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, constitutes the West Lake Scenic Area, which 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 since 2002. 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

Historically, the lake has been referred to by various names, including the Qiantang Lake. 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.

Bai Juyi was among the first to refer to the lake as "West Lake", due to its location to the west of the city. 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. During the Eastern Han era (25–220), local official Hua Xin ordered the construction of a seawall to completely cut the lake off from the sea. 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.

Before the Tang dynasty (618–907), the West Lake was a small and shallow body of water, but continuous dredging efforts gradually transformed it. During the Jianzhong period (780–783) of the Tang dynasty, local official Li Mi diverted West Lake’s water into Hangzhou via an underground pipes, creating six ponds to secure the city’s water supply. In 822, Bai Juyi dredged West Lake and used the silt to build a long causeway between Qiantang and Yuhang Gates, which was named in his memory. Under the Wuyue Kingdom (907–932), with Hangzhou being the capital, King Qian Liu ordered annual dredging of West Lake with soldiers to maintain water quality for water supply. In the Song dynasty, Su Shi (1037–1101) ordered the construction of the Su Causeway from dredged silt in 1089. He designated an area of the lake with three stone pagodas to prevent water chestnut planting and reduce silting, which may mark the origin of the "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon." 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.

Creation of cultural image

Su Shi's Verse on West Lake by Zhao Mengfu in 1320

Literary works by renowned literati contributed to the fame of West Lake among Chinese intellectuals. Especially, the lake became associated with the two greatest poets of Middle-Period China, Bai Juyi and Su Shi. Su Xiaoxiao, a famous courtesan and poet of Southern Qi (479–502), was buried upon the West Lake. Her life and poetry have inspired later poets, including Li He and Wen Tingyun. Over time, local history became intertwined with the natural beauty. For example, Bai Juyi celebrates Su Xiaoxiao’s beauty and her connection to the enchanting scenery of the lake in one of his poem. When Su Shi (1037–1101) famously compared West Lake to Xizi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, the lake became known as the Xizi Lake:

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.

West Lake by Japanese painter Tomita Keisen (1909), with a tribute to Bai Juyi in the writing

During the period of Wuyue Kingdom (907–978), numerous temples, pagodas, shrines, and grottoes were built or expanded around the lake, including Lingyin, Zhaoqing, Jingci, Li’an, Liutong, and Taoguang temples, as well as the Baochu, Liuhe, Leifeng, and White pagodas, due to the devotion of its rulers to Buddhism. Since the 12th and 13th centuries, these temples, frequently visited by Japanese monks, played a significant role in circulating cultural images of the lake across East Asia, as these visitors returned to their home countries.

Due to the Jurchen conquest of northern China, the capital of the Song dynasty was relocated to Hangzhou since 1129. The imperial examination held every three years filled Hangzhou with educated individuals, who often enjoyed the lake's beauty and consulted fortune-tellers at lakeside temples. Visiting West Lake inspired poems that reflected on their experiences and memories of the scenery.

Scenic Attractions of West Lake (c. 14th century)

Emergence of pre-modern tourism

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. During this period of time, aesthetic appreciation of landscapes was made a popular business, with diverse entertainment options and standardised routes and viewing orders made 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.

Decorated boats on the lake

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 describes the lake in his book,

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 (est. 1221)

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.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.

The Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) saw the decline of tourism at the West Lake. Government support for maintaining the lake diminished, as Mongol rulers placed their political and economic focus on northern China rather than the south. The Mongol rulers, as well as local residents, blamed the lavish life upon the lake for the fall of Song. Therefore, the lake was abandoned. 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 (est. 1508)

Since the mid-Ming era, renewed dredging projects rekindled public interest in West Lake. In 1508, Hangzhou governor Yang Mengying led a major dredging effort, repairing the Su and Bai Causeways and creating the Yanggong Causeway in his memory. This restoration returned the lake’s appearance to its Tang dynasty splendour. Further construction works in 1576, 1607-1611 and 1621 built the Mid-lake Pavilion and the Lesser Yingzhou Islet.

