The Yunlong Lake Scenic Area is located in Quanshan District, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and the largest natural landscape park in the urban area of Xuzhou. With Yunlong Lake as its core, the scenic area integrates mountain and water landscapes, historical sites, and leisure entertainment, combining multiple functions such as ecological protection, tourism, and cultural experience. The water surface area of Yunlong Lake reaches 6.76 square kilometers, and the land area is about 3.3 square kilometers. The total area of the scenic area is about 10.06 square kilometers, equivalent to 1.5 times that of Hangzhou's West Lake. There are islands such as Xiaonan Lake and Zhushan in the lake, surrounded by Yunlong Mountain, Quanshan Mountain, and other hills, forming a unique layout of "mountains on three sides and the city on one side." Landmark buildings such as the Su Gong Pagoda, the Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum, and the Water World are built within the scenic area. The green coverage rate is over 90%, making it a core area for Xuzhou residents' leisure and recreation as well as for out-of-town visitors to experience mountain and water culture.
Historical Culture
The history of Yunlong Lake can be traced back to the Northern Wei period, when it was called "Shigou Lake," named after the stone dog by the lake that was believed to suppress floods. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the lake water was connected to the moat of old Xuzhou City, becoming an important part of the city's water conservancy system. Emperor Qianlong once boarded a boat here during his southern tour, leaving related records.
In the tenth year of the Xining reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1077), when Su Shi served as the magistrate of Xuzhou, he presided over the construction of the Yellow Tower to suppress floods and led the people in dredging the river channels, laying the foundation for the water system of the Yunlong Lake area. To commemorate Su Shi's contributions to Xuzhou, landscapes such as the Su Gong Pagoda and Su Causeway were built in the scenic area. Among them, the Su Gong Pagoda is 26.17 meters high, with Su Shi's poems and biographical deeds carved on its body, becoming an important carrier for inheriting Su culture.
In addition, a large number of Han Dynasty stone reliefs have been unearthed around Yunlong Lake. These stone carvings from the Han Dynasty, with themes such as mythological stories, historical allusions, and scenes of daily life, display the prosperity of Xuzhou during the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum in the scenic area houses more than 1,000 Han Dynasty stone reliefs, serving as important physical materials for studying Han Dynasty culture and making Yunlong Lake a distinctive scenic area that integrates Han culture with mountain and water landscapes.
Main Attractions
Xiaonan Lake Scenic Area
Xiaonan Lake is an important part of Yunlong Lake, located in the southern part of Yunlong Lake and connected to the main lake by the Yudai Bridge, with a water surface area of about 0.96 square kilometers. The scenic area is mainly in the style of Jiangnan gardens, with landscapes such as Jieyou Bridge, Fanyue Bridge, and Nanhu Waterside Pavilion. Among them, Fanyue Bridge is a stone arch bridge about 180 meters long and 20 meters wide. The bridge body is exquisitely carved. When the lights are turned on at night, it reflects in the water, forming the beautiful scene of "Moon Bridge Night Scene." Lotus flowers, weeping willows, and other plants are planted around Xiaonan Lake. In summer, when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, they complement the pavilions and terraces, making it a popular area for lotus viewing and leisure within the scenic area.
Su Gong Pagoda Scenic Area
The Su Gong Pagoda Scenic Area is located on the northwest shore of Yunlong Lake. It was built to commemorate Su Shi's governance of Xuzhou and covers an area of about 15,000 square meters. The core building, the Su Gong Pagoda, is a pavilion-style pagoda in imitation Song style, 26.17 meters high and with 7 stories. Each story of the pagoda has a corridor, allowing visitors to climb high and look far over the lake. A statue of Su Shi stands in front of the pagoda, and around it is arranged the "Dongpo Footprints" relief wall, displaying Su Shi's achievements in water management in Xuzhou. A stele corridor is also built in the scenic area, carved with classic works by Su Shi such as "Record of the Crane Pavilion" and "Jiangchengzi: Hunting at Mizhou," attracting many literary visitors with its strong cultural atmosphere.
Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum
The Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum is located on the east shore of Yunlong Lake. It is China's first specialized museum for Han Dynasty stone reliefs, covering an area of about 10,000 square meters, with a building area of 4,000 square meters. The museum is divided into three exhibition halls: "Epic on Stone," "Han Dynasty Society," and "Artistic Achievements." It houses more than 1,000 Han Dynasty stone reliefs, among which "Chariot and Horse Procession" and "Fuxi and Nüwa" are regarded as national treasure-level cultural relics. The exhibition hall adopts modern display methods, using lighting, multimedia interaction, and other means to vividly interpret the cultural connotations of Han Dynasty stone reliefs. It is an important window for understanding the history and art of Xuzhou during the Han Dynasty.
