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West Lake
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- Updated:
- Oct 28, 2009;
- by:
- China Highlights;
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The most famous attraction in Hangzhou is West Lake (Xi Hu /sshee hoo/). West Lake is man-made and created after the Chinese love for garden style parks for recreation.
It was originally the center of the city, but now the Qiantang River is becoming the central feature as the south bank is developed in similar fashion to Shanghai’s Pudong District. West Lake is a place of tranquility where urbanity becomes a silhouette on the northeast horizon and mountains near and far surround it on the other three sides. The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridge add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, verdant islands and hills.
Hangzhou’s West Lake Scenic Area, in the southwest of the city, covers 60 square kilometers (23 square miles), of which West Lake itself occupies 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles).
The lake has a diameter of about 3 kilometers (2 miles) and a circumference of 15 kilometers (9 miles). There are three causeways or bridges across the lake and three man-made islands named San Tang Yin Yue (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon), Huxin Ting (Mid-Lake Pavilion) and Ruan Dunhuanbi (Ruan’s Mound, after the Governor of Zhejiang in 1800, Ruan Yuan). There are "Ten West Lake Views" which are said to capture the beauty of West Lake.
The Ten Best Views of West Lake
1. Spring Dawn at Su Causeway
Spring Dawn at Su Causeway tops the list of the ten best known sights in Hangzhou. The causeway was built during the Northern Song Dynasty by Su Dongpo (1037-1101), a great scholar and famous poet, and was named after him. Stretching 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles), it includes six bridges and is heavily sheltered by green vegetation. When spring comes, the whole causeway is blanketed by peach blossoms and weeping willows, creating an especially charming scene.
2. Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard
3. Autumn Moon on Calm Lake
This scene is seen from the western end of Bai Causeway. The teahouse with its cement terrace bounded on three sides by water, became one of the traditional places to view West Lake, especially on Mid-Autumn night when the moon is full and bright, so it was named as "Autumn Moon on Calm Lake". This scenic spot covers an area of 6000 square meters (7176 square yards). Various garden plants and flowers intermingle with pavilions and platforms.
4. Melting Snow on the Broken Bridge
5. Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows
6. Viewing Fish in the Flowering Harbor
This spot is located at the southern end of Su Causeway. A clean stream flows from Huajia Hill to join West Lake here, and many flowers grow where the fresh water flows in, so it called "Flowery Harbor". This area now has been made into a 22 hectare (54 acre) park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.
7. Leifeng Pagoda Standing on the Broken Bridge
The stone arched bridge is at the eastern end of the Bai Causeway. The legendary tale of Lady White Snake took place here. After a snowfall, the snow on the sunny side melts first, while snow on the shaded side still lingers. Looking from afar, the bridge appears to be broken, thus the name.
8. Twin Peaks Soaring through the Clouds
9. Evening Bell at Nanping Mountain
10. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Three miniature stone pagodas, which act like beacons, built over 800 years ago and 2 meters in height, are the centerpiece of the scenic spot called "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon". To the west of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Island stand rounded hollow stone pagodas with five round holes like windows around the top and bottom levels. On the night of the Mid-Autumn festival, when the moon shines full and bright in the sky, a candle is lit inside each of the pagodas. The light from the holes and the moon cast their reflections on the water, hence the name.
The Best Views of the West Lake
- The Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway
The Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway tops the list of the ten best known sights in Hangzhou. The causeway was built during the Northern Song Dynasty by Su Dongpo, a great scholar in ancient time. Stretching around 2.8 kilometers long, it is spanned by six bridges and heavily sheltered by green vegetation. When spring comes, the whole causeway is blanketed by peach blossoms and weeping willows, creating an especially charming scene.
- Orioles Singing in Ripples of Willows
- Leifeng Pagoda Standing in the Broken Bridge
The stone arched bridge is at the eastern end of the Bai Causeway. The legendary tale of "Lady White Snake" took place here. After a snowfall, the snow on the sunny side melts first while snow on the shaded side still lingers. Looked from afar, the bridge appears to be broken, thus the name. This is a popular stop for many tourists.
- Night Bell Rolling Along the Southern Bank
- Viewing Fish in the Flowering Harbor
This spot is located at the southern end of the Su Causeway. A clean stream leads from Huajia Hill to the West Lake through here, so it named as "Flowery Harbor" Viewing Fish at Flowery Harbor, now has been made into a 22 hectares park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.
- Lotus in the Breeze at the Winery Yard
- The Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake
It locates on western end of Bai Causeway. This teahouse with its cement terrace bounded on three sides by water, become one of the traditional places to view the West Lake, especially on the mid-Autumn night when the moon is full and bright, so it named as "Autumn Moon on Calm Lake". The scenic spot covers an area of 6000m2. Various garden plants and flowers intermingle pavilions and platforms.
- Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
The three stone pagodas, first built over 800 years ago,2 meters in height, are the main scenic spot calling "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon". To the west of the isle stand three ball-shaped hollow stone pagodas with five round holes around. At the night of the Mid-Autumn festival, when the moon shines full and bright in the sky, a candle is lit inside each of the pagoda, the light and the moon cast their reflections through the holes on the water, hence the name.
Address: Within the West Lake.
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See Also
- Zhexi Grand Canyon
- Qinghefang Pedestrian Street
- Ancient Village Wuzhen
- Song Dynasty Town
- Six Harmonies Pagoda
