In spring, willows sprout, birds sing, and flowers bloom, making East Lake particularly beautiful.

East Lake Tingtao Scenic Area is located on the northwest bank of East Lake and is the earliest developed and opened scenic area in the East Lake Scenic Area. The main scenic spots include Xingyin Pavilion, Changtian Tower, the Nine Women Mound Monument, Huguang Pavilion, Fable Sculpture Park, and Bitang Fish Viewing Pond. East Lake is the largest Chu Culture tourist center, rich in Chu customs and exquisite Chu charm. Xingyin Pavilion is renowned, the Lisao Stele is known as one of the "Three Wonders," Chutian Terrace is magnificent, Chucai Garden is a gathering place for celebrities, and the Chu Market, Qu Yuan Statue, and Qu Yuan Memorial Hall are rich in meaning and widely acclaimed. East Lake is surrounded by 26 universities, including Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and China University of Geosciences, as well as 56 national, provincial, and ministerial research institutes, including the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is also home to the East Lake High-tech Development Zone, the National Optoelectronic Industry Base—China Optics Valley, the Jiufeng Urban Forest Reserve, the Hubei Provincial Museum, and the Hubei Provincial Art Museum, all contributing to a profound cultural heritage. Located by the lake and against the mountains, East Lake Plum Garden is the first of the four major plum gardens in the south of the Yangtze River. More than 309 varieties of plum blossoms compete for beauty on the 1,200-acre garden. Of the 262 registered plum blossom varieties worldwide, East Lake Plum Garden boasts 152, making it the home of the China Plum Blossom Research Center. Address: No. 1 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Transportation: Take Exit A from Hubei Daily Station on Metro Line 8 to easily reach East Lake Tingtao Scenic Area. Open year-round. Free admission.