Xiangyin East Lake Ecological Park

Xiangyin East Lake Ecological Park

Xiangyin East Lake Ecological Park is a key public welfare project in Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, aimed at comprehensively enhancing urban quality, improving living environments, boosting county-level economic development, and constructing an ecological new city layout of “twin rivers embracing a lake and one city with three clusters.”

Originally, East Lake was a natural lake connected to the Xiang River and the Baishui River. After the liberation, the county party committee and government organized multiple rounds of reclamation and construction. During the Great Leap Forward era, dikes were built around the lake, forming East Lake and West Lake (also known as Twin Lakes). In 1976, inspired by the call to “bring glory to the Chairman,” local residents were mobilized to build dikes, dig ponds, and transform East Lake into a scenic spot where residents could stroll and relax after meals, as well as a picturesque destination for visitors. Five of the “Eight Scenic Spots of the Ancient City”—“Twin Pagodas Soaring into the Clouds,” “Two Steps of Verdant Beauty,” “Fishing Village at Sunset,” “Rainbow Bridge over the Water,” and “Du Fu Fishing”—are located along the shores of the lake. East Lake is also a lake rich in cultural and historical significance, surrounded by or close to numerous historic and cultural sites. The Wenxing Pagoda, the Monument to Anti-Japanese Martyrs, Dengpo Bridge, and the ancient battlefield ruins of Yangsha Lake all bear witness to the rise and fall of this millennia-old city. Over time, with the continuous expansion of the new urban area and the development of the Baishui River scenic belt, East Lake has gradually evolved into an urban lake, now shining like a brilliant pearl embedded in the heart of the city.

The East Lake Ecological Park project has a total investment of approximately 700 million yuan, with a construction period of four years. By integrating four water bodies—the Baishui River, West Lake, East Lake, and Daweiwei— and focusing on comprehensive ecological restoration of East Lake, the project includes dredging, dike removal, and returning ponds to the lake. With the rerouting of the Baishui River, the original 3,100-acre area of East Lake has been expanded to 3,600 acres of water surface. Additionally, public facilities have been upgraded along the 9-kilometer lakeshore and within the lake area, and a number of high-quality leisure, entertainment, and tourism facilities have been constructed. Once completed, the entire project will become a popular destination for leisure and recreation for the residents of Xiangyin County.

Location: Near Binhu Road, Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Yueyang to Xiangyin County, then transfer to a minibus to reach the park