Complete 2-Day East River Lake Travel Guide

Fog drifting over Xiao Dongjiang, fishermen casting nets, trekking through Longjing Canyon—keep this immersive "landscape poetry" itinerary handy!

Think East River Lake is just a "photo spot"?
Wrong!
Nestled in the mountains of Chenzhou, Hunan, this 600-square-kilometer emerald lake
is a living scroll of mountains and water:

✅ Morning mist lingers from April to October, dreamlike and surreal (a legendary scene for photographers)
✅ Fishermen row small boats, casting nets like poetry, perfect for a National Geographic cover shot
✅ The lake water is crystal clear and drinkable (first-class drinking water source)
✅ Nearby hidden gems include Longjing Canyon, Doushuai Cave, and Huangcao Ancient Village

If you're tired of superficial sightseeing,
and want to spend a day and a half
watching a sunrise shrouded in mist,
listening to waterfalls echoing through valleys,
and staying overnight in a lakeside guesthouse,
this [2024 Latest · East River Lake In-Depth Travel Guide]
will walk you through the best fog viewing spots, photo locations, off-the-beaten-path activities, and tips to avoid pitfalls,
turning this "internet-famous spot" into a personalized journey.

🗺️ Recommended itinerary: 2 days 1 night · slow, immersive travel (great for families, couples, photography enthusiasts)

📍 Core area: Zixing City, Chenzhou, Hunan Province → East River Lake Tourist Area
🚗 Transportation tips:
Driving is most convenient (navigate to "East River Lake Visitor Center" or "Bailang Township")
Take high-speed rail to "Chenzhou West Station" → transfer to a bus about 1 hour away
City has tourist shuttle bus (K101)

🎫 Ticket prices (2024 latest):
Attraction Price Must-Visit?
------ ------ ----------
East River Lake Scenic Area (including boat ride) ¥95 ✅ Must-visit
Longjing Canyon ¥30 ✅ Recommended
Doushuai Cave ¥40 ✅ Worth seeing
Fog Viewing Walkway (North/South Bank) Free ✅ Free but need to get there early to secure a spot

💡 Tip: Buying combo tickets is more cost-effective (available on official site/Trip.com)

🌟 Four core experiences · detailed by scene + practical tips
Fog drifting over Xiao Dongjiang | China’s most beautiful morning mist, a once-in-a-lifetime sight

🎯 Best viewing period: mid-April to early October (peak from May to July)
⏰ Best time: early morning 5:30–8:30 (fog thickest before sunrise)

📌 Prime fog viewing spots:
North Bank Walkway (★★★★★ recommended)
Wide views, directly facing the net-casting spot, many photo locations
Arrive 30 minutes early to secure a spot (during peak season, come before 6 am)
South Bank Walkway (quieter, great for a stroll)
Can see fishing boats in the mist from afar, very poetic

📸 Photography guide:
Location Content Equipment suggestion
------ ---------- ----------
Viewing Platform 2 Fishermen casting nets panorama Wide-angle + telephoto lenses both recommended
Shallow area near Platform 3 Symmetrical reflections Low-angle tripod
Suspension bridge Boats moving through mist Continuous shooting mode for action shots

📷 Smartphone users can also get great shots:
Use "Pro mode," raise ISO (~800), shutter speed above 1/125 sec
Use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and enhance mist layers

🐟 Fishermen net-casting schedule (daily fixed times arranged by the park):
First session: 6:00–6:30
Second session: 7:00–7:30
Third session: 8:00–8:30
👉 Tip: Use burst mode at the moment the net is cast for higher success!

Longjing Canyon | A "natural oxygen bar" hidden in the forest

🎯 Features: 2.5 km aerial walkway through waterfalls and primeval forest
🚶‍♂️ Hiking time: about 1 hour (round trip)
🌡️ Negative oxygen ions up to 90,000 per cubic centimeter!

