Poyang Lake rewards patience. The best experiences here are measured in hours spent watching birds, mornings on the water in a small boat, and evenings when the light drops across the reed beds and the egrets come in to roost. The winter birdwatching season (November to March) is when the lake is at its most extraordinary; in summer the lake is full of water but the birds are mostly gone. The Battle of Poyang Lake site is accessible from the eastern shore for those interested in the medieval naval history.