Shiyan Lake Ecological Tourism Area is located in Tiaoma Town, Yuhua District, Changsha City, Hunan Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national ecological tourism demonstration zone. Based on forest ecological resources, the scenic area integrates natural landscapes, ecological leisure, and expansion experiences. Its forest coverage rate reaches 98%, and the negative oxygen ion content exceeds 80,000 per cubic centimeter. The total area of the scenic area is about 10 square kilometers, of which the water area is 450 mu. It is the "natural oxygen bar" and "urban green lung" of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration.
Historical Culture
Shiyan Lake got its name because it is rich in stone swallow fossils. According to geological research, this place was once a habitat for ancient marine organisms, and the lake bottom still contains ancient biological fossils such as stone swallows and conches from 300 million years ago.
Tiaoma Town, where Shiyan Lake is located, has a long history. It is said that it was named after Guan Yu leaped over a stream on horseback here during the Battle of Changsha. The scenic area retains historical relics related to Guan Yu, such as Tiaoma Stream and Yinma Trough, as well as ancient cultural sites from the Neolithic Age to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, showing the trajectory of early human activities in the Changsha area.
In modern times, Shiyan Lake has been an important ecological barrier in the Changsha area. It was developed into an ecological tourism area in 2002, becoming a model of combining ecological protection and tourism development in the integrated development of Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan.
Main Attractions
Shiyan Lake
Shiyan Lake is the core landscape of the scenic area, with a water area of 450 mu, an average water depth of 15 meters, and a maximum depth of 30 meters. The lake water is clear to the bottom and meets the national first-class drinking water standard. There are islands in the lake such as Shiyan Island, Crocodile Island, and Monkey Island. Tourists can take a cruise around the lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, and can also participate in water activities such as water motorcycles and dragon boat racing.
Sky Glass Corridor Bridge
The Sky Glass Corridor Bridge spans both sides of Shiyan Lake, with a total length of 300 meters, a width of 3 meters, and an altitude of 150 meters. It is the first cross-lake glass corridor bridge in Hunan Province. The bridge deck uses three layers of laminated tempered glass and can carry 500 people at the same time. Standing on the bridge, visitors can overlook the panoramic view of Shiyan Lake in 360 degrees and experience the thrill of "standing in midair."
Vine Bridge
It adopts traditional suspension bridge construction techniques, using thick vines and solid wooden stakes to ensure the stability and safety of the bridge. Walking on the suspension bridge, tourists can feel the thrill of swaying while also enjoying the beautiful scenery of Shiyan Lake Scenic Area.
Forest Walk
The Forest Walk scenic area is located on the west side of Shiyan Lake and has a 6-kilometer-long forest trail. Ancient and famous trees and rare plants are distributed along the way. Among them, the "Millennium Ancient Camphor Tree" is 1,200 years old, 28 meters tall, and 6.5 meters in circumference. It is one of the oldest camphor trees in the Changsha area. Negative oxygen ion monitors are installed beside the trail to display air quality data in real time.
Jungle Crossing
The Jungle Crossing project is located on the east bank of Shiyan Lake. It has 8 routes of varying difficulty, with a total length of 1,200 meters, including 48 obstacles such as high-altitude broken bridges, Burma bridges, and spider web crossings. The highest point of the project is 20 meters above the ground. It is suitable for tourists of different age groups and is one of the larger outdoor expansion bases in the Hunan area.
Tour Route：
It is recommended to spend 1 day in Shiyan Lake Ecological Tourism Area. The following is a classic tour route:
North Gate of the Scenic Area (Visitor Center) → Welcome Square → Monkey King Palace → Guanyun Bridge → Vine Bridge → Cliff Swing → Forest Paradise → Tianjie Food Street → Beach Parent-Child Paradise → Sightseeing Bus → Amusement Park → Happy Square → Jungle Crossing → Forest Walk → Lakeside Boardwalk → North Gate of the Scenic Area.
Travel Suggestions：
Visiting from March to May allows you to enjoy flowers such as azaleas and cherry blossoms, while from September to November you can view autumn leaves such as red maples and ginkgo. It is recommended to bring a camera to photograph the natural scenery.
For the Sky Glass Corridor Bridge, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. Tourists with high blood pressure or heart disease should experience it with caution.
The Jungle Crossing project requires advance reservation. Children must participate accompanied by adults. It is recommended to wear sports clothing and bring drinking water.
Restaurants in the scenic area are concentrated near the visitor center. It is recommended to taste Shiyan Lake ecological fish and Tiaoma braised pork, with an average spending of 50-70 yuan per person.
In summer, take sun protection measures. There are many mosquitoes on the forest trail, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent. In winter, some outdoor projects may be closed due to weather. Check the scenic area announcement before traveling.
Precautions：
Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and violators will be fined 50 yuan. Littering is prohibited, and garbage must be placed in designated trash bins.
Running and jumping are prohibited on the Sky Glass Corridor Bridge, and sharp objects are prohibited to avoid damaging the glass bridge deck.
When taking a boat, wear a life jacket properly, follow the instructions of the staff, and do not play or splash water on the boat.
For the Jungle Crossing project, safety equipment must be worn, and operations must be strictly followed under the guidance of coaches. Do not change the route without authorization.
There are many mountain roads around the scenic area. Self-driving cars need to be driven carefully. Parking spaces are limited. On weekends and holidays, it is recommended to arrive before 9 a.m.
Transportation：
Bus: In Changsha city, take bus 229 or 209 to Tiaoma Town Station, then transfer to Xingtong Bus 5 to reach Shiyan Lake Scenic Area directly. The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the fare is 5 yuan.
Tourist special line: Changsha Railway Station and West Bus Station have direct tourist special line buses to Shiyan Lake every day from 8:00 to 10:00. The fare is 20 yuan, and the journey takes 1 hour.
Self-driving: Changsha city → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway → Changsha Ring Expressway → Huahui Avenue → Shiyan Lake Scenic Area (about 30 kilometers in total, 40 minutes by car, toll about 15 yuan); Zhuzhou city → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway → Changsha Ring Expressway → Shiyan Lake Scenic Area (about 50 kilometers in total, 1 hour by car). There are 3 parking lots in the scenic area, charging 10 yuan per vehicle per day.
Transportation within the scenic area: Sightseeing buses run in a loop within the scenic area and stop at major attractions. The fare is 20 yuan per person and can be used all day.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:30, and in summer (May to October) it is extended to 18:00. The opening hours of projects such as the Sky Glass Corridor Bridge and Jungle Crossing are 08:30 to 17:00, and the last cruise time is 17:00. The best seasons for visiting are March to May (flower season) and September to November (autumn scenery). The "Shiyan Lake Azalea Festival" is held in mid-April, and the "Ecological Tourism Festival" is held in October.
Tickets：
Package ticket: 160 yuan per person.