West Lake

For other uses, see West Lake (disambiguation).

West Lake
西湖
West Lake
Location	Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Coordinates	30°14′49″N 120°08′39″E
Type	Freshwater lake
Primary outflows	The Grand Canal
Catchment area	21.22 km2 (8.19 sq mi)
Basin countries	China
Managing agency	Management Committee of Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area
Max. length	3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Max. width	2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Surface area	1,580 acres (6.4 km2)
Average depth	2.27 m (7 ft 5 in)
Water volume	14,290,000 m3 (505,000,000 cu ft)
Residence time	China Standard Time
Shore length1	15 km (9.3 mi)
Surface elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Frozen	Rarely
Islands	The Gushan, the Little Yingzhou, the Lake-heart Pavilion, and the Ruan Gong islet
Sections/sub-basins	Outer West Lake, Inner West Lake, West Inner Lake, Small South Lake, Yue Lake
Settlements	Hangzhou
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
Location	China
Criteria	(ii)(iii)(vi)
Reference	1334
Inscription	2011 (35th Session)
Area	3,322.88 ha (8,211.0 acres)
Buffer zone	7,270.31 ha (17,965.3 acres)
Chinese name
Chinese	西湖
Literal meaning	"West Lake"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xī Hú IPA [ɕí xǔ] Wu Romanization Si平 wu去 Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sāi wùh Jyutping sai1 wu4 IPA [sɐj˥ wu˩] Southern Min Tâi-lô Se ôo
Location
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

West Lake (Chinese: 西湖; pinyin: Xīhú; Wu Chinese pronunciation: [si ɦu]) is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. Situated to the west of Hangzhou's former walled city, the lake has a surface area of 6.39 km² (2.47 sq mi), stretching 3.2 km (2.0 mi) from north to south and 2.8 km (1.7 mi) from east to west. In the lake are four causeways, three artificial islands, and the Gushan, the only natural island. Gentle hills surround the lake on its north, west, and south sides, with the Leifeng and Baochu pagodas standing in pair on the south and north banks. Several famous temples are nestled in the mountains west of the lake, including the temples of Lingying and Jingci.

A tourist attraction since the Tang dynasty (618-907), the lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historic relics. By the Song dynasty (960-1279), during which the dynastic capital moved to Hangzhou, it had became a cultural landmark and one of the most visited tourist destinations of China. Introduced to Europeans by Marco Polo, the lake was once a symbol of Chinese urban culture in the West. It was featured on Chinese currency, including the one-yuan banknote in the 1979 Bank of China Foreign Exchange Certificate and the 2005 Renminbi, as well as in the Chinese passport. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, the lake is recognised to have influenced garden designs in China, Japan and Korea over the centuries, as "an idealised fusion between humans and nature."

The lake, along with the surrounding hills, is governed by the Management Committee of Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area, a special administration dedicated to cultural preservation and gardening under the Hangzhou municipal government. The first major Chinese tourist attraction to cancel admission fees, the scenic area is crowded during public holidays. In the 2024 National Day holiday, the area received 4.426 million visitors in seven days, a 30.92% rise from the previous year.

Names

The first description of the waters near Hangzhou was made in the Book of Han finished in 111, which states,

The Western Commandery Captain of Qiantang was stationed at the Wulin Hills, where the Wulin River originates. The river flows eastward into the sea, covering a distance of 830 li [350 km; 220 mi].

This statement about the Wulin River (武林水) is widely interpreted as the first mention of the West Lake, while the Wulin Hills (武林山) were believed to be the hills near the Lingyin Temple.

Historically, the lake has been referred to by various names, but only two have gained widespread acceptance: Qiantang Lake (钱唐湖; 钱塘湖), named after Hangzhou's ancient name; the West Lake (西湖), due to its location to the west of the city.

Bai Juyi was among the first to refer to the lake as "West Lake", mentioning it in two of his poems. During the Song Dynasty, the name "Qiantang Lake" gradually fell out of favour, as most poems and writings preferred to use "West Lake." Su Shi was the first to use the name in official documents, in his request to the Imperial Court for the dredging of the lake in 1090.

History

Formation

About 4,400 to 2,500 years ago, as sea levels fell, the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou plain began to emerge, while the West Lake was merely a shallow bay. Over time, the Qiantang River gradually deposited sand and rocks outside this bay. About 2,000 years ago, a lagoon was formed. Streams from the surrounding mountains transformed the water into freshwater, but ongoing silt deposits gradually reduced the lake to a swamp.

