Is Tianmu Lake Landscape Garden Worth Visiting? Travel Guide to Tianmu Lake Landscape Garden

Tianmu Lake Landscape Garden was developed at an early stage, offering convenient catering, entertainment and accommodation services. It serves as the first and unmissable stop for all visitors to Tianmu Lake. Though formed from an artificial reservoir, it exudes natural poetic charm. It is an ideal destination for leisure trips and parent-child outings. The garden boasts clear, pure lake water embraced by rolling continuous mountains. Whether you stroll along the lakeshore gazing at mist-shrouded water and hills, or cruise across the emerald green lake by passenger ship, you will fully immerse yourself in the beauty of mountains and waters. The vast blue lake, the core soul of Tianmu Lake, creates an unrivaled poetic landscape unique to the Jiangnan region.

Within the garden, visitors can experience the distinctive local tea culture, ecological culture and top scholar culture.

Huli Mountain is an islet inside the Landscape Garden accessible only by boat. Poling a small boat here feels like wandering through a traditional Chinese painting. Scenery shifts as the boat glides forward, with light lake mist brushing your hair. In spring and autumn, Huli Mountain sheds mortal hustle and vanity, presenting an atmosphere of tranquility and detachment.

Named for its exhibition of top scholar culture, the Top Scholar Pavilion features reddish-brown window frames and is a classic imitation ancient Jiangnan architecture. The three-story octagonal pavilion rises above pine and bamboo groves. In the sunset glow, the poem by Ma Shijun, a top scholar from Liyang, perfectly captures the harmonious integration of the pavilion with green hills and clear waters: Smoke veils green peaks across Pingling; winding roads lead past the outer town toward mountains. Admiring the pavilion from afar reveals its elegant grace, while climbing it lets you perceive its ethereal spirit. Soft breezes ring bronze bells hanging under the pavilion eaves, as if faint ancient poetic recitations echo between mountains and waters.

It is said that large numbers of students climb the pavilion right before college entrance examinations, hoping to absorb the luck and literary talent of ancient top scholars.

Mountains gain elegance from water, and water gains tenderness from mountains. Shaped like a long maple leaf, Longxing Island rests on the lake, blending light and dark hues like an ink wash painting. Standing atop the island’s highest point for a panoramic view, you can grasp the essence of "primitive natural ecology and rustic wild charm" through the poetic scenery: Two steep cliffs stand face to face; a stream winds gently between them.

The water loops around stones time and again, green hills linger everywhere in sight.

Do not rush to chase designated scenic spots after arriving at Longxing Island. Wander along winding lanes lined with water lilies, watching colorful dragon fish dart in ponds. Listen to rippling streams play melodious tunes all along the path. Walk along cedar plank trails through dense woods, as if bathing in a natural forest oxygen bar. Nurture your body and mind deep in green woods, absorb the vital essence of plants, breathe in harmony with the forest, and let your soul return to nature and settle down. Slow your pace and calm your heart — this is the true meaning of visiting Tianmu Lake.

Traveler’s Tip: There is a wildlife park on Longxing Island home to various small animals. Watch for fluttering butterflies and squirrels darting through bushes; you need to look carefully to spot them.

The line I pick chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge; leisurely I view the Southern Hills instantly comes to mind in Pastoral Village, where authentic rural farmhouse life is vividly presented. If you travel with children, let them turn old stone mills and pedal water wheels to experience rustic rural scenes rarely seen in cities.

Hydrangea Island is an exquisite heart-lake islet fully covered in tea bushes. Nourished by lake water, the local specialty white tea releases a delicate lingering fragrance. The Tea Culture Boutique Garden on the island sells and offers tastings of various local tea products. With a good book and a cup of fragrant tea, you can unwind in complete ease whenever the mood strikes.

At the entrance of the Tea Culture Boutique Garden stands the "World’s Largest Teapot", a purple clay handled kettle certified by the Guinness World Records Shanghai Headquarters. It is an extremely popular photo spot for tourists.

Specially designed kid-friendly water facilities are provided in the water park to let children play safely.

High-speed boats, self-drive jet skis and towable water floats. Ever imagined speeding across the lake? The Tianmu Lake Water Recreation Center delivers adrenaline-fueled aquatic fun.

At Tianmu Lake Fishing Village, visitors can catch crayfish and feed small fish to test their angling skills. You can also fish for authentic bighead carp. Spend cool leisurely summer afternoons fishing and relaxing by the lake.

Opening Hours: 8:00 — 17:00 Scenic Spot Ticket Price: 65 RMB per person