West Lake Place Name - West Lake Complete Book

Author: Xie Qianming, Shi Yuxian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features:
West Lake, also known as Xizi Lake, originates from Su Dongpo's line "To compare West Lake to a beauty, light or heavy makeup is always fitting." Su Causeway, also called Su Gong Dike, was built in 1089 during Su Dongpo's tenure as the governor of Hangzhou when he dredged the lake. Later generations named it in honor of Su Dongpo's achievements. The six bridges of Su Causeway, commonly known as the Outer Six Bridges, run from south to north: Yingbo Bridge, Suolan Bridge, Wangshan Bridge, Yadi Bridge, Shupu Bridge (now Dongpu Bridge), and Kuaohong Bridge.
Scenic spots on Su Causeway: Baitang (Pine Hall), Zhuge Pavilion, Sizhao Pavilion, Chaoju Pavilion. Additionally, there are Lin Scholar's Abode, Liuyi Spring (located on Gushan), Mishue Spring, Canliao Spring (originally on Gushan, later moved to Beishan), Hanquan (opposite Shuixian Temple), Stone Screen, Jizi Peak (also known as Shizilin Peak, at the base of Baoshan), Jieting (at Fenghuang Mountain), Daxiaomiling and Xiaoxiaoming (southwest of West Lake, north of Santai Mountain), Fenglelou (also known as Zhongle Pavilion or Songcailou), Yuanzhao Well (inside Jingci Temple), Lotus Cave (behind Jingci Temple), Foshou Rock, Luoshi Rock, Xiangni Rock, Lianfeng (all in Yanhua Cave), Fenghuoling (near Longjing), Linghua Cave (in Jiaotai Tianzhen Temple), Fushan (formerly called Fuyu or Baoshan, originally in the river), Dengyun Cave (in Jiaotai Tianzhen Temple), etc.
In the third year of the Jianing era (1129), the Song court moved south, elevating Hangzhou to Lin'an Prefecture. In the eighth year of the Shaoxing era (1138), Hangzhou was officially designated as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, marking it as the imperial capital for over 130 years. After the Southern Song established their capital in Hangzhou, they undertook extensive construction of palaces, expanded the city walls, flourished trade, and thrived in population, propelling Hangzhou to become the Southern Song's capital and a world-renowned metropolis, known as the "beautiful and noble city." The number of place names within the city and around West Lake surged, and many street names in Hangzhou today trace back to this period.
During the Southern Song, West Lake was regularly dredged, and numerous pavilions, towers, temples, and secluded abodes were built along its shores. Between the emerald waters and verdant mountains, West Lake transformed into a landscape of "thirty miles of pavilions in a single hue," with countless imperial gardens, royal residences, and private parks. West Lake truly became a "paradise for sightseeing and leisure." There are numerous historical records and geographical texts from the Southern Song that document Hangzhou and West Lake place names. However, some of the recorded names may have appeared in earlier dynasties, but records from before the Southern Song are scarce, making it difficult to determine their origins. The exact locations of some names are also unclear and await further research.
The Southern Song pioneered the "Ten Scenes of West Lake," named as follows:
1. Su Causeway Dawn
2. Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds
3. Willow Waves Whistling Nightingales
4. Flower Watching Fish
5. Curving Island in Lotus Breeze
6. Flat Lake Autumn Moon
7. Nanping Evening Bell
8. Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon
9. Leifeng Sunset
10. Broken Bridge with Snow
The mountain peaks surrounding West Lake include:
- Yucan Mountain (southwest edge of West Lake, north of Qinglong Mountain)
- Yanshou Mountain
- Longhua Mountain
- Lingshi Mountain (southwest of Maojiabu, also known as Jiqing Mountain or Lingshi Valley)
- Jinzhong Peak
- Baojishan (near Jushi Mountain)
- Xijunshan (outside Qiantang Gate)
- Qibao Mountain (site of Samao Temple)
- Emei Mountain (Wu Mountain)
- Shifoshan (near Xushan)
- Ruishi Mountain (also known as Ziyang Mountain, south of Wu Mountain)
- Jindi Mountain (south of City God Temple)
- Baolian Mountain (north of Wu Mountain)
- Baoyue Mountain (west slope of Xushan)
- Caochang Mountain (near Emei Mountain)
- Baoshan (in Wu Mountain, west of shallow mountains)
- Qingping Mountain (also known as Qingping Mountain, south of Wu Mountain)
- Zhuyuan Mountain (north of Wu Mountain)
- Gou'er Mountain (inside Qingbo Gate)
- Hulin Mountain (inside Dongtaiyigong)
- Baoshan (on Lengshui Valley)
- Longshan (also known as Wolongshan or Hualongshan, now Yuhuangshan)
- Mamashan (now Tianmashan)