Visited Xuzhou Yunlong Lake Scenic Area 4 times, finally figured it out!

Address📍

No. 1 Hudong Road, Quanshan District, Xuzhou City (Lake views all around, the core area is on the south bank)

Transportation🚌

- From downtown: Take bus 38 or 49 directly to "Yunlong Lake Tourist Scenic Area" stop
- From high-speed rail station: Take Metro Line 1 to "Qingfeng Road" station, transfer to Tour Line 3, 10 minutes to West Gate
- By car: Plenty of parking on the south bank⏰ Recommended to park in the "Concert Hall" underground garage, 5 RMB/hour

Introduction🌿

Yunlong Lake is known as the "West Lake of Xuzhou," but even more expansive! Surrounded on three sides by green mountains, the water is divided into East Lake, West Lake, and Little South Lake. Walking around the whole lake is like running half a marathon😂 The best part is the "spirit of the mountains and charm of the water"—climb Yunlong Mountain to see the lake’s mirror-like surface, and while boating, look up to see the mountain shadows in blue-green hues. Truly "the city is in the lake, the lake is in the mountains"⛰️

Travel Tips🚶

1️⃣ Must-do classic route for first-timers:

Enter from South Gate → Submerged Corridor (underwater glass walkway🌟) → Su Gong Tower (Su Shi once served as Xuzhou’s prefect) → Lotus Breeze Island (perfect for lotus viewing in summer) → Ten Thousand People Beach (pretend you’re at the seaside) → Aquarium (top choice for families)

2️⃣ Insider route for deep explorers:

Little South Lake secret spot (few people, many egrets) → Yunlong Mountain Cableway (40 RMB one way, panoramic views worth it) → Ji Zi Hanging Sword Platform (hidden Spring and Autumn period story) → Evening boat ride to watch the sunset🌅 (electric boat 100 RMB/hour, highly recommended!)

3️⃣ Local morning and evening rituals:

👉 Early bird climb at 6:30 AM to breathe fresh air on Yunlong Mountain

👉 Night visit at 8:30 PM to the Concert Hall laser fountain show (free! Open Wed/Fri/Sat)

Suggestions💡

⚠️ Pitfall warnings:

❌ The scenic area sightseeing bus (30 RMB/person) is less flexible than riding a shared bike

⭕ Bring breadcrumbs to feed the swans on the lake island (the little ones will chase the boat!)

💡 Fun fact: Su Shi once managed water control here; the statue base by the lake is engraved with excerpts from "Record of the Crane Release Pavilion"—literary buffs don’t miss it~

Food Recommendations🍜

🔥 The soul-hitting trio:

1. Claypot Chicken: Must order at lakeside "Laojia Claypot"! The flatbread soaked in sauce is amazing👍
2. Braised Pork: At "Zhou Ji" on Hubei Road, fatty and lean meat paired with rice, so fragrant you’ll stomp your feet
3. Frog Fish: Xuzhou specialty cold jelly fish, sour and spicy to beat the heat, 5 RMB/bowl from a small cart

Accommodation Recommendations🏠

▫️ Luxury style: Marriott Hotel on the south bank, lake view rooms are like a painting when you open the window

▫️ Artsy type: Dongpo Community homestay at the foot of Yunlong Mountain, stay in a white wall and black tile courtyard for just a hundred RMB

▫️ Backpackers: Huilongwo Ancient City Youth Hostel (2 km from the lake), chat with fellow travelers at night

Nearby Attractions🎯

1. Yunlong Mountain⛰️: Cableway to the top takes only 20 minutes, the Crane Release Pavilion at the summit is where ancient people "raised a glass to the sky"
2. Xuzhou Museum🏺: Stunning gold-threaded jade burial suits from Han tombs! Free but requires reservation
3. Hubu Mountain Ancient Buildings🏮: Ming and Qing dynasty courtyards hiding local life, the morning market’s pancakes scent drifts for three streets
4. Huilongwo Arts District📸: Cafes under the city wall + city wall light show, a delightful surprise for night tours

✨ Four visits summed up in one sentence:
Climb Yunlong Mountain at dawn, stroll Yunlong Lake at dusk. Take a bite of the claypot chicken’s savory sauce, glance at the moonlight on Su Gong Tower🌙
The warmth of this city is all blended into the lake breeze~