Yellow Crane Tower Park perches on Snake Mountain, Wuchang District. It adjoins Wuhan Yangtze River Bridgehead on the west, Beijing-Guangzhou Railway on the north, and Wuluo Road/Yangtze River Approach Bridge on the south. Across the river from Snake Mountain stands Turtle Mountain. Both mountains are connected via the magnificent Yangtze River Bridge. The park falls into two parts: free-charge section in the East (Gate at the eastern tip) and charged section in the West. As a whole, the Snake Mountain spans 40.3 hectare, including 35.6 hectare plantation (88.34% green area).

      Since Eastern Wu established the City of Wuchang, Snake Mountain has been a political and economical hive. The mountain ever witnessed cultural-historical vicissitudes, in particular Westernization Movement, Sino-Japanese War and the birth of New China. Up to now, there are still many modern relics scattered around the mountain. The unique location and local history made this mountain dodge the manmade change in urbanization. So, the indigenous plant community, especially modern forests, has been well-preserved. As the Yangtze River Bridge got into reconstruction, the tower was relocated from the original site to a new site; lots of ancient trees survive the modern reconstruction and expansion; a plane tree planted by Zhang Zhidong before Ice-Embracing Hall upon being brought from abroad by and those seedlings around the hall have grown into giant trees. Now the whole mountain has 41 ancient or famous trees (1 at Class A, 40 at Class B).

      Our investigation indicates the mountain’s flora: First, 18.3 hectare western section: 13.4 hectare (74%) green area and 1,200 m2 water surface. The main flora spans 101 genera of 78 families under 108 species: 17 evergreen trees, 42 deciduous trees, 53 shrubs, 9 vines, 10 hedge plants, 15 hydrophytes and phreatophytes, over 60 cover plants and floral plants. Second, 22 hectare eastern section: 20.15 hectare (91.6%) green area. The main flora contains 70 genera of 56 families under 84 species: 10 evergreen trees, 33 deciduous trees and 32 shrubs.

      Elegant Gardens: First, Goose Pond, Poem Stele Veranda, Mume-Falling Pavilion: This is a southern-style courtyard garden composed of hills, streams, verandas, pavilions and lofts, in which you can take in poems, lyrics, inscriptions, songs, dances and dramas of many past luminaries. Myriad-Pine Garden, Mume Garden and Azalea Garden: The three gardens are linked with each other north of the mountain in the western section. These natural getaways sandwiched between the Main Tower and Yuefei Square are home to myriad pines, mume blossoms and azaleas. In particular, Mume Garden and Mume-Falling Pavilion at the core are both inspired by Li Bai’s famous lines, “From Yellow Crane Tower a jade flute is heard; the tune imbues this riverside city with falling mume petals.” Obviously, Wuhan’s sobriquet “River City” was originated from these lines.

      Crapemyrtle Yard: This is a newly-built yard devoted to crepe mrytle--the park flower. So, no wonder a great variety of such flowers run riot in this nook. Among them, the highlights areno doubt Lagerstroemia indica, Lagerstroemia indica var alba, Lagerstroemia indica var. amabilis and Lagerstroemia indica vat. rubra along with their subspecies. You can savour various gardening arts like pot landscape, stump gardening, stacked shrub landscape, fencing, screens, character forming, splicing, coplanting, multiflower grafting and Lagerstroemia indica cv. Petite Pinkie.