Spanning across Suzhou City and Kunshan City, Yangcheng Lake is renowned for its Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs available in autumn. Locals from Suzhou mainly visit Lianhua Island on the north shore of Hubei and Weiting Town on the south shore of Hunan to enjoy crabs, while people from Shanghai often go to Ba City on the east shore of Kunshan City by the lake. During seasons when the hairy crabs are not in season, visitors to Yangcheng Lake can appreciate the lake views and pastoral scenery, and taste other freshwater delicacies. Starting from the sixth month of the lunar calendar, there is a type of crab known as ‘June Yellow’ available, which is tender and delicious. In the ninth lunar month, female crabs are preferred for their full roe, and in the tenth lunar month, male crabs are favored for their sticky and rich paste. ‘June Yellow’ should be eaten early, as vendors are reluctant to sell them when they are about to double in price in the ninth and tenth lunar months. Crabs in the ninth and tenth lunar months typically cost 120-150 yuan for a pair of male and female crabs, including a table of farmhouse dishes, with the price varying depending on the weight of the crabs. On the north shore of Yangcheng Lake, there are many crab farms on the Beauty’s Leg Peninsula, but tourists prefer Lianhua Island to the east. You can take a speedboat from the Lianhua Island Dock (South Dock) in Yangcheng Lake Town, or walk or take a sightseeing vehicle to the island from the Lianhua Dock (North Dock) in Lianhua Village. Private cars are not allowed on Lianhua Island. If you make arrangements with a crab farm on the island in advance, they will send a boat to pick you up for free, whether at the South Dock or the North Dock. The local dishes provided by the crab farms, such as chicken soup, pumpkin porridge, braised pork, caramelized carp, and hairy crabs, are equally delicious. Crab farms on Lianhua Island generally only operate when hairy crabs are in season; otherwise, visitors can enjoy the scenery and visit small attractions like the Memory Garden Museum and windmill arrays. In March and April, visitors can admire rapeseed flowers, and in summer, lotus and sunflowers. The island’s rural paths are lined with fruits and vegetables, and free-range chickens, ducks, and geese stroll along the roads. Purchasing local green products such as sweet sorghum (similar to sugarcane) and pumpkins to take back is also a good idea, as they are reasonably priced. In Weiting Town on the south shore of Yangcheng Lake, the tour route is circular, with the East Shallow Bay Commercial Street lined with shops selling hairy crabs, leading to Chongyuan Temple. Opposite Chongyuan Temple, in Lianchi Lake Park, there are wooden walkways and excellent greenery. Following the Yangcheng Lake Ring Road and Shui Ze Road southwest leads to Putian Ecological Agricultural Park, where visitors can pick different fruits in spring, summer, and autumn. In Ba City, on Ba Jie Road and Dayu Road in front of the Yangcheng Lake Water Park, there is a concentration of crab farms. Besides hairy crabs, Ba City is known for the ‘Three Treasures of Yangcheng Lake’, and visitors are encouraged to try the other two treasures – shrimp and mandarin fish. After a satisfying meal, one can stroll through the free Yangcheng Lake Water Park or take a walk in Ba City’s old streets with white walls and black tiles. Whether on Lianhua Island, Weiting Town, or Ba City, visitors can hire local boatmen for a tour of Yangcheng Lake, with particularly beautiful sunset views on the lake.
Cycling around Yangcheng Lake is a worthwhile experience. Bicycle rentals are available at the bike station near Lianhua Island Yiyuan, hotels in Weiting Town, and at the entrance of Bacheng Yangcheng Lake Water Park.
Staying by the Yangcheng Lake and fishing daily is a very pleasant activity. Accommodations on Lianhua Island are primarily homestay style, while Weiting Town and Bacheng offer both hotels and economical inns.
The park is open all year round and accessible 24/7. Essential tips include: 1. Avoid consuming strong tea and persimmons with hairy crabs, as it may cause stomach pain or even lead to the formation of stones. 2. Authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have a green back, white belly, yellow hair, and golden claws. Some crab farms may pass off ‘bathing crabs’ as authentic, which are only soaked in Yangcheng Lake water and not native to the area. It is difficult for tourists to distinguish between the two. 3. Changshu Shajia Bang, about 7 kilometers from Yangcheng Lake, is also considered a place to enjoy Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs due to its interconnected water system, though it is less well-known. Visiting Shajia Bang for crabs can be considered an alternative route.
Yangcheng Lake
Spanning across Suzhou City and Kunshan City, Yangcheng Lake is renowned for its Yangcheng Lake hair[...]
