China has many famous lakes, but no other city boasts one the size of East Lake Wuhan is known as the City of Lakes. East Lake, the most famous and scenic body of water in Wuhan, is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Six times larger than Hangzhou's West Lake, East Lake covers a total water area of 33 sq km, making it the largest urban lake in China. The lake has numerous pavilions, halls and museums surrounding it, including the excellent Hubei Provincial Museum, and Wuhan University, one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher education. There are also places along the lake to sunbathe, swim and fish. There are 372 plant species and 80 types of birds and fish that inhabit the area. Wuhan University, adjoining the lake, is a great place to view cherry blossoms every year beginning in March. Some 5,000 birds of 150 species make their home in a huge cage in the Forest of Birds. The East Lake Arboretum has peach, pear, orange and apricot trees as well as cedars, metasequoia, pond cypresses, camphor trees, plum blossoms, azaleas, bamboo and lotus plants. East Lake Marine World has a 100m-long ?submarine tunnel? where one can observe all types of marine life. Marine performances are held every 30 minutes from 10 am until 4:30 pm. Mei Ling, a sprawling -estate that overlooks East Lake, was a favourite spot of Chairman Mao Zedong, who was a frequent visitor to Wuhan in the 1950s and 1960s. Mao called this a place of 'White Cloud and Yellow Crane.' The house still holds some of Mao's old furniture, and the huge swimming pool in which he swam is still here. This is also where he composed his famous poem titled 'Swimming.' The pleasant estate also has well-manicured green areas for walking. Part of the complex is open to the public. A low causeway leads to Moshan, which is surrounded by water on three sides. The mountain, which has six peaks, offers views of the lake and the surrounding city. One of the most beautiful flowers to be found here is the plum blossom, which can be seen at Moshan. This is the home of the Chinese Plum Blossom Research Centre and Plum Blossom Planting Base, which covers an area of 500 mu with 200 species of plum blossom. NO DISNEYLAND Hua Mulan?s alleged birthplace had 1,000 years of fame behind it before the animated cartoon came along Mulan Moutain is said to be the former home of Hua Mulan, made famous in the West as a result of the Disney cartoon Mulan. The young woman is famous for disguising herself as a man and joining the army in place of her aging father, later distinguishing herself on the battle field. Travel materials say that a temple has been erected here to her memory and that this is also the site of her tomb. However, some history books claim that Hua Mulan was just a legendary figure. The mountain, which borders Mulan Lake, is just 58km from Wuhan. The mountain is also one of the rare places in China where Buddhists and Taoists coexisted for a long period in Chinese history. Mulan Mountain has a 1,000-year history as a religious site, and 36 temples were built here during the Tang Dynasty, alongside paths, on hills and some even seemingly suspended in air. Jade Emperor Pavilion is the highest peak on Mulan Mountain. Mulan Lake has hotels and camping areas for visitors who wish to stay overnight in the area. There are also a variety of activities for children and adults, including boating, lawn sledding, and many scenic areas for walking and hiking.