Yueyang Tower stands on a promontory above the northwestern shore of Dongting Lake, a three-storey timber structure with yellow glazed tiles and upswept eaves presenting the classic Song-dynasty silhouette reproduced on countless Chinese postcards. The current tower dates from a Qing-dynasty reconstruction but follows the Song dimensions and layout precisely; fourteen successive towers have occupied this site since the 3rd century AD. Admission is ¥70.
The tower's cultural significance exceeds its architectural scale. Fan Zhongyan's 1046 essay made it a philosophical landmark; the phrase "first to bear the world's sorrows, last to enjoy its pleasures" became a definition of Confucian officialdom at its best, quoted by statesmen and reformers across the subsequent millennium. The view from the upper platform takes in the entire northern reach of Dongting Lake, with Junshan Island visible as a green low shape about 15 kilometres to the southwest. Below the tower, a waterfront promenade connects to the pier for Junshan Island boats.