Spanning across Suzhou City and Kunshan City, Yangcheng Lake is renowned for its autumn-harvested Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. Locals from Suzhou predominantly visit Lianhua Island on the north shore and Weiting Town on the south shore for crab feasts, while Shanghai residents often head to Bacheng in Kunshan City on the lake’s east shore. During the off-season for hairy crabs, visitors to Yangcheng Lake can enjoy lake views and pastoral scenery, and taste other lake delicacies. Starting from the sixth lunar month, the ‘June Yellow’ hairy crabs are available, known for their tender meat. In the ninth lunar month, it’s the time for female crabs, which are rich in crab roe. The tenth lunar month is ideal for male crabs with their sticky and flavorful crab paste. The ‘June Yellow’ should be enjoyed early, as vendors, seeing the price of these crabs rising from tens to hundreds of yuan as the ninth and tenth lunar months approach, may become reluctant to sell them. The price for a pair of male and female crabs with a table of farmhouse dishes in the ninth and tenth lunar months typically ranges from 120 to 150 yuan, depending on the weight of the crabs. On the northern shore of Yangcheng Lake, there are numerous crab farms on the ‘Beauty’s Leg’ peninsula, but tourists prefer Lianhua Island to the east. You can take a speedboat from the Lianhua Island Dock (South Dock) in Yangcheng Lake Town, or walk or take a sightseeing vehicle to the island from the Lianhua Dock (North Dock) in Lianhua Village. Private vehicles are not allowed on Lianhua Island. If you make arrangements with a crab farm on the island in advance, they will send a boat to pick you up for free, whether at the South Dock or the North Dock. The local dishes offered at the crab farms, such as chicken soup, pumpkin porridge, braised pork, candied carp, and hairy crabs, are equally delicious. Crab farms on Lianhua Island usually operate only when hairy crabs are in season; otherwise, visitors can enjoy the scenery, including small attractions like the Yiyuan Museum and windmill arrays. In March and April, rapeseed flowers can be admired, while summer offers the beauty of lotus flowers and sunflowers. The island’s country lanes are lined with melons and fruits, and free-roaming chickens, ducks, and geese stroll along the paths. Purchasing local green products such as sweet sugarcane and pumpkins to take home is also a good option, as they are reasonably priced. On the south shore, Weiting Town offers a circular sightseeing route, with the shallow bay commercial street on the east side filled with shops selling hairy crabs. The street leads to Chongyuan Temple, and opposite the temple, the Lianchi Lake Park features wooden plank roads and excellent greenery. Following the Yangcheng Lake Ring Road and Shui Ze Road southwestward leads to the Putian Ecological Agricultural Park, where different fruits can be picked in spring, summer, and autumn. In Bacheng, along Bajie Road and Dayu Road in front of the Yangcheng Lake Water Park, crab farms are concentrated. Bacheng is known for the ‘Three Treasures of Yangcheng Lake,’ and besides the hairy crabs, it’s worth trying the other two treasures—shrimp and mandarin fish. After a satisfying meal, visitors can stroll through the free Yangcheng Lake Water Park or take a walk down the old streets of Bacheng, which feature white walls and black tiles typical of water town architecture. Whether in Lianhua Island, Weiting Town, or Bacheng, local boat owners can be hired for lake tours, with the sunset scenery on the lake being particularly beautiful.
Cycling around Yangcheng Lake is a worthwhile activity. Bicycle rental stations are available at the Lotus Island Yiyuan, hotels in Wei Ting Town, and the main entrance of the Bacheng Yangcheng Lake Water Park. Staying by the Yangcheng Lake and fishing daily is a very pleasant experience. Accommodation on Lotus Island is primarily agritourism-based, while Wei Ting Town and Bacheng offer both hotels and economical inns. The lake is open all year round, 24 hours a day. Essential tips: 1. Avoid eating hairy crabs with strong tea or persimmons, as it may cause stomach pain or even lead to the formation of stones. 2. Authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have a green back, white belly, yellow hairs, and golden claws. Some crab farms may pass off ‘bathing crabs’ as authentic, which are only soaked in Yangcheng Lake water and not native to the area. It is generally difficult for tourists to distinguish between the two. 3. Changshu Sha Jia Bang is about 7 kilometers away from Yangcheng Lake and, due to its connected water system, is also considered a place to eat Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. However, it is less well-known, making a trip to Sha Jia Bang for crabs an alternative route.
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