Ezhou travel guide

Ezhou, China

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Ezhou

Introduction

Ezhou, also known as O-chou, is a prefecture-level city in eastern Hubei Province, China. The city's core is Echeng District, and together with Huangzhou District in neighbouring Huanggang it forms a built-up area that spans the two cities.

Getting around

Ezhou has no metro or tram system, so getting around means buses, taxis, ride-hailing and your own two feet. The city bus network, run by Ezhou Public Transport Company, is the main way to move between districts and neighbourhoods, with services extended to link urban and rural areas. Pay your fare on board with exact change, a transit card or a mobile payment app, and expect services to wind down in the evening. Because Ezhou is spread across several districts and dotted with lakes, check your route before setting off — a bus that looks direct on a map may take a roundabout path around the water.

Taxis are readily available and are the simplest choice for short trips, for reaching the railway station with luggage, or where no convenient bus runs; ride-hailing apps work here too and give you a fixed price before you set off. Have your destination written in Chinese characters to show the driver, since English is not widely used. The centre is compact enough to explore on foot, with West Hill in the middle of the city and Lotus Hill nearby, but the lakeside areas — Liangzi Lake, Yanglan Lake and Honglian Lake — are spread across the wider city, so take a bus or taxi to reach them. Ezhou Huahu International Airport lies outside the compact downtown, and onward travel into the city is by road or by connecting to the rail network at Ezhou's stations, so confirm your option before you land.

Three days in Ezhou

Day one: Base yourself in Echeng District, the older part of Ezhou, and get your bearings on foot. Because Ezhou sits in Hubei Province, the summers are warm and humid and the winters can be bitterly cold, so plan your walking around the milder hours. The Ezhou Public Transport Company runs the local buses, and taxis are also easy to find; pay in Chinese yuan, and have your destination written in Chinese, as English is not widely spoken. In the afternoon, head for West Hill, a green rise that gives you a wide view over the city and a sense of how the districts fit together.

Day two: Turn your attention to the water. Lotus Hill is the place to start, then move on to Honglian Lake and Yanglan Lake, both of which reward a slow half-day of strolling and watching the light change. If you have the time and the transport, Liangzi Lake is the larger excursion and makes a full day of it. Keep the pace easy and let the heat or the cold dictate when you stop.

Day three: Cross into Huangzhou District to see a different side of the city, and use the day to fill any gaps you left. If you are flying out, Ezhou Huahu International Airport is your departure point, so allow time to get there by taxi or bus. If you are continuing in Hubei Province, Huanggang is within reach and makes a natural next stop.

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