In local folklore, when Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC), the first emperor of China, visited Hangzhou, the West Lake was still part of the Qiantang River. The giant rock on the north bank of West Lake was said to be where the emperor anchored his fleet. According to Records of the Grand Historian, during his visit in 210 BC, the emperor was halted in Hangzhou by the strong tide of the Qiantang River and had to take a detour westward to reach Shaoxing.

As the earliest historical record to mention the lake, the Treatise on Geography in the Book of Han, completed in 111, describes the water body as originating in the Wulin Hills (武林山) and flowing eastward into the sea for 350 km (220 mi). During the Eastern Han era (25–220), a seawall was constructed to protect the emerging land east to the lake from the strong tide of the Qiantang River.

In 591, the government seat of Hangzhou, originally on the west shore, was relocated to the newly built walled city east to the lake. With the completion of the Grand Canal, Hangzhou as its destination, became a transport hub of China.

Early development

Before the Tang dynasty (618–907), the West Lake was a small and shallow body of water, but continuous hydraulic engineering efforts gradually transformed it. In 781, Li Mi, then mayor of Hangzhou, ordered the construction of six wells in densely populated areas, connecting them with underground pipes made of bamboo and clay. This system allowed water from the lake to be supplied to the city. The only remaining well from this project is the Xiangguo Well, located west of Jinting Bridge on Jiefang Road. In 822-824, Bai Juyi ordered the restoration and reinforcement of the lake's deteriorating old dykes, adding a dam and dredging the lake, to control water flow and support irrigation. Bai's project constructed a dyke from the Shihan Bridge to the Wulin Gate, called the Bai Gong Causeway. Since the Qing dynasty, the nearby White Sand Causeway became known as the Bai Causeway in memory of Bai Juyi.

With the collapse of the Tang dynasty, Hangzhou became the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom (907–978). During this period, sediment accumulated rapidly in West Lake, making dredging a routine maintenance task. In 927, Qian Liu, the king of Wuyue, organised an army of 1,000 men to clear grasses and deepen the lake, thereby preserving the lake’s water body. As part of their devotion to Buddhism, the Wuyue rulers built numerous temples, pagodas, shrines, and grottoes around the lake. They expanded Lingyin Temple and built Zhaoqing, Jingci, Li’an, Liutong, and Taoguang temples, as well as the Baochu, Liuhe, Leifeng, and White pagodas. This extensive religious development earned Wuyue the title of the "Buddhist Kingdom."

Despite the Wuyue surrender to Song in 978, the dredging of the West Lake continued during the Song dynasty (960 to 1279). In 1090, Su Shi ordered the lake to be dredged and used the dredged mud to create a wide, extended causeway, on noticing the drought caused by weed-clogged irrigation channels. The Su causeway, named after the mayor building it, was lined with willow trees and spanning 2.6 km (1.6 mi). By 1275, military patrols were appointed to maintain and police the lake, where littering of any rubbish or planting additional lotuses or water-chestnuts were forbidden.

Origin of literary tradition

Su Xiaoxiao, a renowned courtesan and poet of Southern Qi (479–502), was buried at the Xilin Bridge near the West Lake. Her life and poetry have inspired later poets, including Li He and Wen Tingyun. Over time, local history and culture became intertwined with the natural beauty of Hangzhou. One such example is the poem by Bai Juyi, which celebrates Su Xiaoxiao’s beauty and her connection to the enchanting scenery of the region,

涛声夜入伍员庙，
柳色春藏苏小家。

The tides at night resound near the Temple of Wu Yun,
With willows in springtime shading Su Xiaoxiao's tomb.

Literary works by renowned literati contributed to the fame of West Lake among Chinese intellectuals. Later in the Song dynasty, when Su Shi (1037–1101) famously compared West Lake to Xizi, one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China, the lake became known as the Xizi Lake. In his poem, he writes,

水光瀲灧睛方好，
山色空濛雨亦奇。
欲把西湖比西子，
淡妝濃抹總相宜。

The shimmering water shines in clear light,
While misty mountains bring rain's charm to sight.
If West Lake I liken to Xizi fair,
Both light and heavy makeup suits her well.

