Yunlong Lake Scenic Area
⭐ 4.70
Yunlong Lake Scenic Area, Yunlong District, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
Set against a backdrop of green hills that recalls Switzerland's Lake Lucerne in miniature, Yunlong Lake stretches 7.5 square kilometers across a natural basin just outside Xuzhou's urban core. Eighteen scenic spots punctuate the shoreline, from Lotus Breeze Bay—where expansive beds of pink lotus bloom each summer across roughly 20 hectares—to the Long Embankment, whose winter snowscapes echo the hushed beauty of Slovenia's Lake Bled. A flat lakeside path invites walking and cycling, while autumn paints the surrounding mountains in russet and gold.
The lake's deepest resonance comes from Su Shi (1037–1101), the Song dynasty poet whose literary legacy rivals that of Shakespeare's England. Appointed prefect of Xuzhou in 1077, he rallied citizens to reinforce a breached dike during catastrophic Yellow River floods—an engineering feat comparable in urgency to the dyke-building traditions of the Low Countries. The Su Gong Tower, the Crane-Releasing Pavilion, and a memorial hall honor his tenure, while the Han Stone Relief Art Museum safeguards two-millennium-old funerary carvings as striking as Rome's Arch of Constantine reliefs.
For modern travelers, the lake delivers thrills that suit all ages. The Ten-Thousand-Person Beach and adjacent Water World feature an aquarium with glass underwater tunnels, while a new 2,000-meter magnetic-levitation slide ranks among China's most talked-about adrenaline rides. Leisure boats shuttle visitors to Sandy Moon Island at the lake's heart, passing the silhouetted Su Gong Tower along the way—a perspective reminiscent of ferry crossings on Germany's Lake Constance or Italy's Lake Maggiore.
After dark, the lake transforms into a stage. "Pengcheng Splendor," a large-scale open-air spectacle staged on water and island, dramatizes Su Shi's flood-fighting saga through light, dance, and song—imagine Austria's Bregenz lakeside festival reimagined with Chinese historical drama. VIP seats run around 228 yuan. Music fountains and illuminated bridges round out the evening; in summer, Water World stays open until 10 pm, turning the shoreline into a glittering playground for night owls.
Entry is entirely free, with money required only for optional extras. Metro Line 3 reaches Yunlong Lake Station directly; alternatively, buses 41, 47, 55, and tourist route 5 stop at East Gate of Binhu Park. Parking is plentiful around the perimeter. The cable car costs 40 yuan one way, Water World tickets start at 78 yuan, and boat trips range from 50 to 100 yuan. Allow half a day minimum; a full day rewards visitors who climb Yunlong Mountain at dusk for sunset and city-light panoramas.
Begin at East Gate of Binhu Park and stroll the lakeside promenade westward to the main dock. Board a boat to Sandy Moon Island, then either walk or ride the cable car up Yunlong Mountain's viewing platform for sweeping vistas over lake and city. History enthusiasts should pair this visit with the Xuzhou Museum and the Tomb of the King of Chu—both short taxi rides away—to deepen appreciation for the region's Han dynasty grandeur and Su Shi's enduring poetic spirit.