| Yueyang was called Baling, though it was
also known as Yuezhou in ancient times. It is located at the juncture
of the Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River in northern Hunan. As a famous
historical and cultural city and a major tourism area, Yueyang has beautiful
scenery and lots of places of interest. Of over 20 scenic spots, the
most famous ones are the Yueyang Pavilion, the Junshan Mountain, the
Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan and the Tuanhu Lake.
Yueyang Pavilion
Towering above the west gate of Yueyang City, it is one of the three
famous pavilions in South China. Built in the fourth year of the Kaiyuan
Reign in the Tang Dynasty (716), it became more famous after Fan Zhongyan's
"On Yueyang Pavilion" was written and spread out. Fan is a
wellknown writer of the Song Dynasty.
Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan
It was built in memory of Qu Yuan, a great
patriotic poet in ancient China. Feeling disappointed with saving the
country, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The temple is on the
Yusishan Mountain in Miluo of Yueyang. The building, made from wood
and brick, is one story high with single eaves. Poetry and proses grieving
the death of Qu Yuan are inscribed on the four stone walls. In the front
hall is a huge wooden board inscribed with The Biography of Qu Yuan
by Sima Qian.
Tuanhu Lake
The lake, also known as Lotus Lake, isabout20kmaway from Yueyang Proper
and covers an area of 200 hectares. In summer and autumn, the blossoms
of the lotus appear among the green leaves creating a beautiful sight
and making visitors not want to leave.
|