Hereafter, the lake became associated with the two greatest poets of Tang and Song dynasties, Bai Juyi and Su Shi. Su Shi compared the lake with "eyes and eyebrows of a face," which one cannot ignore.

Emergence of tourism

Since 1129, Hangzhou became the capital of the Song dynasty following the Jurchen conquest of northern China. The area to the west of the city wall, once sparsely populated and largely undeveloped, grew to be as vibrant and prosperous as the walled city itself, with the construction of numerous towers, pagodas, and gardens.

一色楼台三十里，
不知何处觅孤山。

Endless pavilions and towers stretch for thirty li,
Blocking the view of the Solitary Hill, which I find nowhere to see.

While these literary works left the West Lake with rich cultural relics, wars and conflicts in northern China—including invasions by the Khitan, Jurchen, and Mongols—triggered significant migration southward to Hangzhou, leading to urbanisation and economic prosperity. With city walls blocking much of the natural scenery, West Lake became a favoured destination for urban residents seeking respite from the demands of city life and political turmoil.

In the Song dynasty, aesthetic appreciation of landscapes was made a popular business. Diverse entertainment options, with standardised routes and viewing orders, became available to cater to various preferences and budgets. Tour guides, seasonal markets and specialty shops emerged. The notion of Ten Scenes of West Lake was invented. Boating on the lake was a popular pastime, with records noting hundreds of intricately carved, elegantly decorated boats gliding gracefully over the water. For visitors, touring West Lake combined material enjoyment and sensory experience of the landscape.

Decorated boats on the lake

The growing number of visitors contributed to a rich literary legacy of poems, miscellanies, and gazetteers. These visitors included migrants from the north, examination candidates, and local officials reporting to the central government. The imperial examinations held every three years filled Hangzhou with educated individuals, who often enjoyed the lake's beauty and consulted fortune-tellers at lakeside temples. Those who passed the exams either served in the central government or were appointed to other provinces. For many, visiting West Lake remained a cherished activity, inspiring poems that reflected on their experiences and memories of the scenery.

Shortly after the Mongol conquest of China, the West Lake remained socially vibrant. The official records show that in 1309, the city received more than 1,200 foreign visitors within half a year, many from Turkestan and Europe. The West Lake was dredged and renamed the “Pond of Freeing Captive Animals” under Kublai Khan, while parts of the lake area were gradually cultivated into farmland. Among the visitors was Marco Polo, who praised it as “the most splendid heavenly city in the world.” As Polo describes,

Inside the city there is a Lake which has a compass of some 30 miles: and all round it are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the richest and most exquisite structure that you can imagine, belonging to the nobles of the city. There are also on its shores many abbeys and churches of the Idolaters. In the middle of the Lake are two Islands, on each of which stands a rich, beautiful and spacious edifice, furnished in such style as to seem fit for the palace of an Emperor.

Fall of tourism

Yue Fei Temple

The booming tourism led to different interpretations. The lake was regarded as a literary tradition, a symbol of the state and a part of local history and knowledge, but for some, a symbol of extravagance and luxury that led to anxiety.One of the most famous portrayal comes from Lin Sheng, who penned a poem as a satirical commentary on how people were engrossed in their indulgence in Hangzhou's pleasures, rather than making efforts to reclaim the lost northern capital:

山外青山樓外樓，
西湖歌舞幾時休？
暖風熏得遊人醉，
直把杭州作汴州。

Beyond the hills, more hills rise, beyond the pavilions, more pavilions stand.
When will the songs and dances on West Lake finally end?
The warm breeze intoxicates the travellers,
Making them mistake Hangzhou for Bianzhou.

In 1142, Yue Fei, a hawkish Chinese general known for his determined efforts to reclaim northern China, was executed by the dovish emperor and his chief councillor. Yue's death marked the end of attempts to recapture the north, as the emperor prioritised peace despite the Song army's successes. Yue Fei remained widely admired among Chinese people and was widely celebrated as a national hero. In 1162, his wrongful execution was acknowledged, and his remains were moved to a tomb by the West Lake. Since 1221, a nearby temple has been repurposed in his memory.

