For centuries, Chinese poets and painters have sought to capture the ethereal beauty of Hangzhou's West Lake. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's a living masterpiece of landscape design, blending serene waters, graceful bridges, ancient pagodas, and lush gardens into a scene of profound tranquility. For foreign travelers, a visit to the Hangzhou West Lake is an immersion into the soul of classical China.
Ten Scenes of West Lake
"Ten Scenes of West Lake" are ten characteristic scenes in West Lake. These are the classic viewpoints that formed during the Southern Song Dynasty. The ten scenes are distributed around the lake, and some of them are on the lake.
Dawn at the Su Causeway in Spring
Named after the great Chinese poet Su Dongpo, this nearly 3 km causeway is planted with many willows.
Quyuan Hefeng
Quyuan Hefeng means lotus swaying in the breeze. Just like its name, the park is themed on observing the lotus flower in summer. The park cultivated multiple varieties of lotus, forming an extremely beautiful scene in summer.
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn
Located west of Bai Causeway, facing the outer lake of West Lake, a broad platform stretches out of the water and forms a wide view. It's the best place to enjoy the moon in the evening.
Lingering Snow over the Broken Bridge in Winter
Although named as "broken bridge", the bridge is not broken. Standing on the bridgehead, you can see the panoramic view of the distant mountains and the nearby water. It's the best place to appreciate the snow scenery of West Lake.
Orioles Singing in the Willows
This area features various willow trees. Orioles sing among their branches, giving this spot its poetic name.
Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
Located south of Su Causeway, visitors can admire diverse seasonal blooms throughout the year in this park. The vibrant flowers and fish create stunning colors, making it ideal for a pleasant stroll.
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset
Located south of West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda is famed for its role in imprisoning the White Lady from the Chinese folk tale "Legend of the White Snake."
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds
These peaks refer to the South Peak and North Peak flanking West Lake. They face each other and their summits appear to pierce the clouds during foggy days, creating a fairyland-like vista.
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill
The "evening bell" refers to the bronze bell housed in Jingci Temple. In ancient times, when this bell rang, its deep sound resonated through the valley and carried far into the distance.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
The three pools surrounding the three pagodas create a beautiful lake scene. If you take out a RMB 1 bill, you will see the view of the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, similar to that on the bill.
(Editor: Ella Qu, Liu Yu)
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