Tasting the Oriental Chicago on the East Lake Greenway

By Bo Ning

Wuhan is the largest international metropolitan city along the Yangtze River in central China. It is also known as the “City of Lakes” and the “Oriental Chicago.”Like a piece of fine jade, the East Lake is one of the most beautiful among all lakes. Covering an area of 33 square kilometers, it is one of China’s largest incity lakes.

Throughout Wuhan’s history, the city and the lake have nourished and complemented each other. If we talk about the “Oriental Chicago,” the first topic we need to pick up is the East Lake. Looking west from the east side of the lake, skyscrapers rise above the lush maple trees and cast a reflection on the crystal clear water. The beauty of the scenery resembles Chicago against the backdrop of Lake Michigan.

The East Lake has become a place where busy urban dwellers come to seek peace and leisure. Now with the greenway open for use, they have one more way to enjoy the nourishment of nature.

A Green Heart of Legendary Origins

Legends have been passed down through the generations about the East Lake. One is about the dragon prince who lived in the East China Sea. He had a beautiful piece of jade—huge and fine. The prince loved it so much that he never separated with it. He adorned it with colorful ribbons and braids.One day, the jade accidentally fell to the human’s world and turned into a lake—its ribbons becoming rivers and braids bays. The prince descended immediately to take it back but it was too late. In desperation, the prince turned into a mountain to accompany the jade. The lake the jade turned into is the East Lake, and the mountain the prince turned into is Moshan Mountain. That’s why Moshan Mountain is also known as Dragon Head Mountain.

In recent years, the Wuhan Municipal Government decided to make the East Lake the ecological green heart of the city, and build a greenway along the perimeter of the East Lake within three years in three different phases, which will become the “veins” to the “green heart.” The project is undoubtedly world-class. The total length of the greenway is about 124 km, of which 82 km is the main path and 42 km side tracks. The first two phases of project have been finished, with 101 km completed and open to the public. Secondly,the greenway connects all the scenic spots so that visitors can exercise while surrounded by beautiful views. The East Lake Greenway is the longest path surrounding a city-center lake in China.

武汉，也叫江城，中国中部长江边最大的国际化大都市，素有“百湖之城”、“东方芝加哥”之称。东湖是百湖之中一块美玉，也是中国最大的城中湖之一，水域面积达33平方公里。

古往今来，城湖相养，相得益彰。说“东方芝加哥”之美誉，还得说东湖之滨的美。从湖东往西看，林立的高楼从葱绿的枫树中耸起，倒映在清澈的水面，是景更似画，仿佛密歇根湖映衬下的芝加哥。

徜徉在东湖湖光山色之间已是城市人躲避喧嚣的休闲绝佳选择，而今匠心独运的绿道开发，更使人们从闲庭信步中尽享大自然的给养。

美玉下凡化绿心

关于东湖的由来，民间有着种种传说，其中之一这样说道：东海龙太子有美玉一枚，硕大晶莹。太子对其爱不释手，缀以彩带，饰以美穗，终日佩戴，不离其身。一日，美玉不慎跌落人间，就地化为湖泊，彩带化作江河，美穗变成湖湾、港汊。太子紧随下凡，想衔回美玉，奈何为时已晚。无奈之下，太子化为山峦，时时与美玉相伴。美玉所化，乃今日之东湖，而龙头便是如今的磨山，故磨山亦有龙头山之称。

近年，武汉市提出将东湖建成“生态绿心”，并沿东湖各湖打造绿道工程，分三期建设，三年内建成，给这颗绿心装上了“律动的脉搏”。这条绿道无疑是世界级的，首先是她规划总长约124公里，其中绿道主线82公里，绿道次线42公里。一二期101公里已建成并对外开放。其次，她串联多处景点，让游客健身观景两不误。据了解，东湖绿道已成为中国国内最长城市核心区环湖绿道。……