Highlights along the way👇:
Seven-Tier Waterfall: cascading layers, roaring water sounds
Longxian Waterfall: shaped like a white ribbon, plunges 30 meters
Air ion monitor: shows real-time data, fun for photos

🎒 What to wear:
Non-slip shoes (stone steps are slippery)
Light jacket (valley is 5°C cooler than outside)
Raincoat for kids (mist can wet clothes)

🍦 Hidden treat: At the exit, try "East River Lake Ice Jelly," chilled with lake water, refreshingly cool!

Doushuai Lingyan Cave | Underground cave adventure like "Journey to the Center of the Earth"

🎯 Features: Huge cave on the lake island, nearly 3 km developed
🚤 How to get there: Take the park boat → get off at Monkey King Village dock → 10-minute walk to cave entrance

Cave wonders:
Shaped stalactites: "Sea-Calming Needle," "Dragon King's Throne," "Chang'e Flying to the Moon"
Underground lake: small boat rides available (extra ¥30)
Stalagmite reflections: lit up like a crystal palace

⚠️ Notes:
Constant 18°C inside, feels like air conditioning in summer
Slippery floor, hold hands with elderly and children
Do not touch stalactites (they take thousands of years to grow and are easily damaged)

Off-the-beaten-path experiences | Local secrets

✅ Cycling in Huangcao Town / Driving around Bailang Lakeside Road
Rent a bike or e-bike and ride along the lake
Bailang is known as "Little Erhai," with winding bays and stunning scenery
Recommended stops: Lover’s Island, Couple Trees, Lakeside Pavilion

✅ Stay at East River Bay guesthouses, open your window to the mist
Recommended areas: East River Bay, Quanshui Town, Luoxiao Town
Room preference: lake view rooms with balcony/floor-to-ceiling windows
Experience: open curtains at dawn to watch mist slowly rise from the lake

✅ Enjoy an authentic "East River Fish Feast"
Must-order dishes Features
-------- ------
East River Fish Head Hotpot Tender and fresh, no fishy smell, milky broth
Steamed Shaved Fish with Egg Whole small fish in dish, great calcium source
Cold Fish Skin Salad Chewy and refreshing, perfect appetizer
Firewood Smoked Bacon Stir-fried with Bamboo Shoots Rustic flavor, so good neighbors will knock on your door

📍 Recommended restaurants: Huangcaowei Old Street "Fisherman’s Home," Bailang "Lakeside Family"

⚠️ Major no-nos: Things you must NOT do!

❌ Miss the early morning fog viewing → after 9 am, strong sunlight disperses the mist!
✅ Better to wake up early and be tired than waste a trip

❌ Wear slippers on walkways or hiking → Longjing Canyon stone steps are slippery and dangerous
✅ Wear sneakers or hiking shoes, safety first

❌ Litter or feed fish on boats → East River Lake is a drinking water source, pollution strictly prohibited
✅ Be civilized, bring your own trash bag

❌ Trust "free entry" shortcuts → Most are closed and unsafe
✅ Buy tickets honestly, support proper management

❌ Only watch the fog and skip other activities → East River Lake is more than just a river; it has mountains, caves, forests, and villages
✅ Spend at least two days to truly understand it

💡 Practical info summary

Item Content
------ -------
Best season April–October (fog viewing); July–August (cooling off); September–October (autumn colors)
Recommended lodging East River Bay guesthouses, Hilton Hampton (city), Bailang Lakeside Inn
Photo gear Tripod, telephoto lens (70–200mm), polarizer, waterproof backpack
Safety tips Mountain weather changes quickly, bring rain gear; elderly and children should not go alone
Family friendliness ★★★★☆ (nature education + light hiking + fun interaction)

Final words:

The most beautiful thing about East River Lake is not the fog,
but you standing on the walkway,
watching the fisherman cast a net that ripples through time,
at that moment—
the mountains and waters breathe,
and life is worth living.