East Lake Luoyan Scenic Area

East Lake Luoyan Scenic Area

The East Lake Luoyan Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The East Lake Luoyan Scenic Area is an important component of the national 4A-level East Lake Scenic Area. It lies to the north of Baima Scenic Area, faces Moshan Scenic Area across the lake to the south, borders Qingwang Road to the east, and has a planned total land area of 10.24 square kilometers, including 5.92 square kilometers of land and 4.32 square kilometers of water surface. Since 2000, the East Lake Scenic Area Administration has utilized funds from three phases of tourism treasury bonds to develop and construct the natural ecological park of the Luoyan Scenic Area. Successively, eight major landscapes have been built: Qinghe Ancient Bridge, Magpie Bridge Meeting, Yanzhou Rope Bridge, Tuanhu Ancient Ferry, Zhao’s Garden, Ancient Trees Wonder, Yanqi Pingsha, and Luzhou Luoyan. The natural ecological park covers a total area of 345 mu and consists of four peninsulas extending into the water. The park features lush vegetation, rustling forests, crisscrossing waterways, and abundant waterfowl. The unique natural scenery of the East Lake Scenic Area has created its beautiful ecological environment and landscape. In addition, the park also houses a collection of sculptures and buildings that reflect the folk culture and history of the Chu region, allowing you to step into a corridor of history and appreciate the essence of Chu folk culture while enjoying the picturesque scenery and reconnecting with nature.

Top Ten Attractions

Qinghe Ancient Bridge

Spanning 150 meters in length and 9 meters in width, the bridge resembles a long rainbow stretching between Moshan Scenic Area and Luoyan Scenic Area. At the bridgehead stands a bronze statue of Yang Youji, the divine archer of the Chu Kingdom.

Magpie Bridge Meeting

The Magpie Bridge is located between Wulongzui and Changzui in the Luoyan Scenic Area, themed around the legendary love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The bridge is 74 meters long and 4.8 meters wide, with thousands of magpies carved on the bridge deck.

Yanzhou Rope Bridge

The bridge is 120 meters long and 2 meters wide, serving as a key passage from Wulongzui to Guanzhongzui. Wooden planks are laid on iron chains to form the bridge deck, with iron cables on both sides serving as railings. Below the bridge is Tuanhu.

Zhao’s Garden

Located on Wulongzui, this garden was built by Zhao Zongtao, a Guangdong merchant from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, and once housed his concubine.

Tuanhu Ancient Ferry

In the past, when Zhao Zongtao visited his concubine, he would take a boat from the ferry at Guanzhongzui and cross over to “Zhao’s Garden” at Wulongzui. Today, there is a sailboat about ten meters long at the ancient ferry.

Ancient Trees Wonder

Adjacent to Zhao’s Garden, the Ancient Trees and Famous Woods Garden covers 320 mu and is planted with over 70 varieties of flowers and trees such as osmanthus, plum blossom, cedar, magnolia, and ginkgo. There are more than 100 famous trees over a hundred years old.

Yanqi Pingsha

On Wulongzui, there is a large lawn with a naturally formed huge rock that resembles two wild geese resting there, hence the name “Yanqi Pingsha” (Wild Geese Resting on Sandy Beach).

Luzhou Luoyan

Within the Luoyan Scenic Area, Wulongzui and Guanzhongzui form a lake-centered peninsula. The quiet environment of the peninsula, with tall metasequoia and dawn redwood trees, serves as a paradise for wild geese, ducks, and egrets. No matter when you visit throughout the year, you’ll discover different surprises. Green grass, dense woods, long rope bridges, swaying reed marshes, flocks of geese in the sky, ducks playing on the water, agile lobsters under the water, and abundant wild water chestnuts on the surface all allow you to experience the harmony of nature, leaving you refreshed and reluctant to leave.

Wulongtan (Black Dragon Pool)

Wulongtan is located at the bottom of the Donggu Mountain Valley, nestled between two mountains with a narrow, secluded stream in between. Trees grow densely, casting green shade. A row of huge rocks over ten feet high lie side by side at the pool, forming a waterfall bed in a disorderly fashion. The spring water originates from the streams of Changchong and Lulin, flowing continuously all year round. The water splits into five streams that gently drift down through crevices, resembling five brilliant silver shuttles standing diagonally in front of the cliff. The lower part of the pool is broad and shallow, with clear water, making it an ideal spot to view the waterfall. The stone beside the pool is inscribed with the characters “Dragon Spring.” Legend has it that there is a black dragon in the pool. Gentle and kind-hearted, it loves to help others. Whenever there is a severe drought, it creates clouds and mist over the forest and brings sweet rain, thus earning deep reverence among the people. On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month every year, villagers come here to offer sacrifices.

Wulong Well (Black Dragon Well)

The ancient Wulong Well is located in the center of Wulongzui in the Luoyan Scenic Area. Legend says it was used as a water source for the imperial troops during King Zhuang of Chu’s campaign to suppress the rebellion of Dou Yuezhi. The well is six zhang deep, with water gushing from fissures in the black stones at the bottom. The water is sweet and refreshing. Regardless of drought or heavy rain, the water level remains constant. When the water is still, the surface is calm without ripples; when disturbed, waves surge violently. Hence, folk legend says the well is the eye of the black dragon—when the dragon sleeps, the water is still; when the dragon awakens, the water churns. It is said that Mr. Zhao Zongtao, a 7th-century comprador, decided to build Zhao’s Garden, take a concubine, and enjoy leisure here precisely because of this ancient well that never dries up. Zhao’s third concubine often came here to draw water and pray for her husband’s safe travels abroad.

Directions

There are four routes to the Luoyan Scenic Area: Take a Tuanhu cruise boat from E’zui and disembark at Guanzhongzui Wharf to purchase tickets and enter the park; drive from Liyuan via Sand Bathing Beach, E’zui, Huangjia Bay, Gongjialing, and Zhangjiapu to the Luoyan Scenic Area; take bus routes 20, 201, 515, or 525 to Zhangjiapu. Visitors from Wuchang District and Hongshan District must take bus 515 to Zhangjiapu, then walk 2–3 kilometers south along Qingwang Road. Pass under the Wuhan EMU Maintenance Base (with a huge “CRH” sign overhead), go through the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway tunnel, and pass under the Third Ring Bridge to reach the north gate of the scenic area; after visiting Moshan Scenic Area, walk from the Qinghe Bridge near Liubei’s Altar for Heaven Worship to the south gate of the scenic area (the Moshan ticket includes entry to the Luoyan Scenic Area—just show your Moshan ticket at the south gate).

Address: Inside East Lake Scenic Area, Sanyuan Line, Hongshan District, Wuhan

Type: Wetland

Recommended visiting duration: 1 hour

Phone: 027-86430007

Opening hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket information:

Gate price: 13.0 yuan