Following the fall of the Song dynasty, government support for maintaining the lake diminished, as political and economic focus shifted to northern China rather than southern regions like Hangzhou under the Mongol rule. The public criticised the lavish sightseeing excursions of the imperial family and officials, especially those who had abandoned efforts to recover lost territories, which fuelled negative sentiment toward the West Lake. These factors contributed to the decline in tourism during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). When the Ming dynasty replaced Mongol rule, Hangzhou gradually regained its prosperity by the mid-15th century. However, the lake experienced droughts in 1442 and 1456, causing it to dry up temporarily.

Restoration and revitalisation

Yanggong Causeway

During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), West Lake was dredged multiple times, with the excavated silt used to create two artificial islands: Huxin Island and Lesser Yingzhou Islet. In 1508, Hangzhou governor Yang Mengying, supported by imperial envoy Ju Liang, secured approval and funding from the imperial government to dredge West Lake, despite significant resistance from local elites. The dredging extended the water surface from west of Su Causeway to Hongchun Bridge and Maojiabu, restoring the lake's appearance to that of the Tang and Song dynasties. The excavated silt was used to widen Su Causeway and to construct a new causeway in western Inside Lake, named Yanggong Causeway, named after the governor. In 1607, Qiantang County governor Nie Xintang constructed a circular causeway from the south to the west of Fangsheng Pond on Lesser Yingzhou Islet, creating the distinctive view known as "Island in Lake, Lake in Island." In 1611, Yang Wanli expanded the outer bank, completing the project by 1620. Adjacent to the pond, three small stone pagodas were erected, collectively known as "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon".

A Qing dynasty artwork depicting the "Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake"

The Manchu took Hangzhou in 1645, which led to the construction of the Manchu city alongside the West Lake, within Hangzhou's walled city. During the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, West Lake’s scenic beauty was highly valued by Manchu rulers, spurring restoration and enhancement efforts. In the Yongzheng period, West Lake spanned 7.54 square kilometres, though over 20 acres were shoals. Governor Li Wei initiated a dredging project, constructing stone weirs in key locations to manage silt accumulation and maintain water levels. In 1800, Governor Yan Jian proposed further dredging, and under Governor Ruan Yuan’s supervision, excavated silt was piled to create the Ruan Gong Islet. In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was established, led by local official Ding Bin, to manage ongoing lake maintenance.

In the High Qing era (1683–1799), emperors frequented the lake, leaving significant relics. The Kangxi Emperor inscribed titles for the Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake, which were later carved into stelae beneath pavilions. The Yongzheng Emperor expanded these scenic spots to eighteen, further promoting the lake’s appeal. The Qianlong Emperor continued this legacy by composing poems and erecting stelae for the Ten Scenic Spots and naming the "Eight Scenes of Dragon Well." In Beijing, royal gardens, including the Garden of Delighted Spring and the Old Summer Palace, were built in resemblance to the landscape of the West Lake. This era also saw the publication of A Glance at Lakes and Hills by local scholars Qu Hao and Qu Han, which covers over 1,000 scenic sites around West Lake, making it the earliest known guide to the area.

Republican era

Wenlan Pavilion, an imperial library that became part of Zhejiang Provincial Museum in 1929

Following the 1911 revolution that ended the Qing dynasty, the Manchu Banner Garrison was demolished, and the imperial properties upon the lake were nationalised. The imperial garden was converted to Zhongshan Park, named after Sun Yat-sen. Zhejiang Martyrs' Memorial and tombs for Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were built, in memory of those who died for the revolution. From 1923 to 1924, the deserted Qian Liu Temple was renovated and converted to a garden. In 1933, the leaning Baochu Pagoda was revamped. 1933, Zhejiang's provincial government erected "Chen Yingshi Statue", "North Expedition Martyr Memorial Tower" and "Martyrs of 88 Division in Songhu Campaign Memorial Stela" at the piers of Third Park, Second Park and Fifth Park, respectively. However, due to continuous digging by stealth on its base, Leifeng Pagoda, after lasting nearly a thousand years, collapsed on 25 September 1924.

During the Republican era, the lake became open to the public, with the opening of several public parks. The completion of the Shanghai-Hangzhou railway in 1916 has made commercial tourism to the lake became one of the pillar industries of Hangzhou. According to the Hangzhou municipal government, from 1930 to 1936, the recorded tourists to Hangzhou were counted to 32,845. In 1929, the provincial government of Zhejiang held Westlake exposition, attracting over 20 million visitors.

