China Yueyang City:
Yueyang

General Information:Yueyang was called Baling, though it was also known as Yuezhou in ancient times. It is located at the juncture of the Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River in northern Hunan. Yueyang has a "port city" atmosphere, and its back streets make interesting exploring. As a famous historical and cultural city and a major tourism area, Yueyang has beautiful scenery and lots of places of interest.
Geography:Yueyang city is found on the eastern shores of the Dongting Lake in northeast Hunan. It's located 132km (82 miles) away from the provincial capital of Changsha.
Yueyang Map


Climate:Northern subtropical monsoon climate with long warm period, short freeze-up and rich rainfalls; 4 distinct seasons with sunlight of 1792 hours and frost-free period of 277 days.


History:Established as a prefecture called Hanchang in 210 B.C. during the Three Kingdoms period; later renamed Paling in Jin and Song dynasties; in 1913, established as Yueyang county
Arrive:The Jing-Guang (Beijing - Guangzhou) railway also passes here.
Yueyang Tourism:The city is famous because of Dongting Lake, the 2nd largest freshwater lake in China. Found amid the lake's waters is Junshan Island, home to the precious silver needle tea. On the lake's banks is Yueyang Tower, the beauty of which was written about by Song dynasty poet Fan Zhongyan.
Shopping:Yueyang is famous for its local special products, including Tortoise-snake Wine, paper folding fans, artistic porcelain wares, wood and bamboo wares, Baling wine, Tuanhu lotus seed and Yinzhen (Silver Needle) tea.
Yueyang Culture:Dragon boat racing is said to have begun in Yueyang and tourists should try and visit during the Dragon Boat Festival on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (June or July). Visitors will enjoy the festive atmosphere as the crowds cheer on the rowers.
Yueyang Attractive points:Yueyang Pavilion
Yueyang Pavilion (Yueyang Lou) is the major landmark of Yueyang City, comparable with Tengwang Pavilion and Huanghe Pavilion. Similar with the other two, Yueyang Pavilion became famous for a famous poem too. When rebuilt in 1045, Fang Zhongyan was invited to write a poem in memory of the event. In his poem, Fang described the beauty of the structure and indicated his concern about the country and people. The poem was applauded and won the pavilion great fame. A Qing Dynasty wooden screen inscribed with the poem is housed in the pavilion. The present complex was rebuilt in 1867.
Dongting Lake
The enormous Dongting Lake (Dongtinghu) is the second largest fresh water lake in China, covering 3,900 square km. Among the few islands within the lake, Junshan Island is the most renowned, which is famous not only for its scenic beauty but its tea. Junshan Yinzhen (Junshan Silver Needle) used to be imperial tribute. Added into hot eat, the tea sticks up like needles instead of sinking to the bottom, emitting a fragrant odor. The island has dozens peaks and a large coverage of bamboos.
Junshan Island
Junshan Island is the most famous island in Dongting Lake. It lies a 30 minute boat ride from Yueyang.
Once a Taoist retreat, the island covers an area of 1sq km. The lush island was once described by Tang dynasty (618-907AD) poet Liu Yuxi as 'a sumptuous green conch in a silvery plate'. Today, the island is a mix of tea bushes, bamboo groves and wooded areas. Speckled bamboo, indigenous to the area, is said to have been stained by the tears of Emperor Shun's 2 widows upon his death while visiting the island in 2500BC. Unique golden tortoises also inhabit the island.
The island is most famous however, for its silver needle tea. Supposed to provide longevity, this tea was once paid as tribute to the emperor. Even today, the tea is very expensive and its production is the prime means of livelihood for the islands 200-odd inhabitants.
Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan
It was built in memory of Qu Yuan, a great patriotic poet in ancient China. Feeling disappointed with saving the country, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The temple is on the Yusishan Mountain in Miluo of Yueyang. The building, made from wood and brick, is one story high with single eaves. Poetry and proses grieving the death of Qu Yuan are inscribed on the four stone walls. In the front hall is a huge wooden board inscribed with The Biography of Qu Yuan by Sima Qian.
Tuanhu Lake
The lake, also known as Lotus Lake, isabout20kmaway from Yueyang Proper and covers an area of 200 hectares. In summer and autumn, the blossoms of the lotus appear among the green leaves creating a beautiful sight and making visitors not want to leave.