Ezhou by the Yangtze River, a lonely and brilliant city!

On the Longpan Rock in the middle of the Yangtze River, there stands the "First Pavilion of the Yangtze River" that has stood for hundreds of years in the center of the river. This Guanyin Pavilion, known as the "Strongest Pavilion", has been dubbed by curious netizens as the "toughest nail household of the Yangtze River" and quickly became popular throughout the internet.

The tide rises and falls, the waves wash away the sand, and this "lonely Guanyin Pavilion" always stands firm and never fails Little did they know that it actually came from Ezhou, a very low-key small city in Hubei.

The most suitable way to open this livable small city, located at the core of the Yangtze River and bordering Wuhan, is to stroll in the river breeze and enjoy a comfortable and leisurely cultural journey.

01

Epic of Ezhou, a Journey of Humanistic History

The ancient Ezhou, with a long history, has been written into the river of history. In the natural landscapes and pavilions of Ezhou, one can glimpse the great poems left by famous literati such as Qu Yuan, Li Bai, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and Yue Fei.

Following the footsteps of these literati, immerse yourself in the city and experience the magnificent waves and splendid culture along the Yangtze River.

Guanyin Pavilion

The first stop, we arrived at the magnificent "First Pavilion of the Yangtze River".

The Guanyin Pavilion stands in the heart of the Ezhou section of the Yangtze River, with white walls, red tiles, and stone walls, and a coiled dragon looking westward. This Guanyin Pavilion, originally built in the Song Dynasty, stands tall in the Tianjian of the Yangtze River and has been floating and sinking with the river for hundreds of years. Despite wind and waves, it still stands firm and does not collapse.

During the flood season, when the tide rises and the water overflows the towers, the Guanyin Pavilion is submerged in the rolling Yangtze River water, only revealing a corner. But as soon as the flood season is over, it will emerge again, like a sea god needle and a pillar of strength, demonstrating its majestic momentum.

Nowadays, due to the protection of cultural relics, Guanyin Pavilion is not open to the public. However, along the Binjiang Park, you can overlook its strong "pride and heroism", which makes people marvel at the ancient architectural wisdom.

Xishan Park

The second stop is another feng shui treasure trove in Ezhou - Xishan Park.

Starting from the riverbank, the lush Xishan Mountain overlooks the entire urban area of Ezhou and the Yangtze River from the top. This place was formerly known as Fanshan, and it is named Xishan because it is located west of the ancient capital of Wu, Wuchang.

The famous Wuchang Tower is located in the Xishan Scenic Area, and the climbing scenery is infinitely beautiful! No wonder back then, Su Shi, Su Zhe, and others were all obsessed with the West Mountain.

Legend has it that Wuchang Tower was a military watchtower of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. Later generations named it Wuchang Tower in memory of Sun Quan's heroic talent and strategy of "prospering through martial arts.". The three powerful characters "Wuchang Tower" on the plaque are written by the contemporary Chinese literary master Guo Moruo.

Wu Wang's Summer Palace, Gulingquan Temple, Jiuqu Pavilion, Songfeng Pavilion They are all must visit scenic spots in Xishan. Climbing mountains on weekends and experiencing the influence of history is just right. It is recommended to start hiking from the south gate, and a tour will take about two hours.

Ticket: Free

Opening hours: 8:30-17:30 (admission will stop at 17:00)

Ezhou Museum

You can easily reach the Ezhou Museum by descending from the north gate of Xishan Park.

Every city's museum is worth visiting. Here, you can have a good understanding of the history, culture, and development trajectory of Ezhou. As the hometown of ancient bronze mirrors, the museum has a large collection of bronze mirrors, and you can also hear the touching story of "breaking the mirror and reuniting".

Admission method: The Ezhou Museum (Memorial Hall of the Former Site of the Helong Military Headquarters) does not require an appointment, and visitors can enter the museum with valid identification documents. Opening hours: From 9:00 to 17:00 every Tuesday to Sunday (ticket collection and entry will stop at 16:00), and the museum will be closed every Monday (excluding national statutory holidays). 

Lotus Hill Park 

The next stop is to bypass the picturesque Yanglan Lake and reach the back garden of Ezhou people - Lianhuashan Park.

Amidst the vast expanse of misty waves and the picturesque scenery of lakes and mountains, the Yuanming Pagoda on Lianhua Mountain is stunning.

The tower stands tall, with a total of 11 floors. The eaves are high and covered with golden sulfur glass, creating a magnificent and magnificent atmosphere. Climbing onto the Yuanming Pagoda, one can see the vast expanse of the Yanglan Lake in front of their eyes. Who wouldn't say, "The water is shining brightly and the sky is clear.".

Ticket: 35 yuan/person

Opening hours: 8:00-18:00

Liangzi Lake

The last strong recommendation is for Liangzi Lake in the suburbs of Ezhou. Ezhou, known as the "City of Hundred Lakes," has its own coastal resort for Hubei people.

