Plan at a glance
Choose a section before planning transport
East Lake Scenic Area (东湖生态旅游风景区) is very large, so choose among Tingtao, Moshan, and Luoyan as separate areas. Enter Tingtao through Liyuan Gate, use Moshan South Gate for the cableway and slide, and use Luoyan North Gate for the Jiuqu Bridge area.
Most public areas are currently free, while paid sections and activities use separate tickets. Choose Tingtao for a lakeside walk. Chutian Terrace and Jiuqu Bridge require a transfer plan involving Moshan and Luoyan rather than one continuous walk.
Tickets and opening hours
Luoyan currently costs CNY 13. Moshan itself is mainly free; the one-way cableway and East Lake Eye Ferris wheel each currently cost CNY 30. The East Lake Greenway sightseeing car currently costs CNY 40 per person for a combination ticket, normally operates 09:00–17:00, has last service around 16:30, and usually stops selling combination tickets after 15:30. Confirm coverage, transfer method, and usable routes at the ticket point or on the “You Donghu” page.
The East Lake Greenway is currently open all day, but Luoyan, Chutian Terrace, wharves, and amusement facilities keep their own hours. Luoyan normally operates 08:00–19:00 and Chutian Terrace 09:00–17:00. Confirm prices, hours, and ticket rules for the day before setting out.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Tingtao, Moshan, and Luoyan
Tingtao suits a slow lakeside walk and includes Xingyin Pavilion, Changtian Tower, and Bitan Guanyu. Moshan works for climbing to Chutian Terrace and, when open, the cableway or East Lake Eye. Luoyan's Jiuqu Bridge, waters lined with dawn redwoods, and Dieshi Guantao are suited to water views and sunset.
Each area has its own entrance and pace. Tingtao focuses on walking and Chu-style architecture, Moshan on elevation and amusement facilities, and Luoyan on bridges, woods, water, and sunset. On a first visit, choose one area before deciding whether to extend the day by sightseeing car or boat.
Photos, cycling, and the water's edge
Xingyin Pavilion works for Chu-style buildings and lake views, Chutian Terrace for a high view over East Lake and the city skyline, and Luoyan's Jiuqu Bridge for metasequoias and mist effects. Lingbo Gate has a lakeside boardwalk extending over the water and sunrise and sunset viewpoints, but the water's edge depends on water level, weather, and on-site management.
The East Lake Greenway is suitable for cycling. You may find shared bicycles or rental bikes near Liyuan Square. A full-day route can start at Liyuan, continue to Huxin Island and Moshan, and finish near Lingbo Gate at sunset. Distances between sections are long, so set the pace accordingly.
Build your day
Tingtao short route: about 2–3 hours
Enter Tingtao through Liyuan Gate and follow the lakeside path to Xingyin Pavilion and Bitan Guanyu. Return along the lake or leave through a nearby exit. This route stays within the Tingtao section and suits a short lakeside visit.
The Tingtao short route does not include Moshan or Luoyan. If you also plan Hubei Provincial Museum or Hubei Museum of Art, visit the museum first and begin the lakeside route afterward. Count museum exit time, street crossings, and transfers between East Lake sections separately.
Combined sections: about 4–5 hours
Enter through Liyuan Gate and begin in Tingtao. Buy the sightseeing-car combination ticket at stops such as “Huguang Xuqu (湖光序曲),” ride to Moshan for Chutian Terrace, then transfer to Luoyan and walk toward Jiuqu Bridge. Leave through Luoyan North Gate.
The East Lake Greenway sightseeing car normally operates 09:00–17:00, with last service around 16:30; combination tickets are usually no longer sold after 15:30. Confirm coverage, transfers, and usable routes at the ticket point or on the “You Donghu” page. If Chutian Terrace, Jiuqu Bridge, or Luoyan North Gate is closed, shorten the route within the open section.
Greenway cycling: a full-day plan
Start at Liyuan and cycle along the East Lake Greenway. You can include Huxin Island and Moshan, then continue toward Lingbo Gate for sunset. This route suits visitors who want lakeshore, wooded areas, and an elevated viewpoint in one day, but it does not require visiting every section.
Moshan includes uphill sections. In summer, use sun protection, insect repellent, and water near the lake and in wooded areas. If heat, rain, or a change in water level affects Lingbo Gate's waterside area, finish at Tingtao or another open lakeshore. Keep Wuhan University's visitor entrances separate from this route.
Get there
Metro and section entrances
Take Line 8 to Liyuan Station (梨园站), Exit C, and walk to Liyuan Gate, the most direct public-transport approach to Tingtao. For Moshan, navigate directly to Moshan Scenic Area South Gate; for Luoyan, use Luoyan Scenic Area North Gate. Keep the three targets separate.
Sightseeing cars, bicycles, and Chufeng Garden Wharf boats can connect some sections. Buy the sightseeing-car combination ticket at stops such as “Huguang Xuqu (湖光序曲).” Boat routes and wharf access follow the day's arrangements, and long transfers need their own time allowance.
Driving and parking
Liyuan, Moshan, and other sections have separate parking targets, but spaces are tight on weekends and public holidays and arrangements vary by time. Confirm the target section and car park before driving. Public transport plus a sightseeing car is usually more practical for several sections in one day.
Roads, the Greenway, and waterside areas have different management boundaries. Cycle according to the signs. Check access and temporary diversions before going to Lingbo Gate, Chufeng Garden Wharf, or another section entrance.
Know before you go
Paid activities and temporary closures
Most public areas are free, but Luoyan, the cableway, Ferris wheel, sightseeing car, and boat may each charge separately. Moshan's slide and other activities may close for maintenance, while Luoyan's mist effects, operating attractions, and viewpoints may also change.
The East Lake Greenway sightseeing car currently costs CNY 40 per person for a combination ticket, normally operates 09:00–17:00, has last service around 16:30, and usually stops selling combination tickets after 15:30. Confirm coverage, transfers, and usable routes at the ticket point or on the “You Donghu” page; handle other activities according to their on-site price and opening status.
Weather, effort, and Lingbo Gate
Moshan routes include climbing, and the lake and wooded sections need sun protection, insect repellent, and comfortable shoes in summer. Rain, strong wind, heat, and water-level changes can affect boats, waterside areas, and photography. Whether Lingbo Gate is suitable for a stop follows on-site management.
Lingbo Gate is near Wuhan University, but the East Lake waterside area and Wuhan University's visitor entrances are managed separately. Enter Lingbo Gate from the East Lake side of the road for sunset. Confirm the school's opening status and visitor entrance separately through the day's university notice.
Nearby combinations
Tingtao can share a day with Hubei Provincial Museum and Hubei Museum of Art. Moshan or Luoyan is better treated as a half-day stop. If only two hours remain, the Tingtao short route is more practical than transferring between sections.
Food inside and outside the scenic area depends on what is open that day. Carry water and a small snack for cycling or a multi-section route. When parking is under pressure, return by public transport instead of searching for another car park between sections.