Yunlong Lake Water World
Yunlong Lake Water World is located on the east shore of the lake. It is a large marine-themed park integrating marine life display, science education, and leisure entertainment, with a building area of about 21,000 square meters. The museum has areas such as a tropical rainforest zone, a marine life zone, and an underwater tunnel, displaying more than 300 species of marine life including penguins, sharks, and sea turtles. Among them, the underwater tunnel is 100 meters long, allowing visitors to watch marine life swimming overhead through glass and experience immersive viewing pleasure. Water World also has facilities such as a 4D cinema and an ocean theater, receiving more than 500,000 visitors annually.
Yunlong Mountain Observation Deck
Yunlong Mountain is adjacent to the north shore of Yunlong Lake, with an altitude of 142 meters. It is named for its winding shape like a giant dragon. The observation deck at the summit is the best place to overlook the panoramic view of Yunlong Lake. The platform is about 8 meters high and covers an area of about 200 square meters. From the platform, visitors can take in the entire 6.76-square-kilometer lake surface and the surrounding urban landscape. In the early morning, thin mist can be seen over the lake; in the evening, visitors can enjoy the lake and mountain scenery under the sunset. It is a must-visit place for photography enthusiasts. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, there are winding roads and stone-step trails. The trail is about 1,000 meters long, with viewing pavilions and cliff inscriptions along the way. The whole climb takes about 40 minutes.
Food
Xuzhou Di Guo Ji
Xuzhou Di Guo Ji is the most representative local dish and also a signature dish of restaurants around Yunlong Lake. Local free-range native chicken is selected, cut into pieces, stir-fried with ginger slices and chili peppers, then simmered with soy sauce, cooking wine, and other seasonings. Cornmeal pancakes are then stuck to the edge of the pot, allowing the bottoms of the pancakes to absorb the broth. The finished chicken is tender, and the pancakes are crisp and fragrant, with a reasonable combination of meat and vegetables. It can be tasted at farmhouse restaurants and old Xuzhou restaurants around the scenic area. The price is about 60-100 yuan per portion, suitable for 2-3 people to share.
Yang Fang Cang Yu
Yang Fang Cang Yu is a traditional famous dish of Xuzhou with a history of more than 4,000 years. It is known as "China's first dish." The method is to place fresh crucian carp into chunks of mutton, add Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and other spices, and simmer slowly for 2 hours, so that the freshness of the fish and the richness of the mutton blend with each other. The soup is thick and delicious, and the dish is nutritious. It is served in high-end restaurants near Yunlong Lake. The price is about 120-180 yuan per portion, and it is the first choice for experiencing Xuzhou's food culture.
Xiaohai Su Tang
Xiaohai Su Tang is a traditional Xuzhou dessert, named for its crisp texture and moderate sweetness, suitable for children. It is made from sesame, maltose, and peanuts through processes such as boiling sugar, pulling sugar, and shaping. It is covered with sesame on the outside and honeycomb-shaped inside, melting in the mouth. It is sold in specialty stores in the scenic area and time-honored shops in Xuzhou. The price is about 20-30 yuan per box, making it a popular souvenir.
Yunlong Lake Cu Yu
Yunlong Lake Cu Yu uses fresh carp from the lake and is improved by borrowing from the method of Hangzhou West Lake vinegar fish. After the fish is steamed, it is topped with a sauce made of rice vinegar, white sugar, and minced ginger. The fish is tender, sweet and sour, with a fresh breath of lake water. This dish can be tasted in lakeside restaurants within the scenic area. The price is about 50-80 yuan per portion, and it is more flavorful when eaten with local wild vegetables.
Tickets：
Open to the public for free, but some attractions within the scenic area charge separately.
You can search for the official public account "Xuzhou Yunlong Lake" on WeChat to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours：
Open all day (outer areas are accessible 24 hours a day).
Opening hours of internal paid attractions: Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30), closed every Monday (except statutory holidays); Yunlong Lake Water World 9:00-18:00 (summer), 9:00-17:00 (winter).
Boat operating hours: April-October 8:30-18:00; November-next March 9:00-17:00. Visitors are advised to arrange their time reasonably. In summer, they may choose to visit in the early morning or evening to avoid the midday heat; in winter, activities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. provide a better experience.
Tour Route：
Recommended classic one-day tour route: arrive at the west shore of Yunlong Lake at 9:00 a.m. and first visit the Su Gong Pagoda Scenic Area (about 1 hour) to learn about the historical connection between Su Shi and Xuzhou; at 10:00, walk to Yudai Bridge and enter the Xiaonan Lake Scenic Area, stroll along Fanyue Bridge and Jieyou Bridge, and enjoy the lake view (about 1.5 hours); at 11:30, go to restaurants around the scenic area to taste specialty dishes such as Di Guo Ji and Yunlong Lake Cu Yu (about 1 hour). In the afternoon at 13:30, go to the Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum (about 1.5 hours) to view Han Dynasty stone carving art; at 15:00, go to Yunlong Lake Water World (about 2 hours) to experience the marine life exhibition; at 17:00, climb to the Yunlong Mountain Observation Deck (about 1 hour) to overlook the panoramic view of Yunlong Lake and enjoy the sunset; at 18:00, end the itinerary. If time permits, you can take a boat tour of Yunlong Lake in the evening to experience the lake's night view.