Chiang Kai-shek's West Lake residence

A number of historical events took place on the lake. In 1922, the Community Party of China held the Hangzhou Plenum on the lake, which initiated the first collaboration between the Communists and Nationalists. In 1924, Rabindranath Tagore visited the lake and made a public speed. In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling spent their honeymoon on West Lake at Cheng Villa. In 1928, the National Art School was founded on the Gushan Island on the lake. In 1937, Zhou Enlai secretly met with Chiang Kai-shek at Chiang's West Lake villa, to negotiate a united front against Japanese invasion. After the war with Japan, tourism at the West Lake became flourishing, yet the city itself suffered from hyperinflation.

People's Republic

With the city seized by the Communists in 1949, major hydrological works, along with other construction projects, took place, to exemplify socialist achievements. A new botanical garden and flower garden was opened on the lake's west shore. The parks of Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond and Orioles Singing in the Willows were constructed. Lingyin Temple, Jingci Temple, Yue-Wang Temple, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Lake-heart Pavilion and other spots were renovated. In 1959, West Lake received over 1,400 foreign tourists, over 2,300 tourists from Hong Kong and Macao and over five million domestic visitors.

President Richard Nixon at the West Lake Park in 1972

During Mao Zedong's era (1949-1976), Mao often stayed at lakeside villas. He drafted the first constitution of the People's Republic of China, the 1954 Constitution, at the West Lake State Guest House. Since then, Mao stayed periodically at West Lake every year until his death. To ensure his safety, the local government forcibly relocated residents suspected of connections with the Nationalists to labour camps. Shops near the lake were acquired by the state, and undercover security personnel were stationed at over 100 shops in the area. The tombs of notable figures—including Wu Song, Fang La, Yu Qian, Zhang Cangshui, Su Manshu, Su Xiaoxiao, and the Stuart family—as well as the temples of Yue Fei and Wen Tianxiang, were destroyed. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Liutong Temple and another temple were destroyed. Zhou Enlai ordered the closure of the Lingyin Temple to prevent it from being destroyed. But repairs were later made to many scenic sites, due to the visits by Norodom Sihanouk and Richard Nixon.

Barack Obama and Xi Jinping at the West Lake State House in 2016

After 1976, tourism to the lake revitalised with the end of the Cultural Revolution. In 1983, the Hangzhou government refurbished temples and pavilions upon the lake. They also expanded Galloping Tiger Spring and established Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer Park. The new site Exploring Plum Blossoms at Ling Peak was introduced, complemented by cultural events at Huanglong Cave and Ruangong Island. In 1984, local media and societies held public vote to select the new "Ten Scenes" of the lake. In 1985, a pump at Zhakou to draw 300,000 cubic meters of water daily, were built to refresh the water in the lake. A sewage interception project, completed in 1981, installed over 17 kilometres of buried tunnels and 10 pumping stations. In 2000, the West Lake exposition was relaunched, drawing 1.4 million visitors. In 2002, Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt where it collapsed in 1924.

During the 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit and the 2023 Asian Games, West Lake State Guest House was where Chinese president Xi Jinping met with foreign guests, such as Barack Obama and Narendra Modi and Malcolm Turnbull.

Notable attractions

The scenic area of the West Lake is typically summarised as "one hill, two pagodas, three islets, four causeways and five lakes." Among them, ten classic scenic places are collectively known as the "Ten Scenes of West Lake".

Solitary Hill

Gushan Island (孤山), or Solitary Hill, is the only natural island on West Lake. Connected to the northern shore by Xiling Bridge and Bai Causeway, Solitary Hill and Bai Causeway separate the North Inner Lake from the Outer West Lake. In local folklore, the island is grouped with the Broken Bridge and the Long Bridge as the "Three Oddities of West Lake": the Broken Bridge is not broken, Solitary Hill is not solitary, and the Long Bridge is not long. During the Qing dynasty, Solitary Hill became part of a detached palace for emperors visiting Hangzhou. Wenlan Pavilion, the royal library on the island, housed a valuable collection of literary works and rare texts. After the 1911 revolution, the palace grounds were transformed into Zhongshan Park to honor Sun Yat-sen, a key figure in the revolution. The Wenlan Pavilion and other former palace buildings were incorporated into the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, while a new building next to the Pavilion was completed in 1912 to host the Zhejiang Library.