Liangzi Island, where fishing boats sing late, is surrounded by lakes on all sides, as if it is an independent island. Sunrise and sunset are its moments of intoxication, with vast expanses of blue waves rippling, as if dyed into a colorful "orange sea".

Climb onto the Dianjiang Platform and gaze at the iconic cultural landmark of the Lady. According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhou Yu was here to point out his generals and wield his strength. Take a walk along the ecological boardwalk around the island and experience the leisurely time by the shimmering lakeside together.

Friends who take their children and travel in groups can go to Phoenix Mountain Amusement Park. There are rich activities such as jungle jumping, rowing, and archery there.

As the hometown of Liangzi Lake hairy crabs and Wuchang fish, Liangzi Lake is rich in plump fish, shrimp, and crabs. Come here from afar and don't forget to feast on them!

Island transportation: It is recommended to drive to Changling Tourist Terminal by navigation.

Bus route: Starting from Ezhou, Miaoeling Station (Echeng Taihe); Depart from Wuhan and get off at Fujiapo Station (Wuchang Taihe) at Changling Tourist Terminal.

Island tour guide: Changling Pier Liangzi Island Pier: one-way 40 yuan/person, round-trip 80 yuan/person; There is a sightseeing bus on the island that costs 10 yuan per person.

02

New Opening, Crowne Plaza Hotel Ezhou

As a transportation hub in Hubei, Ezhou Huahu Airport, which officially opened in July 2022, has opened direct passenger flights to cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, Xiamen, and Chengdu. This has transformed the thriving Ezhou into a new aviation city.

Of course, you can also choose to go to Wuhan first, and then take the high-speed rail to Ezhou in just over 20 minutes. So it's easy to reach Ezhou from all over the country.

The newly opened Crowne Plaza Hotel Ezhou is located in the Ezhou Airport Economic Zone on Wuchu Avenue, close to the Ezhou International Convention and Exhibition Center, and not far from Ezhou Huahu Airport and Ezhou Station.

The hotel is designed with aviation and soaring as its main themes, with a sparkling glass curtain wall that exudes a silver gray metallic luster and exudes a futuristic feel. Once unveiled, it is eye-catching.

This "Sky Star" not only quickly became the new cover of Ezhou, but also injected fresh vitality into the Lingang Economic Zone and Ezhou.

Entering the reception hall, what catches the eye is the magnificent crystal lights on the ceiling, like "Dapeng spreading its wings". The low-key yet luxurious marble is laid out, making the entire space full of avant-garde and modern feel.

The exquisite reliefs of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Ezhou" stand out on the wall, adorned with paintings full of historical heritage, perfectly blending the aesthetic concept of Eastern elegance with the design vision of the "Pearl of Wu and Chu".

The guest rooms and suites adopt a new generation of "modern business travel" design. The color scheme is the trendy "Gray style" with a strong texture. Flexible layout, dividing into spacious and comfortable office areas, sleeping areas, and living areas, thoughtfully considering travel and business travelers.

The spacious bathroom also contains many thoughtful details, with a separate wet and dry bathing space and luxurious marble countertops, all in line with the hotel's style. In a super large bathtub, take a comfortable bath and instantly relieve the fatigue of the day.

On the 15th floor of the hotel, there is a star gazing constant temperature swimming pool with panoramic french window. You can look up at the shining star dome and enjoy swimming and water playing while overlooking the whole city of Ezhou!

The fitness center, also located on the 15th floor, features a fitness area with advanced fitness equipment and a tranquil yoga studio. Under the beautiful scenery of high altitude, enjoy running and exercising, sweating, or having a healing yoga session to completely release your body and mind!

In addition, the three restaurants and lounges here are worth praising, each with their own unique strengths. What kind of sparks will collide when the feast of gluttony blends with the flavors of fireworks and Jingchu?!

The Yangtze River specialty self-service restaurant is located on the first floor of the hotel.

The design of the restaurant combines modern elements with Chu culture. Paired with lake blue color, hand drawn hanging paintings, ripple textures, glass and ceramic art ornaments, the details showcase the local charm and characteristics of Hubei and Chu.

Multiple open platforms offer a wide variety of Chinese breakfast, Western baking, and dessert fruits Of course, you can also taste authentic Hubei style snacks and delicacies, such as delicious Hot dry noodles, noodles and beef noodles, which make you "eat all over Ezhou at one time"!

Fulin Chinese Restaurant, located on the 2nd floor, specializes in Hubei cuisine and Cantonese cuisine. It is a high-end catering brand under the InterContinental Hotels Group.

The design concept of the restaurant is integrated into the aesthetic of Eastern garden design: exquisite sequential ceilings, blue green inlaid gold windows, like a Chinese landscape painting, beautiful and magnificent.

There is also a luxurious lobby lounge on the first floor of the hotel. Continuously providing themed afternoon tea, cocktails and snacks, and traditional Chinese tea art, the pleasant environment is very suitable for gatherings.

Let's embark on a cultural and historical journey together in Ezhou. This low-key and brilliant city awaits you to slowly excavate and explore.