In recent years, Wuhan's various districts have been striving to increase the level of opening-up by developing brands with distinctive features. To help our readers better understand this, more effectively tell Wuhan stories to the world, and welcome the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with practical actions, we are launching a series of bilingual reports related to the "One District, One Brand." In this report, we take a look at the "East Lake of the World" (the Wuhan East Lake Scenic Area).
East Lake is considered to be Wuhan's "name card."
The East Lake Scenic Area, a shining pearl embedded in Wuhan, has an impressive list of dazzling alternate titles — National Key Scenic Spot, National 5A-level Tourist Attraction, National Ecotourism Demonstration Area, and the Most Beautiful Lake in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The scenic area is 81.68 square kilometers in size. The lake itself measures 33 square kilometers in size, making it the largest urban lake in China. Each year, it welcomes more than 20 million visitors.
East Lake under sunset shine Photo by Ren Yong
The 102-kilometer East Lake Greenway, which encircles four core scenic areas — Tingtao, Moshan, Luoyan, and Ma'anshan Forest Park, is the most popular feature of the scenic area. It encompasses natural ecological features such as lakes, hills, forests, wetlands, flower seas and bird islands, which together makes it the most beautiful "green heart" in the world. The Chinese plum blossom and lotus flower research centers, along with the Cherry Blossom Garden, one of the world's three major cherry blossom resorts, are located here. Well-known universities such as Wuhan University and the Huazhong University of Science and Technology are to be found nearby. East Lake is associated with the activities of historical figures such as Qu Yuan reciting poetry by the lakefront, Liu Bei offering sacrifices to the heavens on Moshan Hill, and Li Bai releasing an eagle by the lake. In modern times, the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong lodged here 48 times.
In April 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by East Lake.
Bird's eye view of East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden Photo by Ren Yong
East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden Photo by Hu Jiusi
Several world leaders, when visiting Wuhan, have spent time at East Lake. They include King of Belgium Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, Vice President of Uganda Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May, former President of France Jacques Chirac, and former Prime Minister of France Bernard Cazeneuve.
Aerial view of East Lake Greenway Photo by Chen Zhuo
In May 2018, the first conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tourism Ministers took place at this scenic area. Tourism officials from the countries attending the conference gave the lake an unequivocal thumbs-up. In June of the same year, guests of the Boao Forum for Asia were struck by its nocturnal ambience.
Foreign experts attending the first conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tourism Ministers stroll along East Lake Greenway in May 2018.
Delegates of the first conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tourism Ministers visit East Lake in May 2018.
As one of the core venues of the 7th CISM Military World Games in October 2019, East Lake hosted four major events — sailing, cycling, open water swimming, and marathon.
Sailing competitions of the 7th CISM Military World Games held at East Lake in 2019 Photo by Hu Jiusi
At the Foreign Ministry Special Promotion Event for Hubei held in 2021, images of East Lake appeared sixteen times.
Tingtao Scenic Area Photo by He Xiaogang
Camping by East Lake Photo by Gao Yong
Citizens cycling on East Lake Greenway Photo by Hu Dongdong
East Lake beach area
Later this year, the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP 14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will be held in Wuhan, the first time in China. According to the foreign affairs office of the East Lake Scenic Area, it will continue to promote its international profile by upgrading its East Lake brand. Taking the opportunity of hosting the event as a new beginning, the district will aim at the objective "a world-famous lake, an ecological model, a green heart and the most beautiful scenic area," to give a strong boost to the systematic restoration of its ecosystem, further promote the integration of tourism with local cultural elements, advance its digitized management, and build this area into both a tourist resort and an ideal land for its residents.