Two pagodas

Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔), originally built in 975, is located on Sunset Hill. According to local tales, it plays a central role in the legend of the White Snake. Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt in 2002 after the original structure collapsed in 1924, and it remains a popular tourist spot with stunning views of the lake.

Baochu Pagoda and Beishan Road

Baochu Pagoda (保俶塔), built in 963, stands on Precious Stone Hill. Unlike the more elaborate Leifeng Pagoda, Baochu is a slender, simple structure believed to have been built to pray for the safe return of a local official.

Three Islets

There are three artificial islets on the West: Lesser Yingzhou Islet, Mid-lake Pavilion, and Ruangong Islet. Each was constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties by dredging lake sediment.

• Lesser Yingzhou Islet (小瀛洲), also known as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, is especially famous for the small stone pagodas that rise from the water around it. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, these pagodas are lit, creating a scene called "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon", which has become one of the "Ten Scenes of West Lake."
• Mid-lake Pavilion (湖心亭), the smallest of the three, is a pavilion surrounded by the Outer West Lake. It is renowned for Zhang Dai's essay on watching the snow from the pavilion.
• Ruan Gong Islet (阮公墩), constructed in 1800, is named after Ruan Yuan, who was the Governor of Zhejiang at the time. Currently, the islet is not open to visitors, as it serves as a natural reserve.

Four Causeways

Three major causeways divides the West Lake into five sections, including the Outer West Lake, Inner West Lake, West Inner Lake, Less South Lake, and Yuehu Lake. These major causeways include:

• Bai Causeway (白堤) – Originally called the White Sand Causeway, it was naturally formed before the Tang dynasty (618–907) and reinforced between 766–779. Named after poet Bai Juyi (772–846) for his contributions to local communities, it connects to the shore with the Broken Bridge at its eastern end. The causeway collapsed during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and was rebuilt in 1589.
• Su Causeway (苏堤) – Built in 1089 under the direction of Su Shi during his term as mayor, this causeway, along with six bridges to allow ferry passages, connects Quyuan on the north shore to Huagang on the south shore. It separates the West Inner Lake from the Outer West Lake.
• Yanggong Causeway (杨公堤) – Constructed in 1508 by local official Yang Mengying to mitigate flooding, this causeway features six bridges that facilitate ferry access between the West Inner Lake and Outer West Lake.

Additionally, Zhaogong Causeway (赵公堤), also known as the Jinsha Causeway, was built in 1242, connecting Quyuan to the Su Causeway. It was named after Zhao Yuchou, then-mayor of Lin'an.

Ten Scenes

Main article: Ten Scenes of West Lake

Traditionally, there are ten classic scenic spots on the West Lake, each remembered by a four-character epithet. Collectively, they are known as the Ten Scenes of West Lake, of which the rating dates back to the Song dynasty. Each is marked by a stele with an epithet written in the calligraphy of the Qianlong Emperor. The ten scenes include:

English translation	Simplified Chinese name	Traditional Chinese name	Description
Spring Dawn at Su Causeway	苏堤春晓	蘇堤春曉	Views of the lake from the centre of the Su Causeway
Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden	曲院风荷	曲院風荷	Views of gardens with lotus at north end of the Su Causeway during the summer
Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake	平湖秋月		Views from the northeast of the main lake toward the three islands, with hills to the west, south, and east sides of West Lake
Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge	断桥残雪	斷橋殘雪	View toward the Broken Bridge at the eastern end of Bai Causeway, extending westward beyond.
Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow	雷峰夕照		Leifeng Pagoda, or the Leifeng Hill where the pagoda stands,in the sunset
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon	三潭印月		Three small stone pagodas near the artificial island of Lesser Yingzhou, with lanterns that reflect on the lake's surface alongside the moonlight
Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves	柳浪闻莺	柳浪聞鶯	Originally a royal garden of the Song dynasty, a park filled with willows swaying with the wind and singing birds
Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds	双峰插云	雙峰插雲	On rainy or misty days, parts of the South and North Peaks seem to emerge and disappear within the clouds, with their tops still visible above the mist
Viewing Fish at Flower Pond	花港观鱼	花港觀魚	Views of ponds with goldfish in a floral garden between the Small South Lake and Inner West Lake in the west.
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill	南屏晚钟	南屏晚鐘	The sound of bells at the Jingci Temple at the Nanping Hill.

