East Lake, Wuhan: Cycling the Greenway

East Lake, on the eastern side of Wuchang, has about 33 square kilometres of water, some six times the size of Hangzhou's West Lake, and was long the largest lake inside a Chinese city. It is a national 5A scenic area, and the easiest way to see it is by bike on the East Lake Greenway, which opened on 28 December 2016 and links the Tingtao, Moshan, Luoyan, Yuguang and Yujiahu zones. The greenway paths are free; a few attractions inside the zones charge. Half a day is enough to ride one route end to end, and it fits neatly after a morning at the Hubei Provincial Museum on the lake's western shore. The full city plan is in the Wuhan travel guide.

The greenway in brief

The first phase, 28.7 kilometres long and six metres wide, was built in four themed sections, and those still make the best way to choose a ride:

• Lake Middle Road (Huzhongdao). Runs across the lake on causeways, with water on both sides. The most open and the most exposed in summer sun.
• Lake-Hill Road (Hushandao). Follows the shore below the Moshan hills, mixing water views with shade.
• Moshan Road. Climbs into the Moshan hills, with gradients, woods and the viewpoints over the lake.
• Countryside Road (Jiaoyedao). The quieter stretches toward the wetlands on the eastern side.

A second phase opened in December 2017, and later work extended the network further; public reports in 2024 put the connected greenway at roughly 100 kilometres. You do not need anything like that. Most visitors ride one section, or link two, and turn back.

The zones around the shore

Tingtao, on the north-western shore near the museum, is the oldest part of the park. The banker Zhou Cangbai laid out a farm-garden here in 1929 and opened it to the public in 1930, which made it Wuhan's first city park. It is the easiest place to start from the city side, with shoreline paths and the start of the cross-lake causeways.

Moshan is the hilly zone on the south shore. It is known for its cherry blossom garden in spring, its plum garden in late winter, and views from the hilltops over the whole lake. Expect stairs and slopes; on a bike, the Moshan Road is the hardest section.

Luoyan, to the north-east, is flatter and more open, with reeds and wide water, and it suits a late-afternoon ride for the light.

East Lake also has political history. Mao Zedong stayed at the East Lake Guest House 48 times up to 1974, receiving foreign leaders there; the guesthouse is not a tourist site, but it explains why the shore was so carefully kept.

What is free and what costs

The greenway, the main shoreline paths and the causeways cost nothing. Some features within the zones, such as seasonal flower gardens, boat rides and sightseeing carts, have charged separately in recent years. Prices and which parts are ticketed change, so check the board at each zone entrance rather than relying on an old figure.

Shared bikes are the simplest option: they are parked at most access points, and you pay by app. Rental stations along the greenway also hire bikes, including tandems and family bikes, usually only in daylight. Check where you are allowed to return a bike before riding a one-way route; parking a shared bike outside its zone can cost extra.

Seasons

• February to March: plum blossom at Moshan, then cherry blossom from mid-March into early April. Peak weekends are very crowded.
• April to May: the best riding weather, warm and green.
• June to August: hot and humid. Ride early in the morning or after about 16:00, and carry water; the causeways have almost no shade.
• September to November: clear days and cooler air. Probably the best time overall.
• December to January: damp and cold on the open water; gloves help.

Wuhan University, on the western side of the lake, is famous for its cherry trees in March. In blossom season it has required advance booking for visitors, so check before combining the two.

A half-day plan

1. Leave the Hubei Provincial Museum by its North Gate after lunch and walk toward the Tingtao zone.
2. Pick up a bike and ride Lake Middle Road across the lake.
3. Continue along Lake-Hill Road beneath Moshan.
4. Stop at a viewpoint or cafe, and time your last stretch for the hour before sunset.
5. Return the bike at an approved point and take a taxi or bus back.

That is a ride of two to three hours at an easy pace, with stops. Shorten it by riding the causeway out and back.

Getting there

Metro Line 8's Provincial Museum Hubei Daily station is the closest stop for the Tingtao end. Buses and taxis serve the Moshan and Luoyan entrances, which are further from the metro. Allow for a fair walk or a short ride from any station to the shore.

Fitting East Lake into a trip

Museum in the morning, lake in the afternoon is the standard east Wuchang day. Keep Yellow Crane Tower, Hubu Alley and the Yangtze River Bridge for another day in central Wuchang. If time is short, ride only the cross-lake causeway: an hour on the water gives you the size of the lake, which is the thing to see.