, Chengyue Island is an artificial island — a generous gift from the state-owned enterprise, Yegang Steel, to the people of Huangshi.

At its peak, Yegang Steel occupied nearly half of the urban area. To repay the public’s support for the company and show its affection for the local community, Yegang Steel invested 2.6 million yuan in April 1988 to begin constructing Chengyue Island. The project was completed in December of the same year and officially opened to the public in early 1989.

According to statistics, within just one year and eight months of opening, Chengyue Island welcomed 230,000 visitors from all over, quickly becoming an important tourism and entertainment hub in Huangshi.

Chengyue Island holds deep emotional significance for the local residents. It is often a must-visit destination during holidays or when receiving family and friends. The island hosts a wide variety of exhibitions, including festive light displays, unusual rocks, potted plants, calligraphy and paintings, and root carvings, making it a cultural hotspot. These activities add a vibrant touch to the garden-like landscape of the island. “Stroll on fragrant grass in spring, swim in the lotus pond in summer, sip chrysanthemum wine in autumn, and compose poems about snow in winter” — Chengyue Island has become a place for leisure and recreation all year round. Visiting the island is enjoyable in any season and at any time of day, especially in the evening after dinner when families flock here. Many locals choose the island as the backdrop for family portraits and wedding photos. The renowned Chengyue Island has even hosted television crews.