• 
  Spring Dawn at Su Causeway
• 
  Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden
• 
  Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake
• 
  Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge
• 
  Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow
• 
  Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon
• 
  Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves
• 
  Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds
• 
  Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
• 
  Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill

Other attractions

• Yue Fei Temple, the tomb and memorial hall to Yue Fei.
• Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist monastery and surrounding hills.
• Long Jing tea farms (龙井茶园), an area renowned for the quality of Tea.
• Jingci Temple
• Dreaming of the Tiger Spring (虎跑梦泉), a spring famous for its mineral water
• Tomb of Su Xiao Xiao (苏小小墓)
• The West Lake Museum (located on the lake shore) is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the West Lake.
• Former Residence of Chiang Ching-kuo

Geography

Waters

The current lake, roughly oval in shape, was dredged during past dynasties and spans 3.3 km from north to south, 2.8 km from east to west, with a shoreline circumference of 15 km and a total water area of 5.6 square kilometres. Divided by Gushan Hill, the Su Causeway, and the Bai Causeway, it consists of five distinct water bodies: the Outer West Lake (440 hectares), North Inner Lake (31 hectares), West Inner Lake (73 hectares), Yuehu Lake (6 hectares), and Lesser South Lake (9 hectares). These sections are interconnected by bridge arches.

With a catchment area spanning 21.22 square kilometers, the lake supports an annual runoff and storage volume of about 14 million cubic meters each. The lake draws around 120 million cubic meters of water annually from the Qiantang River. Natural inflows come from the Jinsha, Longhong, Qishan (also known as Huiyin), and Changqiao streams. The lake’s water level is maintained at a consistent Yellow Sea reference level of 7.15 meters, fluctuating by only ±0.05 meters. Seasonal water levels range from a high of 7.70 meters to a low of 6.92 meters, with a variation of approximately 50 centimeters. With a storage capacity of about 14.3 million cubic meters, the lake averages 2.27 meters in depth, reaching a maximum of 5 meters and a minimum of less than 1 meter. Average annual precipitation directly over the lake amounts to 5.63 million cubic meters, while the lake's water system has a scour coefficient of 1.49. During dry seasons, when the reservoir gate is closed, the flow rate drops to zero, and even during the flood season, it rarely exceeds 0.05 m/s.

Climate

Located on the southeastern edge of China’s hilly regions and the northern boundary of the subtropical zone, West Lake receives an annual solar radiation of 100–110 kcal/cm² and enjoys 1,800–2,100 sunshine hours per year.

Ecology

Flora

Lotus in West Lake

Plum blossoms

Around the west lake, there are 184 families 739 genera 1369 species of seed plants, including 28 species of gymnosperms in 19 genera and 7 families, 1273 species of angiosperms in 675 genera and 150 families, 68 species of ferns in 45 genera and 27 families. Currently, there are 21 species of rare plants are listed in the first-grade state protection, including Zhejiang nan, wild soybean and short spike bamboo, and 63 species are listed the second-grade state protection.

On the lake banks and Su and Bai Causeways a large number of willows and peach trees are planted. It is said one willow is accompanied by one peach tree. Other horticultural plants include magnolia, cherry, Confederate rose, etc. The blooming season of peach tree in Hangzhou usually ranges from end of February to middle of April.

Some sites in Hangzhou were named after lotus, such as lotus pond (荷花池頭) and lotus lane (荷花塘弄). There is traditional food called "lotus cake". The fossil of lotus seeds was unearthed at Kuahuqiao site in Xiaoshan, which indicates at least before the Tang dynasty there was cultivated lotus. Yang Wanli of the Song dynasty wrote poem, "Lotus leaves grow to the sky with endless green, lotus blossoms bathed in the sunlight appear especially red. (接天蓮葉無窮碧，映日荷花别样紅), which brought high reputation to the lotus in West Lake. Nowadays, there are 14 lotus cultivation areas in the lake, totally 130 Chinese acres. Most are in "North Inside Lake" and "Yue Lake". According to statistics, West Lake lotus starts to bloom in early June, and reaches peak blossom time in late June. It can last till late August or early September.