Transportation：
Bus: Multiple bus routes in Xuzhou can reach the Yunlong Lake Scenic Area. Among them, Tour Line 2, Tour Line 3, Bus 38, Bus 49, and others directly reach the main entrance of the scenic area. The fare is 2 yuan; take Metro Line 1 to "Yunlong Lake Station" and walk about 10 minutes to reach the west shore of the scenic area.
Taxi: It takes about 15 minutes by taxi from Xuzhou Railway Station to Yunlong Lake Scenic Area, costing 15-20 yuan; about 30 minutes from Xuzhou East Railway Station (high-speed railway station), costing 40-50 yuan.
Self-driving: Get off the highway at Xuzhou West Exit, drive east along Huaihai West Road for about 5 kilometers to reach the scenic area, with a total distance of about 10 kilometers; there are multiple parking lots around the scenic area. The charging standard is 5 yuan per 2 hours for small cars, and an additional 2 yuan per hour after 2 hours.
Internal transportation in the scenic area: There are sightseeing electric vehicles in the scenic area, connecting the main attractions, with a one-way fare of 10 yuan per person; there are lakeside bicycle rental points, with single bikes at 20 yuan per hour and double bikes at 30 yuan per hour; boat routes cover areas such as Xiaonan Lake and Su Gong Pagoda, and can be chosen as needed.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Xiaonan Lake Scenic Area: Jiangnan garden-style landscape, with a unique night view of Fanyue Bridge, a water surface area of 0.96 square kilometers, and a visiting time of about 1.5 hours.
Su Gong Pagoda Scenic Area: A landmark building commemorating Su Shi, with a pagoda 26.17 meters high. Visitors can climb high to view the lake, and the cultural atmosphere is strong. Visiting time is about 1 hour.
Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum: China's first specialized museum for Han Dynasty stone reliefs, housing more than 1,000 Han Dynasty stone reliefs, with a building area of 4,000 square meters. Visiting time is about 1.5 hours.
Yunlong Mountain Observation Deck: The best place to overlook the panoramic view of Yunlong Lake. The hiking trail is 1,000 meters long. At the summit, visitors can enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. Visiting time is about 1 hour (including climbing).
Travel Suggestions：
The best seasons to visit are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). In spring, the weeping willows by the lake are lush; in autumn, the weather is cool, suitable for lakeside strolls and mountain climbing; in summer, water activities can be experienced; in winter, there are fewer tourists, and visitors can enjoy the quiet lake view alone.
The scenic area is large. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. If physical strength is limited, visitors can take sightseeing electric vehicles or rent bicycles to tour around the lake. The full loop around the lake is about 15 kilometers, and cycling takes 2-3 hours.
For dining, it is recommended to choose time-honored Xuzhou restaurants around the scenic area, such as "Lianglaifeng" and "Mashijie Sha Tang." In addition to Di Guo Ji, visitors can also try specialty snacks such as Sha Tang and spicy soup.
Photography enthusiasts are advised to bring telephoto lenses and shoot the panoramic view of Yunlong Lake from the Yunlong Mountain Observation Deck. From 6-7 a.m., they can capture the morning mist on the lake; from 17-18 p.m., it is suitable for shooting the sunset.
If visiting with children, give priority to Yunlong Lake Water World and arrange it in the afternoon to avoid the morning crowd peak.
Precautions：
Swimming and fishing are prohibited in the scenic area (except in designated areas). The average depth of Yunlong Lake is 2.5 meters, and some areas exceed 5 meters. Children must be supervised, and visitors should stay away from lake shores without guardrails.
When taking boats, wear life jackets properly, obey the crew's instructions, and do not chase or play on the boat. Boat services may be suspended in severe weather, so confirm in advance.
Protect the scenic area environment, do not litter, and do not pick flowers or break branches. Flash photography is prohibited in the Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum, and exhibits must not be touched.
During holidays, the scenic area has a large flow of people and parking spaces are tight. It is recommended to give priority to public transportation. Self-driving visitors can park in peripheral parking lots and walk in.
In summer, there are many mosquitoes by the lake, so mosquito repellent supplies should be carried; in winter, the lake area is windy and the temperature is low, so attention should be paid to keeping warm, especially when climbing, and windproof clothing should be worn.
There are emergency rescue points and medical stations in the scenic area. If you feel unwell or encounter an emergency, please go there.