Yueyang

Yueyang (岳阳 Yuèyáng) is in northern Hunan Province, China.

Understand

This prefecture level city borders Hubei province to the north and Dongting lake to the west.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Yueyang Sanhe Airport (岳阳三荷机场 Yuèyáng Sānhé Jīchǎng), Yueyanglou district in Hunan, toll-free: +0730 2966666. Yueyang Sanhe Airport is a 4C class airport in the northwest of Yueyanglou District. (updated May 2022)

By train

The city sits on the Beijing-Guangzhou railway line. Fast trains take 30 minutes and regular trains around 2 hours and a half to either the provincial capital Changsha or to Wuhan at Hubei province.

• 1 Yueyang Railway Station (岳阳站 Yuèyáng Zhàn). 
• 2 Yueyang East Station (岳阳东 Yuèyáng Dōng). 

By bus

Buses depart from Changsha east, west and south bus stations.

Get around

Taxis are ¥6.

Buses are ¥2.

Bus 55 connects high-speed railway station Yueyang east station with the regular train station Yueyang station.

See

• 1 Yueyang Tower (岳阳楼 Yuèyáng Lóu). Walk south from the train station till you reach balingzhong lu (巴陵中路) and head towards west until you hit the lake. Alongside the Pavilion of Prince Teng and Yellow Crane Tower, it is one of the Three Great Towers of Jiangnan. ¥80.  
• 2 Junshan Island (君山岛 Jūnshān Dǎo). This little island attracts Chinese tourist and locals alike. Great place to see the local flora and watch families hang out with their children. It can be reached by bus, boat and also by foot. The latter is recommended for more sightseeing.  
• 3 Zhangguying village (张谷英村 Zhānggǔyīng Cūn). A small village from Ming dynasty, 80 kilometers to the southeast.  

Do

Walk along a man made rock path around the tower area on the lake side and watch the city wall. Although a modern reconstruction, it gives you an idea of how it was back in the old days.

Eat

Shaokao (烧烤 shāokǎo) or barbecue is Yueyang's claim of fame. Go to barbecue restaurants and have some grilled eggplants, stir-fried clams and some chicken wings and bring it down with some cold beers. Local families love to go out for Shaokao.

Sleep

Ask around at the first street you see when you leave the regular train station. See who doesn't mind hosting a foreigner. Prices range from 35 for a basic single to 100 for a nice double. Ask around, as there are many places to sleep at!

Go next

• Zhangguying village(张谷英村) :The town was built by a family surnamed Zhang, whom migrated during Ming dynasty from neighboring Jiangxi province in search of a place that would fit perfectly into Chinese fengshui. The town has a creek that flows through it and it's surrounded by mountains.