As Hangzhou developed as a publishing centre, the production of geographic texts stimulated tourism, which in turn further fuelled the publishing industry. The period of time saw the publication of a series of books on local history and culture which depicted the West Lake, inspiring Japanese gardens such as the Kyū Shiba Rikyū Garden.

In the Manchu conquest of China (1618–1683), Hangzhou was conquered by the Manchu in 1645, which led to the construction of the Manchu city alongside the West Lake. During the High Qing era (1683–1799), emperors frequented southern China, to symbolise their control over China. Due to the visits by the Manchu emperors, the lake was fully dredged and renovated. In 1689, a temporary imperial palace was built on the Gushan. In 1722, Zhejiang governor Li Wei was ordered to dredge the lake. In 1809, the Ruangongdun Islet was built with silted soil, which was named after Ruan Yuan, then governor of Zhejiang.

Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake (mid-18th century)

The emperors revived and standardised the notion of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. The Kangxi Emperor inscribed titles for these scenes, which were later carved into stelae beneath ten pavilions. The Qianlong Emperor composed poems during his visits, which were then inscribed on the reverse side of Kangxi's stelae. He further inscribed the Eight Scenes of Dragon Well in the surrounding hills. In Beijing, imperial gardens, including the Garden of Delighted Spring and the Old Summer Palace, were designed to imitate the landscape designs of West Lake.

After the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) destroyed the buildings beside the lake, the West Lake revived, as major Qing military leaders, magnates and ranking officials, such as Peng Yulin built their villas upon the lake, which later became their memorial temples and shrines that were later maintained by a dedicated division of local government. In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was established, to manage the dredging of the West Lake.

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 dismantled, and imperial properties around the lake were nationalised. The former imperial garden was converted into Zhongshan Park, named in honour of Sun Yat-sen. The buildings associated with former Qing officials and generals were renamed to honour Ming loyalists, such as the Shrine of Former Martyrs. The railway link between Hangzhou and Shanghai, completed in 1909, stimulated local tourism. A great number of lakeside villas and garden were built, with the city walls torn down and tombs disallowed to be build around the lake.

Chiang Kai-shek's West Lake residence

The visitors included notable literati, such as Rabindranath Tagore and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, as well as the couple of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling spent their honeymoon by the lake. In 1922, the Chinese Communist Party held the Hangzhou Plenum here, initiating the first collaboration with Nationalists. In 1928, the National Academy of Art was founded on Gushan Island. In March 1937, Zhou Enlai and Chiang Kai-shek held a secret meeting at Yanxia Cave near the lake to negotiate the Second United Front against the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Japanese military seized Hangzhou in December 1945. Under Japanese rule, deforestation of the mountains surrounding West Lake led to rapid silting of the lake from soil erosion, due to a lack of maintenance. A Japanese shrine was built by the West Lake in October 1940, where the Japanese autumn festival was held to familiarise the ordinary Chinese people with Japanese Shinto. With the Japanese surrender in 1945, tourism at West Lake flourished once again, although the city itself faced severe economic challenges due to hyperinflation.

People's Republic

With the city seized by 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.

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 Ruangongdun Islet. 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.

General layout

The layout of the West Lake features "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

Baochu Pagoda and Beishan Road

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 (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, which 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. The causeway collapsed during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and was rebuilt in 1589. By the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the causeway became known as the Bai Causeway, in his memory.
• 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.

Five Lakes

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 interconnected by bridge arches.

