Yueyang Tower Light-Chasing Guide

🌊 2-Day Essence Itinerary: Tower Views & Ancient Charm

📅 Day 1: Tower & Lake · Millennium Legacy

🌞 Morning: Yueyang Tower & Bianhe Street

- **Yueyang Tower** (7:00-18:30｜¥70/adult)
- Must-do: Climb the tower to admire Dongting Lake’s "holding distant mountains, swallowing the Yangtze" grandeur. Recite *The Yueyang Tower Essay* in full for free entry.
- Cultural spot: Explore exhibits of historical tower models, tracing its "Five-Dynasty Evolution."
- **Bianhe Street** (next to Yueyang Tower)
- Food picks: Yueyang tofu skin (¥8), Dongting silver fish noodles (¥15), orchid radish (spicy & crunchy).

🌇 Afternoon: **Junshan Island** (15km from city｜¥78 incl. shuttle)
- Highlights: Visit Xiangfei Temple’s tear-stained bamboo, Liuyi Well legends, and pick tea at Junshan Silver Needle plantations (May harvest season).
- Sunset: Head to Baling Square for fishing boats returning under golden dusk.

🌙 Evening: Nightlife & Bites
- **Yueyang Tower Night Tour** (¥35): Light show & live performance *Moonlit Dongting*.
- Late eats: Paotai Mountain BBQ, Junshan shrimp cakes (¥5 each).

🌿 Day 2: Nature & Serenity

🌄 Morning: Temple & Pandas
- **Sheng’an Temple** (7:30-17:30｜¥20)
- Climb Wanfo Pagoda for South Lake panoramas.
- **China Giant Panda Park** (8:30-17:30｜¥68)
- Watch pandas munch bamboo; includes eco-wetlands & science exhibits.

☀️ Afternoon: Lakeside Leisure
- **South Lake Cycling** (free｜¥20/hr rental): Scenic lakeside trails or visit Dongting Lake Village (9:00-17:30) for farming culture.
- Alternatives:
- **Yueyang Museum** (free｜closed Mon): Bronze artifacts & Baling opera costumes.
- **Piaowei**: Top sunset viewpoint.

🍽️ Must-Eats
- Dishes: Baling whole fish feast, ginger-spiced Yueyang pigeon (intangible heritage), Tieshan fish-head stew with lamb.
- Snack streets: Bianhe Street (Pingjiang dried tofu), Tianluncheng night market (spicy crayfish).

🏨 Stays
- Near Bianhe Street/Yueyang Tower: **HZ Hotel** (smart tech, close to sights).
- South Lake: Lakeside rooms for tranquility.

⚠️ Tips
1. Free entry: Reciting *The Yueyang Tower Essay* requires perfection—prepare!
2. Transport: Use meters in taxis; buses (¥2) go direct.
3. Closures: Museums closed Mon; book pandas for mornings.

**Why this trip?**
Day 1 packs history (tower + island); Day 2 blends nature (pandas + lakes). Budget ~¥500 (incl. meals/tickets)—perfect for a weekend!