Yanglan Lake Scenic Area

Yanglan Lake Scenic Area

Yanglan Lake, anciently known as Nanpu and also called South Lake, is located in the center of Ezhou city. It earned the name “Yanglan Lake” because a temple called “Yanglan Temple” was once built on its southern side.

Yanglan Lake has a long history and features many cultural and historical attractions. The talented poet Jiang Yan of the Southern Dynasties wrote in his “Farewell Ode”: “The spring water gleams blue-green, the spring waves flow bright; To bid you farewell at Nanpu fills me with such sorrow.” The geographical work Fangyu Shenglue states: “South Lake was formerly called Nanpu, as referred to in Jiang Yan’s Farewell Ode, ‘To bid you farewell at Nanpu.’” Yanglan Lake covers an area of 5.836 million square meters, including approximately 2.881 million square meters of water surface and about 2.951 million square meters of land, with water depths ranging from 0.7 to 2.2 meters. The entire scenic area enjoys a prime location, beautiful natural surroundings, a vast lake surface, and pleasant scenery, making it a rare urban lakeside destination for sightseeing.

In 1990, the Yangzhou Classical Garden Architecture Design Institute developed a specific plan for ten scenic spots along the northern lakeside park of Yanglan Lake. These include South Lake’s Splendid Scene, Qu Yuan Reciting Poetry, Fish Shadows Among Water Lilies, Wild Geese Alighting on Flower Banks, Moon Reflected in South Lake, Changle’s Delightful Spot, Reed Songs at Nanpu, Willow Breeze from Officials’ Trees, Shimmering River Light on Clam Shores, and Birds Soaring Freely. Today, the area is lush with trees, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, featuring winding paths, rugged rocks, meandering shorelines, and a bustling fleet of pleasure boats. Hotels and restaurants are tucked among green foliage and blooming flowers, while pavilions and towers dot the landscape where sky and water blend seamlessly. In recent years, additional attractions have been added to the scenic area, including Phoenix Villa, Lanhu Bathing Beach, Shimmering River Light on Clam Shores, Mirror Garden, General Wu Zhaolin Memorial Hall, and the Workers’ Cultural Palace. Nearly 5,000 meters of revetment along the northern shore winds gracefully along the water; lakeside trails are built close to the bank, lined with swaying willows and clean, winding paths—making it an ideal spot for leisure and poetic inspiration.