Lotus Island is located in the northeast of Suzhou Ancient City, surrounded by water on three sides, and named for its resemblance to a lotus flower set in the lake. The island covers an area of 3.2 square kilometers and is home to over 300 households, all of whom rely on the lake for their livelihood and the crab industry. With vast waters and excellent water quality, it is the birthplace of the authentic Yangcheng Lake clear water hairy crabs, earning it the reputation of ‘the hometown of hairy crabs’.
Attractions and projects within the island, such as Yiyuan, the Medicine Master Temple, the Sanyuan Mansion, the Xizui Wetland, the Earth Art, the Windmill Array, the Cow Water Treading Performance, and the Water Wheel Treading, offer both aesthetic and experiential value. With the rise of rural tourism, an increasing number of visitors are drawn to the island, forming an integrated service chain that includes dining, accommodation, tourism, entertainment, and shopping, making Lotus Island a burgeoning destination for vacation and leisure.
The Yiyuan Museum, covering over 5,000 square meters, showcases the fully ecological, productive, and lifestyle aspects of Yangcheng Lake, not only recreating the original ecological way of life on Lotus Island but also artistically presenting the folk customs of the entire Jiangnan water town. The museum includes a lobby, an atrium, a fishing hall, a water town wedding hall, a water town clothing hall, a historical and cultural hall, and a folk customs hall.
The water wheel, an irrigation tool used in ancient times, was popular in most parts of China. When in use, the operator would pedal the crank to rotate the large wheel shaft, driving the boards within the groove to lift water and pour it into the fields. This water-lifting facility has a long history and is also known as the ‘dragon bone water wheel’ due to its shape.
The Charming Fishing Port features the original residents of Lotus Island living along the water, with whitewashed walls and black tiles extending in a continuous line, and a row of boats in front of the houses, maintaining the original ecological appearance of the Jiangnan water town. The port offers aquatic products all year round, with a harvest of crabs in the golden autumn, and every household welcomes guests with a smile, making the charming water alleys of Lotus Island a place visitors always want to return to.
The Yangcheng Lake Lianhuadao covers an area of 36.5 mu, with a building area of 6,848 square meters. It is composed of three major parts: an ecological parking lot, a distribution building, and a cruise ship dock. Designed by the architect Kengo Kuma, the building is like a stacked thatched roof, which is a concrete expression of the Jiangnan countryside. The huge triangular roof is like a continuous mountain range along the lakeside, perfectly integrating with nature.
Here is a new cultural landmark, a new cultural window and an innovation and entrepreneurship base by the Yangcheng Lake. It has become a well-known internet-famous check-in place. Opening hours: Open all year round from 09:00 to 16:00. Preferential policies: Children: Children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height are free of charge. Free; children between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.4 meters (inclusive) can purchase child tickets at half price. Journalists: Journalists with valid press cards are free of charge. Service facilities: Parking lot: [Lianhuadao Scenic Area Parking Lot]. Reference price: ¥10/hour. Address: Yangcheng Lake Tourism Distribution Center, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Parking spaces: 500. The above information is for reference only and is subject to the site. Must-see tips: 1. Avoid eating hairy crabs with strong tea and persimmons. If you do, it will cause stomach pain at least and kidney stones at worst, and you may need to go to the hospital. 2. There are also hairy crabs from other places on Lianhuadao that are rinsed in the water of Yangcheng Lake and then regarded as Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. Generally, tourists can’t tell the difference. The taste is equally excellent. Coming here to eat crabs is just for the atmosphere.
