Population and distribution of aquatic vegetation are the important factors affecting circulation and bed shear stress, especially important for the internal release caused by sediment re-suspension and algal growth in large shallow lake. In this paper, the influence of wind and different aquatic vegetation on circulation and bed shear stress in Lake Taihu, the third largest fresh lake in China, has been investigated by applying a three-dimensional numerical model, Environmental Fluid Dynamic Code(EFDC). The results showed that, the velocity and bed shear stress in the lake increased with the raise of wind magnitude. Vegetation can reduce the shear stress on the lake under different wind field conditions. Compared to none vegetation area, the bed shear stress in the area of submerged aquatic vegetation were reduced by 95%, 78%, 42%, 40% and 51% respectively, and the bed shear stress in the area of emergent vegetation were reduced by 80%, 78%, 68%, 56% and 61% respectively. Vegetation have a strong effect on the lake's circulation and bed shear stress in Lake Taihu.
