Hangzhou West Lake

Author: Zheng Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: Hangzhou West Lake, like a dazzling pearl embedded in the land of China. It is renowned both at home and abroad for its beautiful natural scenery, numerous historical sites, splendid cultural heritage, and abundant local products. The beautiful West Lake is located in the west of Hangzhou City, covering a total area of about 6 square kilometers with an average depth of 1.5 meters. The West Lake is divided into five parts: the Outer Lake, North Lake, Yueshan Lake, West Lake, and Xiaonan Lake. In ancient times, it was a shallow bay that gradually evolved into a lake, known in geography as a "relic lake." The West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with layered peaks and lush green waters reflecting like mirrors. Bai Causeway and Su Causeway lie like twin chains, resting peacefully in the lake. Three small islands—Xiaoyingzhou, Huxinting, and others—stand prominently in the center of the lake. Around the lake, numerous parks bloom with colorful flowers and lush greenery, where pavilions and towers blend harmoniously with the poetic scenery. The surrounding mountains are dotted with unique peaks, exquisite rocks, secluded forests, and beautiful springs, creating a perfect harmony between water and mountains. The forests and mountains also preserve many ancient inscriptions, buildings, and cave sculptures, making them treasures of Chinese art. The beauty of West Lake lies in all four seasons, in every hour of the day, and in its charm under the sun, rain, snow, fog, and clouds. The ancient saying goes, "There are 480 places to enjoy and 36,000 moments to get drunk." The famous Ten Scenes of West Lake—Sunrise Over Su Causeway, Snow on Broken Bridge, Sunset at Leifeng Pagoda, Lotus Pond in the Wind, Autumn Moon over Flat Lake, Nightingales among Willow Trees, Fish Viewing at Flower, Evening Bell at Nanping, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, and Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds—are excellent reflections of its beauty. The Song Dynasty poet Su Shi once wrote: "To compare West Lake to the beauty of the West River, light or heavy makeup is always perfect." Hence, West Lake is also known as Xizi Lake. Hangzhou, located by the Qiantang River, is the capital of Zhejiang Province with a population of over 1.3 million. Hangzhou has a long history; the Wu-Yue Kingdom of the Five Dynasties and the Southern Song Dynasty both established their capitals here, making it one of China's six ancient capitals. Hangzhou is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canal. Hangzhou's silk has been renowned worldwide since the Tang Dynasty and is exported far and wide. Hangzhou has long been called the "Silk Capital." West Lake's Longjing tea, with its strong, elegant aroma, is a prized tea and is exported to all continents. In addition, Hangzhou's silk umbrellas, fans, scissors, traditional Chinese medicine, and chrysanthemums are all distinctive local products. Hangzhou has been closely tied to many historical figures throughout history. Bai Juyi, Su Dongpo, and Fan Zhongyan all served as local officials in Hangzhou. The heroic general Yue Fei, who fought against the Jin invaders, and the martyred Qiu Jin of the democratic revolution are both buried by the shores of Xizi Lake. The Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi was particularly fond of West Lake, leaving behind the famous line: "Unable to leave Hangzhou, half of my heart is tied to this lake." In 1982, Hangzhou West Lake was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of national key scenic areas. Today, Hangzhou City administers Shanyin, Jiande, and the five counties of Fuyang, Lin'an, Tonglu, Deqing, and Yuhang. Hangzhou's tourism has expanded beyond West Lake to another national scenic area—"Fuchun River—Xin'anjiang Scenic Area," as well as the "Tianmu Mountain Nature Reserve," Mount Mogan, the Grand Canal, and the Qiantang River. Before the eyes of domestic and international tourists lies a more magnificent and diverse landscape of Jiangnan's scenery and historical sites.