West Lake [Hangzhou]

"One of Top Five Most Beautiful Lakes in China"
Ranked by China National Geography Magazine

West Lake in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province: The light of water shines in the sun, magic the haziness of the hill in the rain

The West Lake derives its name from the fact that it lies west of the city of Hangzhou. Over hundreds of years, it changed from a bay to a lagoon, and then, before the Tang Dynasty (618--907), to a completely inland lake. During the ensuing Song (960--1279), Yuan (1206--1368), Ming (1368--1644) and Qing (1644--1911) Dynasties, the lake underwent repeated building and repairs. By the end of the 20th century, it had grown to an area of five to six square kilometers. In the 21st century, work began on the rebuilding of the Duke Yang Causeway, increasing the lake surface area to 6.5 square kilometers and its depth from 1.65 meters to 2.27 meters.

West Lake and Hangzhou City are a single entity.The West Lake has been as tender and beautiful since ancient times. ''The light of water shines in the sun, magic the haziness of the hill in the rain.'' The eternal power of poetry captures the beauty of the lake and safeguards our reminiscence.
There are many sights on West Lake you must see and feel the heartbeat of the city and feel pulse of the spirit of the place.

Orioles Singing in the Willows: Occupying a total area of 21 hectares, Park of Orioles Singing in the Willows is on the southeast lakeside. After 40 years' constant development and construction, the previous imperial garden now turns out to be a fairyland for common people. What is unchanged is its keynote set by green willows and pleasant orioles singing. In the center of the park stands listening to Orioles Hall and near this hall, a huge net cage or Hundred Birds Paradise is established. On the east of this hall, lawns and dense
forests constitute Friendship Garden scenery area. On the west of this hall is a grand lawn that came into being with marshes was filled up with soil during the reconstruction of this scenic spot. Inside the park, pavilions and towers, artificial hills and springs, running water with bridges above, short walls with windows, and rare flowers and grass all fill in their proper position and constitute a whole of magnificence with winding paths leading to somewhere quiet and peaceful.

West Lake Heaven and Earth
Occupying a total area of 30,000 square meters, this scenic spot is located on the southern bank of West Lake and next to Orioles Singing in the Willows. The current resort is only the product of the first stage of the overall project, that is, the garden chapter. When the overall project is finished, its area will reach 50,000 square meters. More than 10 buildings of the first stage are all famous Zhejiang-styled civilian houses where the preserved traditional Chinese architectural elements(i.e. powered walls and black tiles, engraved girders and painted ridgepoles) and the adopted modern architectural elements (i.e. down-to the ground huge windows to capture the beauty outside) perfectly join each other, due to considerate arrangements of insightful designers. The world renowned cafes, guest room, entertainment places and stores gather around here and those worthy of recommendation are Bieyoutian Tea & Wine Age, Gumei Embroidery and Fulintang.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

This islet, also called Lesser Yingzhou, together with Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruan Gong Islet, are referred as Three Islets in Lake. The three islets including the water areas in between occupy a total area of 7 hectares. Three small gourd-shaped stone pagodas (three pools) were constructed in Outer Lake. In early Qing Dynasty, more construction was made on this islet: winding bridges and halls. Hibiscus was planted along the inner side. Peng Yulin, a retired general during Guangxu's rule in Qing Dynasty, built his private mansion. Thereafter, Lesser Yingzhou first took its shape and splendor. The three beautiful gourd-shaped stone pagodas are standing to each other on its southern side. When Mid-Autumn comes, the sky and the bright moon in it are both reflected in the water; the lighting candles inside the pagodas will compete with the moon for splendor. The moon viewers and lake tourists will paddle here and stir moon light over the lake into rippling. At that moment, the moons in the sky, in the water, through the pagodas, and in people's hearts will melt into swinging thoughts and wishes. They are lost in the moon and forget to go back home.

Spring Dawn at Su Causeway
Su Causeway, 3 kilometers long, starts from the southern foot of Nanping Hill in the south and ends at the foot of Qixia Hill in the north. It was built by Su Dongpo, the great poet in Northern Song Dynasty and then Hangzhou governor) with silt from dredging up West Lake. People thereafter termed in his name to commemorate his accomplishment in dredging up West Lake. Su Causeway, lying above green water of the lake and connecting Southern Mountain and Northern Mountain, is an attractive walkway lined with many flowers and plants like magnolia, cherry and hibiscus that will blossom all year around. Different times of the year, different moments of the day, and even different weather will deliver a very different image of this causeway. There are six arch bridges on Su Causeway and their names (from the south to the North) are Reflecting Ripples Bridge, Locking Ripples Bridge, Hill View Bridge, Suppressing-the-Dyke Bridge, East Lake-Mouth Bridge, and Crossing-the-Rainbow Bridge.

Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge
Located at the east end of Bai Causeway, this bridge is the most renown among all bridges of West Lake, big or small, ancient or modern. Hangzhou is in Yangtze South, the snow period is very short, and heavy snow is much rare. Once there is such heavy snow, an extraordinary scene of lake covered with snow will come up.

Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake
Located at the west end of Bai Causeway and on the southern foot of Solitary Hill, this scenic spot is near the Outer Lake. The night with autumn moon over the lake, with its poetic affection has been publicly accepted as a beautiful moment with beautiful scenes since ancient time. The high pavilions are towering the ripples, and standing here, you will command a broadened view. Looking afar in an autumn night from here, you will see the bright moon in the sky that joins the lake in dark green. The autumn breeze is blowing its coolness, and the moon has dissolved into the lake water. Then you will forget the passage of time. The Tower of Lake Joining Sky in Green, at the west of this scenic spot, originally was the relic of Luoyuan, a private villa of Hatong, the rich Jewish businessman and adventurer in late Qing Dynasty. Later, it became the cradle site of Eight Craftsmanship Society, the forerunner of Chinese modern wood engraving movement. Now it is reset for Xiling Calligraphy and Painting Academy, thus adding more humanity to attractions around.

Best time to go
Anytime especially Spring and Autumn. Its average annual temperature is 61.7F.

Ticket
Different Boat: From RMB 20/person to RMB 45/person

Around Landscape
Leifeng Tower, Song Dynasty Park, Lingyin Temple, Solitary Hill, Jade Spring, Tiger Spring, Six Harmonies Pagoda, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
West Lake Silk Umbrella, West Lake Longjin Tea, Hangzhou Silk, West Lake Power of Lotus-root, Xiling Inkpad, Hangzhou Tianzhu Chopstick and Zhangxiaoquan Scissors, etc.

Travel Tips
Suggestion: The first place should head for Solitary Hill which is the key to the West Lake, and then fanning out to the lake scenic sites.
You should be well advised to take in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum and Art Gallery for a panoramic view of Zhejiang’s civilization.
Your trip on the water is most essential because the boat gets you closest to the core beauty of the West Lake and makes you fall in love with the city.
You really should try the Hangzhou tea at the West Lake that cannot be matched elsewhere. Please take an umbrella.

Distance
Beijing (1633 km) Hangzhou City