The Slender West Lake Scenic Area is located in Hanjiang District, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, famous for its unique "slender" lake shape and classical garden landscapes that combine the best of northern and southern garden art. The scenic area covers a total area of about 1.03 square kilometers, of which the water area is about 0.49 square kilometers. The characteristic of Slender West Lake lies in its winding and zigzagging lake surface, with pavilions, terraces, towers, flowers, trees, rocks, and stones arranged in a picturesque disorder along both banks. It not only showcases the exquisite elegance of southern gardens but also possesses the grandeur of northern gardens. The scenic area contains numerous historical buildings, such as the Fishing Terrace, the Five-Pavilion Bridge, and the White Pagoda. These buildings are not only beautifully shaped but also carry rich historical and cultural connotations, together forming a beautiful picture of "flowers and willows on both banks all leaning by the water, towers and terraces all the way to the mountain."
Historical Culture
The history of Slender West Lake can be traced back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, when this area was still a natural river channel and lake. With the development of Yangzhou City, it gradually became a place for literati and scholars to visit and enjoy. By the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, driven by the emperors' southern tours, large-scale garden construction began around Slender West Lake, forming the grand scene of "flowers and willows on both banks all leaning by the water, towers and terraces all the way to the mountain," and making it an outstanding representative of Yangzhou's garden culture.
The garden construction of Slender West Lake blends the gracefulness of Jiangnan gardens with the magnificence of northern royal gardens, reflecting the superb level of ancient gardening art. Many buildings in the scenic area are closely related to historical figures. For example, Emperor Qianlong visited Slender West Lake many times and left behind many well-known stories; literary figures such as Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi also composed poems and painted here, adding profound cultural deposits to Slender West Lake. In addition, Slender West Lake is also an important witness to Yangzhou's salt merchant culture. In those years, salt merchants built gardens here to display their wealth and taste, which also promoted the development of local garden art.
Main Attractions
Five-Pavilion Bridge
The Five-Pavilion Bridge is the landmark building of Slender West Lake. It was built in the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1757) and is named after the five pavilions built on the bridge. The bridge is 57.99 meters long and 6.16 meters wide. Under the bridge are 15 arches, all connected to one another. On the night of a full moon, each of the fifteen arches reflects a bright moon, forming the wondrous scene of "the moon of the fifteenth is fullest on the sixteenth," making it a masterpiece in the history of Chinese bridge architecture. The Five-Pavilion Bridge combines the beauty of southern gardens with the solidity of northern architecture and is one of the symbols of Slender West Lake.
White Pagoda
The White Pagoda is located on the north side of the Five-Pavilion Bridge. It was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and is about 27.5 meters high, with a brick and stone structure. Its shape imitates the White Pagoda in Beihai, Beijing, but also incorporates local Yangzhou architectural style, making it appear small and exquisite. The White Pagoda consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. The body is white, and the finial is golden. It stands out particularly prominently against the surrounding green trees and echoes the Five-Pavilion Bridge in the distance, forming a classic landscape of Slender West Lake.
Fishing Terrace
The Fishing Terrace was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a round pavilion-style building located west of Xiaojinshan in Slender West Lake. The uniqueness of the Fishing Terrace lies in its three circular moon gates on three sides. Through these three gates, one can respectively see the Five-Pavilion Bridge, the White Pagoda, and the Chunbo Tower. One gate, one view, cleverly incorporating distant scenery into the frame, making it a model of the "framed scenery" technique in garden art. Standing inside the Fishing Terrace, visitors can simultaneously view three classic scenic spots and appreciate the ingenious design of ancient gardeners.
Xiaojinshan
Xiaojinshan is a small island in Slender West Lake, with an elevation of about 38 meters and an area of about 16,000 square meters. The island is lush with trees and has scattered buildings, mainly including the Qin Room, the Moon Observatory, and the Chuitai. Although named a "mountain," Xiaojinshan is actually artificially piled up. It was built to make up for the lack of mountains and hills in Slender West Lake and to give the garden landscape a greater sense of layering. Ascending to the top of Xiaojinshan, one can overlook the entire Slender West Lake, taking in the full view of the lake and mountains.