• The Main Lake is bordered by Hubin Road to the east, Su Causeway to the west, Nanshan Road to the south, and Bai Causeway to the north.
• The West Inner Lake lies west of the Su Causeway.
• The North Inner Lake, also known as the Back Lake or the Inner Lake, extends from Duanqiao Bridge in the east to Xiling Bridge in the west, Gushan Hill to the south, and Beishan Street to the north.
• Yuehu Lake is located south of Yue Fei’s Temple, west of the Su Causeway, and south of the Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Winding Garden. Sources from the Republic of China era identify it as lying north of the Inner Lake, separated by the Zhaogong Causeway. This lake is likely named after Yue Fei’s Tomb, though earlier documentation is unavailable.
• Lesser South Lake lies north of Nanshan Road, west of the Su Causeway, and south of the Viewing Fish at Flowery Pond sight. Republican-era records describe it as situated west of Yinbo Bridge and south of Guanyu Pavilion.

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

Architecture

Temples and monasteries

Lingyin Temple

Buddhism’s roots around West Lake extend back to the 4th century with the establishment of Lingyin Temple and Tianzhu Temple. During the Five Dynasties period (907-960), the Wuyue rulers, who were devoted Buddhists, initiated extensive temple construction in the region. Notable temples from this period include Jingci Temple on Nanping Hill, Yunqi Temple in Fan Village, and Shangtianzhu Temple on Tianzhu Hill. In addition to these temples, pagodas such as Liuhe, Leifeng, and Baochu were erected, along with intricate stone Buddhist carvings in Yanxia Cave, Shiwu Cave, and on Feilaifeng Peak. During the Song Dynasty, Lingyin Temple and Jingci Temple gained recognition as two of the "Five Mountains and Ten Temples." Across the West Lake Scenic Area, there are 30 Buddhist sites officially designated as protected heritage sites. The Baopu Taoist Monastery, rebuilt in the 17th century, enshrines Ge Hong, a prominent Taoist scholar, alchemist, and medical scientist, who conducted Taoist practices and alchemical experiments on Geling Ridge near West Lake.

Tombs and memorial halls

Tombs of Yue Fei and Yue Yun

Yue Fei's Tomb and Temple serve as a memorial to Yue Fei, a legendary figure in Chinese history known for his loyalty and filial piety. Built in 1163, the tomb honours Yue Fei as a national hero and epitomises the Confucian values that have deeply influenced Chinese society for centuries. Tomb of Su Xiao Xiao is located near the Xiling Bridge on the north bank of the West Lake.

Pavilions and monuments

Wenlan Pavilion, built in 1784 and rebuilt in 1880, was the only one that exists library among the four libraries commissioned by the Qing imperial family for the collection of The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries.

Gardens and parks

Xizi Hotel

The northeastern shore of West Lake features Hubin Park, a series of six connected parks along the lakefront, surrounded by upscale shopping centers and hotels. At Park No. 3, visitors can enjoy a musical fountain with free performances every evening. To the northwest, Hangzhou Flower Nursery and Hangzhou Botanical Garden showcase a diverse array of flowers and plants. In the southwest, Taiziwan Park and Huagang Park draw visitors in spring with colorful tulips and seasonal blossoms. On the southeastern shore, Liulangwenying Park and Changqiao Park offer scenic views and spaces for relaxation.

Around West Lake, several historic private gardens have been preserved. Liu Villa, on the northwest shore, was originally a private Qing-dynasty garden reflecting classic Chinese landscape design. Today, it serves as the West Lake State Guest House, a luxury hotel known for hosting important events and guests. Wang Villa, on the southwestern corner of West Lake, was also built during the Qing dynasty and has since been restored as part of Xizi Hotel. Jiang Villa, on the eastern shore near the Lakeside area, now operates as the Lakeside Tea House. Guo Villa, located on the northwestern shore at the foot of Solitary Hill near Qixia Ridge, is one of Hangzhou’s best-preserved Qing-dynasty gardens and is open to the public as a government-run park.

Modern architecture

West Lake Museum

• Former Residence of Chiang Ching-kuo
• The West Lake Museum (located on the lake shore) is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the West Lake.

Geography

Misty Trees by Nine Streams

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.

Flora

Lotus in West Lake

Plum blossoms

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. 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.

