West Lake

Hangzhou West Lake, the fascinating fairyland, used to be described as a charming Oriental beauty by Su dongpo. Standing on the same glaring level, West Lake and Lake Geneva are usually compared to be a wonderful pair of bright pearl lightening each other in the east and the west of the world. For the existence of West Lake, Hangzhou leaps to be the most beautiful and relaxing city.

Located in the west of Hangzhou city, West Lake is surrounded by mountains on its three sides. It's 3.3 km from north to south and 2.8 km ranging from east to west. The lake covers a water area of 5.66 square kilometers, with a lake-shore perimeter of 15 square kilometers. Su Causeway and Bai Causeway divide the big lake into five parts: Internal Lake, Outside Lake, Yue Lake, Xili Lake and Small South Lake.

There is everywhere attractions in West Lake Zone: except for the historical Qiantang Ten Scenes and West Lake Eighteen Scenes, the most famous attractions are West Lake Ten Scenes and New West Lake Ten Scenes. Centered with West Lake, the scenic landscape of 60 square kilometers is distributed with over 40 resort places and more than 30 important historical relics. Generally speaking, West Lake Scenery mainly includes one lake, two peaks, three fountains, four temples, five mountains, six parks, seven cavities, eight tombs, nine little creeks and ten scenes. Hangzhou West Lake was confirmed to be a National Scenic Area in 1982 and was gloriously rated one of Ten Top China Scenic Areas in 1985.

The ten best known scenic spots in West Lake Scenery are Dawn on the Su Causeway in spring,
 

Orioles singing in the Willows, Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond, Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in summer, Moon over the Peaceful Lake in autumn, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill, in the Sunset and Remnant Snow on the Bridge in winter:

Su Causeway, named for its establishment by Sudongpo, is the channel to cross through the north and south scenes in West Lake. There are green willows stirring on the long Su Causeway. It is charming, namby-pamby in sunny days and quickly changeable in foggy-windy days. As the top of ten best known scenic spots in West Lake Scenery, Su Causeway in spring is most charming in early spring. In this season, it shows a splendiferous landscape for visitors: the West Lake looks like a partially awakened beauty—extremely lovely and charming.

Scene of Orioles Singing in the Willows was originally the park of the King in Southern Song Dynasty. There are lines of willows with orioles singing and shuttling. The situation of enjoying songs but without seeing the orioles leads people into a poetic imagery.

Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in summer will show visitors an unimaginable view of lotus blooming in summer. Those coquettish lotuses will undoubtfully bring people a very enjoyable environment. And Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond can leads visitors into a scene full of poetic and artistic conception that flowers covers fish and fish play through flowers.

Both Moon over the Peaceful Lake in autumn and Remnant Snow on the Bridge in winter locates on the Bai Causeway. Three sides of Moon over the Peaceful Lake in autumn face water and there's a flat roof over the water. During the mid-autumn night, the lake surface seems a pure mirror with everything shining in it. Remnant Snow on the Bridge in winter closely related with Folklore White Snake, positions on the east edge of Bai Causeway.

Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, locating at the south of Mid-Lake Pavilion, is a victory view of blending the island with the lake. This scene got its name from the situation that: in the moon night, the moon shadow can be separated into three parts in the lake.

Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill originated from the bell in the Jingci Temple. Especially in the evening, the resonant and distant from the temple can be heard kilometers away. Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset was named owing to the break down of Leifeng Pagoda.

Scene of Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds took its name from the view of two peaks standing from the misty clouds.

Landscapes in Hangzhou West Lake vary throughout the year. With its unique charms, West Lake possesses the female beauty of Orient, especially in the early spring; it seems a partially awakened beauty, charming and graceful. The West Lake is also beautiful in winter: bloomy plum blossoms make the West Lake like an enthusiastic and vigorous girl. Roaming in the beautiful West Lake Scenery, visitors would easily enjoy the happiness of "Earthly Paradise".