Twenty-Four Bridge
The Twenty-Four Bridge is another famous scenic spot in Slender West Lake. Its name originates from the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's line, "On the moonlit night of the Twenty-Four Bridge, where does the beauty teach flute playing?" The existing Twenty-Four Bridge is a single-arch bridge, 24 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, with 24 balustrade posts and 24 steps, echoing the description in the poem. The two ends of the bridge are connected to winding corridors. Under the bridge, the water flows gently, and the scenery is beautiful, making it a great place for tourists to take photos.
Tour Route：
The tour route of the Slender West Lake Scenic Area can be chosen according to visitors' time and interests. The following is a classic tour route: enter from the South Gate, first enjoy the beautiful scenery near the South Gate, then go to the Fishing Terrace to admire the wonder of "framed scenery"; next, go to the Five-Pavilion Bridge to appreciate the charm of this landmark building; afterward, proceed to the White Pagoda to experience its unique architectural style; then climb Xiaojinshan to overlook the panorama of Slender West Lake; subsequently, stroll along the lakeside and enjoy the scenery along the way until reaching the Twenty-Four Bridge; finally, exit from the West Gate. This route is about 3-4 kilometers in total, with a touring time of about 3-4 hours, allowing visitors to enjoy the main attractions of Slender West Lake.
Tour Suggestions：
The suggested touring time is 3-4 hours. It is advisable to enter after the scenic area opens in the morning, when there are fewer tourists and the scenery can be enjoyed better.
The scenic area is relatively large, and walking is the main way to tour it. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
Spring (March-April) and autumn (September-October) are the best seasons to visit Slender West Lake. At this time, the climate is pleasant, the scenery is beautiful, and flowers are in full bloom.
Visitors can taste Yangzhou specialty foods in the teahouses or restaurants within the scenic area, such as San Ding Baozi and Da Zhu Gan Si, and experience the local food culture.
If you want to gain an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Slender West Lake, you can rent the scenic area's audio guide equipment or hire a guide.
Notes：
Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Visitors must comply with the scenic area's regulations and protect the environment.
Take care to safeguard personal belongings, especially at scenic spots and during times when there are many tourists.
Some sections of the scenic area are relatively slippery, especially on rainy days. Visitors need to pay attention to safety and walk carefully.
Observe the opening hours of the scenic area and avoid staying after closing time, so as not to affect the touring experience and safety.
When purchasing tickets, please use official channels to avoid buying from scalpers and being cheated.
Transportation：
Bus: Multiple bus routes in Yangzhou can reach the Slender West Lake Scenic Area, such as Routes 4, 5, 6, 17, 23, 27, 62, 99, and tourist special lines. Get off at the "Slender West Lake" stop.
Taxi: The starting fare for taxis in Yangzhou is 10 yuan (within 3 kilometers). Beyond 3 kilometers, the fare is 2.4 yuan per kilometer. From Yangzhou Railway Station to the Slender West Lake Scenic Area is about 10 kilometers, and the taxi fare is about 30 yuan; from Yangzhou West Bus Station to the Slender West Lake Scenic Area is about 8 kilometers, and the taxi fare is about 25 yuan.
Self-driving: There are multiple parking lots around the Slender West Lake Scenic Area, such as the Slender West Lake Parking Lot and Hongqiao Fang Parking Lot. Parking fees are about 5-10 yuan per hour. Visitors can drive there and find a suitable parking lot according to navigation prompts.
Opening Hours：
Opening hours are adjusted according to the season. In peak season (March 1-May 31, September 1-November 30), opening hours are 7:00-18:00; in off-season (December 1-February 28 of the following year, June 1-August 31), opening hours are 7:30-17:30. The scenic area stops admission some time before closing. Visitors are advised to arrange their time reasonably and arrive at the scenic area in advance.
Tickets：
Ticket price: 100 yuan per person.