Donghu (东湖区) is the traditional heart of Nanchang — the district that contains Bayi Square, the August 1st Uprising Memorial Museum, the central shopping streets, and the old colonial-era architecture around the former concession zones. The Shengjin Tower pagoda rises above the eastern lake that gives the district its name. Walking through Donghu means moving between layers of the city's history: Republican-era streetscapes, Cultural Revolution monuments, and contemporary commercial development in close proximity.
The district is the easiest base for visitors. Hotels of all types cluster here, the metro has several stops, and most of the major sights are within walking distance of each other. The Pedestrian Street (步行街) runs through the heart of the commercial zone and is busiest on weekend evenings.