Plan at a glance
Location and visiting style
Dahong Mountain Pipa Lake Scenic Area is in Group 12 of Zhujie Village, Hongshan Town, Suizhou. Search for “Pipa Lake Scenic Area”; the entrance is clearly marked. The visit is built around a self-drive loop around the lake, a boat trip to Huoshan Dao (火山岛, Volcanic Island), and a short lakeside stop, with less walking than a mountain-summit route.
The current online ticket is about CNY 20 per person. On-site prices and activity products may change, so use the product and notice available for your travel date. The attraction is open 07:00–18:00, with tickets bought at the entrance under the day's arrangements. There is no internal public transport; driving from Wuhan takes about 2.5–3 hours. Allow about 2–3 hours for the short route or 4–5 hours for the highlights route.
Costs and activities
Vehicles can enter the attraction, and tickets are charged per person. Parking, boat trips, cafés, and accommodation are handled separately according to the on-site notice. Boat departures and Volcanic Island activities can change during the day, so confirm the return boat when you reach the pier.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Volcanic Island and lake geology
Volcanic Island preserves an ancient volcanic-crater site and columnar-jointed volcanic rock. Its black rock walls contrast with the surrounding blue water and green trees, making it Pipa Lake's most concentrated natural highlight. After landing, explore mainly on foot and take the boat back to the pier when finished.
Driving around the lake gives different views of the water and wooded slopes. It works well to combine short car stops, a boat ride from the pier, and a gentle island walk in one half-day visit. There is no cable car, so the visit uses a combination of driving, boating, and walking.
Lakeside rest and photography
Xin'anli Café (心安里咖啡馆) occupies a renovated old house, with windows and a terrace suited to lake views and a rest. The café and guesthouse require separate payment. The island's rock walls work well for photographs pairing black volcanic rock with the lake, while the shore is better for reflections and wooded views.
Build your day
2–3 hours: lake loop and island short route
Drive into the attraction and follow the lake road to the sightseeing pier. Take a boat to Huoshan Dao, make a short exploration of the crater site, columnar joints, and rock walls, then return to the pier by boat and leave the attraction.
This route keeps the time focused on the lake loop, the boat ride, and Volcanic Island rather than a long café stop. Boat departures and the return arrangement follow the pier's same-day information; drive out after returning to the pier.
4–5 hours: lakeside highlights route
After entering, stop first at Xin'anli Café (心安里咖啡馆) or the guesthouse, then drive to the pier and eat nearby. Take the boat to Huoshan Dao, walk through the geological sights, and return to the pier by boat.
After returning, drive another section of the lake loop for different views of the water and hills before leaving. Coffee, boat trips, food, and accommodation are charged separately, and the itinerary depends on the activities operating that day.
Get there
Driving and entrance
Driving from Wuhan takes about 2.5–3 hours. Search for “Pipa Lake Scenic Area.” There is no internal public transport, so the lake road, café, and sightseeing pier are connected by car.
Parking and movement on site
Follow the marked entrance and park according to the on-site directions. Temporary parking near the gate may be handled differently from parking inside the attraction. After entering, drive to the pier or the lakeside stop you plan to visit.
Know before you go
Boats and costs
The current online ticket is about CNY 20 per person; on-site prices and activity products may change. Vehicle entry, parking, boat trips, cafés, and guesthouses are separate items. Confirm the Volcanic Island boat schedule, lake activities, and parking arrangements on site, including the return boat and the final section of the lake loop.
The attraction is open 07:00–18:00 and has no cable-car facilities. The island experience depends on the boat and walking. Rain or changing wind conditions may affect boat trips, so whether boats are running follows the pier's same-day arrangement.
Lakeside rest and food nearby
Xin'anli Café (心安里咖啡馆) works for an afternoon drink or short rest, with the window seats and terrace part of the café's paid space. Hongshan Town's Dahong Mountain barbecue street is an option after leaving, and local products include kudzu powder, shiitake mushrooms, and black fungus.
If you continue to Dahong Mountain Scenic Area, plan its Jinding, Lingguanya, and Qiaohe Ancient Trail route separately. Journey to the West Rafting has its own reception area, shuttle, and launch process; if you visit it on the same day, leave Pipa Lake and navigate there separately.