Zhanggong Mountain is the green heart of Bengbu, a forested hill rising between Zhanggong Lake to the west and Longzihu Lake to the east. The summit is easily reached in twenty minutes and carries a white pagoda visible from much of the city — the panoramic view from the top, taking in both lakes and the Huaihe River beyond, is the best introduction to Bengbu's geography.
The lakeside promenades are popular with residents in the early morning and evening: elderly couples walking, retirees practicing tai chi on the stone plazas, children feeding carp in the shallows. Boats are available for hire on Zhanggong Lake, and the surrounding park has a pleasant network of paths through woodland that becomes particularly agreeable in autumn when the maples turn.