Yuehai Park (Yuehai Lake)

Yuehai Park, centred on Yuehai Lake, is a large urban park and wetland in the Yuehai Bay business district of Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, in Ningxia, China. Reeds, water channels, wooden boardwalks, tree-lined paths and open lawns surround a broad lake, and the park is part of Yinchuan's reputation as a city of lakes and wetlands on the Yellow River plain. Visitors find walking and cycling paths, small bridges, pavilions and lakeside viewing platforms, along with paddle boats and electric carts that charge a modest fee, typically between about 50 and 100 yuan. Birdwatchers can spot waterbirds in the reeds, especially in spring and autumn, and the park is a pleasant place to see how modern Yinchuan blends water, landscaping and high-rise buildings. A relaxed visit lasts 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on whether the boats are used. Entry is free and the park stays open into the evening. Sunset is the best time for photographs, when the lake reflects the sky and the skyline lights up beyond the reeds; the boardwalks and bridges make good foreground angles. Mornings attract older residents doing exercise, while evenings and weekends bring families, joggers and photographers. Summer midday heat and mosquitoes near the reeds can be an issue, so repellent and a hat help. In winter the lake may partly freeze and the park is quiet and cold. The park is about 20 minutes by taxi from Gulou and sits close to Lanshan Park, so the two are easy to combine with a meal in the nearby business district.