Economy

Tourism

Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon on the Chinese banknote

Historically, West Lake served as a retreat for scholars and poets, including the Northern Song poet Lin Bu, who lived in seclusion along its shores. Recognised as a National Key Scenic Resort in 1982 and a national AAAAA tourist destination in 2006, the West Lake remains one of China’s most popular tourist attractions. As a national cultural icon, it has become a must-visit destination for Chinese visitors.

Agriculture and fishery

The Longjing Tea Plantation, particularly the Fenghuang Ridge at its center, is located in the hills to the west of West Lake in Hangzhou. This plantation has long been a significant site for Chinese tea culture. The tea grows on curved or open terraces, often next to brooks, with a backdrop of dense forests and streams. This region benefits from a monsoonal humid climate typical of the northern subtropical zone, characterized by distinct seasons, adequate rainfall, and year-round moisture. The plantation's micro-climate, influenced by its location between the Qiantang River to the north and the Jiuxi Streams to the south, creates a foggy and misty environment ideal for tea growth, especially in spring. The surrounding hills, such as Tianzhu Hill and Beigao Peak, protect the area from cold winds, while the deep valley leading to the Qiantang River draws in humid air, maintaining a warm, wet climate.

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

Culture

Visual arts

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

A human-made landscape, the West Lake exemplifies Chinese landscape aesthetics, symbolising harmony between humans and nature as well as the projection of human emotions onto natural scenery. The poetic names create framed views of scenery to be seen from specific locations. The West Lake landscape embodies six key elements inspired by Chinese literature:

• Natural hills and waters;
• A spatial arrangement with hills on three sides and the city on the fourth;
• A layout featuring two causeways and three isles;
• The tradition of poetic names for scenic spots;
• Historic monuments and sites;
• Distinctive flora.

Since the Song dynasty, people began imitating the views of the West Lake in their private gardens, borrowing one or more features of the West Lake. Such examples include the Kunming Lake and the West Causeway at the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Lower Lake at the Summer Retreat in Rehe, the poetic place names at the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden and Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden in Tokyo, Japan. For centuries, West Lake has also been a prominent theme in East Asian landscape painting, even though many painters may never have seen the lake in person. Japanese paintings of West Lake may even outnumber the existing Chinese depictions.

A Trip to Lake Abundant

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), Translation by Jerry Dean Schmidt

Literary works

West Lake has deeply influenced Chinese literature, inspiring poets and writers for centuries. Works by poets such as Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Xu Zhimo, and Hu Shih celebrate its historic sites and natural beauty. The Ming essayist Zhang Dai also honoured the lake in his writings, including Reminiscence and Dream of Tao'an and Search for West Lake in Dreams. In folklore, the West Lake serves as the setting for several popular tales, including The Legend of the White Snake, the stories of Ji Gong, and The Butterfly Lovers.

Music

During a visit to the West Lake in the 1930s, the Cantonese song writer Lü Wencheng composed Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake and Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. Tan Peiyun composed Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves. The three pieces have been regarded classics in Cantonese music. In 1959, the violin concerto Butterfly Lovers, based on the Yue Opera adaptation, was composed and became a masterpiece of Chinese orchestral music.

Between 2004 and 2008, Wang Guoping compiled and published The West Lake Series, which includes the Collection of Documents about the West Lake (30 volumes) and the Complete Library of the West Lake (50 volumes).

See also

• Slender West Lake
• West Lake (Huizhou)

References

Sources

• Duan, Xiaolin (2014). Scenic Beauty outside the City: Tourism around Hangzhou’s West Lake in the Southern Song (1127-1276) (PhD thesis). University of Washington.
• Duan, Xiaolin (2020). The rise of West Lake: a cultural landmark in the Song Dynasty. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-74711-8.
• He, Qiliang (2023). The people's West Lake: propaganda, nature, and agency in Mao's China, 1949-1976. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-9559-4.
• State Administration of Cultural Heritage (2011). West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (PDF) (Report). Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

External links

• Ten Classic Scenes of West Lake in History