As the city flower, osmanthus is one of representative plants of Hangzhou. Poet Bai Juyi wrote "search osmanthus around the temple on hill in the middle of Autumn", indicating osmanthus had been cultivated as early as in the Tang dynasty. Osmanthus trees have been massively planted in parks around the lake, and the best-known locations to appreciate are "Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong Village", one of "New Ten Scenes of West Lake", and Hangzhou Botanical Garden. Osmanthus can be divided into four major species, Thunbergii group (金桂), Latifolius Group (銀桂), Aurantiacus Group (丹桂) and Fragrans Division (四季桂). Among them, the Thunbergii and Latifolius are the best. Every year around mid-autumn, the sweet-scented osmanthus blossoming is a highlight of tourism in Hangzhou. In addition to its elegant looks, osmanthus is also edible. Thunbergii and Latifolius boast intensive sweet scent, and are natural ingredients for seasoning. Pickled osmanthus blossoms mixed with white sugar became a traditional food of Hangzhou, "Sweet Osmanthus" (糖桂花). West Lake Osmanthus blooming period commences from early September, lasting till early November.

Lin Bu (林逋), a famous recluse in the Song dynasty, lived on Solitary Hill. His poem Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden (山園小梅) became the best known poem praising the flower and enriched the cultural contributions of the plum blossoms of West Lake. The opening line of the poem says, "When everything has faded they alone shine forth, encroaching on the charms of smaller gardens" (眾芳搖落獨暄妍，占斷風情向小園). Ling Peak, Solitary Hill and West Creek have long been the three finest spots of plum blossom cherishing in Hangzhou. The flowering season is typically around the Spring Festival, from late January to middle February.

The "Prince Bay Park" (太子湾公园) of Hangzhou imported almost all species of tulips from Netherlands in 1992, and held annual tulips exhibition ever since. It has become a new scenic spot on the lake bank. The normal tulips blossom season spans from middle of March to end of April.

Fauna

Mallards, halcyons and koi carp are among the most frequently spotted animals in the lake. Squirrels loiter among the trees on the bank.

Literary works

Misty Trees by Nine Streams

Over the centuries, the beauty and culture of West Lake has attracted numerous literati, who left behind works of literature and poetry to describe the lake. For example, Dream in West Lake and The Enchiridion of Lake and Mountain recorded a lot about West Lake and ancient Hangzhou historic anecdotes. Poets such as Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Xu Zhimo and Hu Shih also wrote countless poems about West Lake. The Chinese legend Legend of the White Snake is also set in West Lake in Hangzhou and has been adapted into films and television series over the years.

Influences

"I've never traveled to Hangzhou's West Lake But seem to have met it in my dreams someplace: A vague and indistinct expanse of water and clouds Where lotus leaves merge with weeping-willow branches."

—Huang Zunxian (1848–1905), excerpts from A Trip to Lake Abundant (translation by Jerry Dean Schmidt)

A miniature replica of the West Lake inside the Gifu Park in Gifu, Japan

Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon on the Chinese banknote

West Lake is said to be the incarnation of Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Since ancient times, West Lake was associated with a large number of romantic poets, profound philosophers, national heroes and heroines. West Lake was also the retreat for many Chinese writers of the past. The Northern Song Dynasty poet Lin Bu, shunning the life of being an official, lived in seclusion by West Lake for twenty years, and dedicated himself to the cultivation of peach and plum blossoms. The great Ming dynasty essayist Zhang Dai, wrote a number of essays about West Lake in Reminiscence and Dream of Tao'an (陶庵夢憶), and a whole book: Search for West Lake in Dreams (西湖夢尋). West Lake has had a profound impact on Far Eastern landscape designs, and its features have often been imitated by other palaces and gardens, such as Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace in Beijing, the central ponds of the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden and Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden in Tokyo, Japan, among others.

Due to its prominent historical and cultural status, West Lake was selected as a National Key Scenic Resort in 1982, one of Ten Scenic Resorts in 1985 and a national 5A tourist resort in 2006.

Along with its cultural importance, West Lake historically was also of value for local commercial fishermen. According to statistics from 1977, the lake had an annual fish yield of 1300 kg/hectare, quite a bit more than for some larger lakes (that is, East Lake of Wuhan had a yield of only 450 kg/ha).

See also

• Slender West Lake
• West Lake (Huizhou)

External links

• Ten Classic Scenes of West Lake in History