West Lake

West Lake

来源 : 亿校云     作者 : 亿校云     时间 : 2020-04-12点击量21

 

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'Sunny water waves its glow,

Misty rain tricks the hill.

Plainly or gaily decked out like Xi Zi,

West Lake is always alluring.'


These are the words composed by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127). In this poem, he compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, one of the four beauties in ancient China. These poetic sentiments depict the charm of the lake which has always been a beautiful and romantic spot since ancient times. 


Measuring 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) in length, 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) in width, and 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) in average depth, the lake spreads itself in an area totaling 6.5 square kilometers (2.5 square miles). Embraced by mountains on three sides, the West Lake knits itself into the North Inner Lake, the Yuehu Lake, the West Inner Lake, the South Lake and the West Outer Lake by the fabric of the Bai Causeway, the Su Causeway and the Yang Causeway. Between the North Inner Lake and the West Outer Lake lies the largest natural island called the Solitary Hill. In addition, three man-made islands stand in the West Outer Lake: the Lesser Paradise Island, the Mid-lake Pavilion, and the Ruangong Islet; and two famous pagodas by the lake: the Leifeng Pagoda to the south and the Baochu Pagoda to the north.  Nowadays, West Lake is one of the top ten scenic areas in China, getting listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. It is famous for the romantic legends and intoxicating scenery.



Legend of West Lake

Of all the legends, the most touching one is the love story between Bai Suzhen and Xu Xi'an. Bai Suzhen was a white snake spirit and Xu Xi'an was a mortal man. They fell in love with each other when they first met on a boat on the West Lake, and got married very soon. But the evil monk Fa Hai attempted to separate the couple by imprisoning Xu Xi'an. Bai Suzhen fought against Fa Hai and tried her best to rescue his husband. But she failed and was imprisoned under the Leifeng Pagoda by the lake. Years later the couple was rescued by Xiao Qing, the sister of Baisuzhen. From then on, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xi'an lived together happily. Because of the moving story, the lake becomes an ideal place for dating.



Top Ten Scenes at West Lake Scenic Area

There are many beautiful landscapes in the lake area, and the following are the most famous Top Ten Scenes.


Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring(Chinese:苏堤春晓)

As the No. 1 of ten scenes of the West Lake, the Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring is intoxicating and delighting. With a length of 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles), the Su Causeway was constructed under the guidance of the great poet Su Dongpo in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). There are six bridges along the causeway, including the Crossing Rainbow Bridge, the Eastern Lakeside Bridge, the Suppressing Dike Bridge, the Viewing Hills Bridge, the Locking Waves Bridge, and the Reflecting Ripples Bridge. There is a willow or a peach tree every certain distance. In spring, the green willow buds and the pink peach blossoms will take the breath of tourists away, hence the fame.



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Winery Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer

The Winery Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer in the northwest of the lake is a time-honored scenic spot. It is said that there used to be a winery surrounded by lotus flowers in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) there. The fragrance of the lotus flowers and the aroma of wine waft coherently through the summer air, hence the name of the scenic spot. Presently, the scenic spot comes in five parts, including the Yuehu Lake, the Bamboo Garden, the Lakeside Woods, the Winery Yard, and the Lotus Pool. With a variety of lotus flowers dancing around, a culture of imperial wine back to the Southern Song Dynasty unfolding for you and a sight of southern-China garden coming your way, what an enjoyably unforgettable experience you have!




Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn

West Lake has been an ideal place to appreciate the glorious full moon since ancient times. The Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn is to the west of the Bai Causeway by the West Outer Lake. It consists of the Imperial Stele Pavilion, an octagonal pavilion, a platform over the lake, and some other buildings. The broad platform is a perfect spot to admire the full moon. In addition, there is a Xiling Calligraphy and Painting Gallery. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful moonlight, and feel the atmosphere of traditional Chinese culture.



Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge in Winter

The Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge in Winter scenic spot is at the foot of the Precious Stone Hill to the east end of the Bai Causeway. Built in 1921, the single-span Broken Bridge is 8.8 meters (9.6 yards) long, and 8.4 meters (9.4 yards) wide. When seen from the Baoshi Mountain after snow, the bridge seems as if it were broken because the snow in the middle part has melted while the snow at the ends is still lingering. The remaining white snow is glistening in the sunshine. It is fabulous!


Orioles Singing in the Willows

The Orioles Singing in the Willows Scene is located at the Qingbo Gate to the southeast of the Outer West Lake. It was the largest imperial garden called the Landscape Gathering Garden in the Southern Song Dynasty. Along the nearby dike are willows of various species. At the center of the garden is the Orioles House. Near the Orioles is a gigantic bird cage called the 'Birds' Paradise'. In March, tourists can appreciate the flying willow branches while listening to the warbling of orioles. It is intoxicating!


Viewing Fish at Flower Pond

Located at the Red Carp Pond to the south of the Su Causeway, the Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Scenic Spot is a large park of over 20 hectares (49 acres). It is made up of five scenic spots: flower harbor, the red carp pond, the peony garden, the great lawn, and groves. The whole park is surrounded by the flower harbor, a sightseeing river way that connects the West Inner Lake with the South Lake. The red carp pond at the center of the park is swarming with red carp. Tourists can lean on the rails of a zigzag bridge to appreciate them. To the west of the red carp pond are exuberant groves and the Peony Garden centering on the Peony Pavilion. When these peonies are in full blossom, the gentle breeze blows the petals onto the surface of the lake, forming an amazing scene. To the north of the red carp pond is a large lawn interspersed with arbors for tourists to have a rest. For centuries, the Viewing Fish at Flower Pond has provided natural beauty and cultural connotations for emperors and poets who have expressed their admiration through poems, calligraphy, and drawings.


Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow(Chinese:雷峰夕照)    

The Leigfeng Pagoda in Evening Glow scene is located at the top of the Evening Glow Mountain to the south of the West Outer Lake. At dusk, the evening glow and the spectacular Leifeng Pagoda are reflected in the rippling lake. It looks very beautiful! The Leifeng Pagoda was constructed by the king of the Wuyue Kingdom to celebrate the pregnancy of his concubine during the Five Dynasties and Ten Sates Period (907-960). It was damaged and renovated several times later. Standing on the pagoda over 70 meters (230 feet) in height, tourists can enjoy the panoramic view of the lake.


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Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds

Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds refers to South Peak and North Peak. The South Peak is 256.9 meters (843 feet) in height, and the North Peak is 355 meters (1,165 feet). They face each other across a distance of about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). The natural scenery is exceptionally beautiful, especially when it is cloudy or after a rainfall. At that time, only the two tops of the peaks can be seen in the thick fog. It looks as if the fog is being pierced by the two peaks, thus the name 'Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds'.


Long ago Buddhist temples and pagodas were constructed on the tops of the two peaks, making the place a great attraction and listed as one of the ten famous scenic sites of the lake during the Southern Song Dynasty. Over the years the temples and pagodas were abandoned and fell into disrepair. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Emperor Kangxi renamed the area Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds when he traveled to the lake and erected a pavilion at the Hongchun Bridge on the Lingyin Road.


Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill

The Nanping Hill to the south of the West Outer Lake is less than 100 meters (328 feet) high, but it is more than 1,000 meters (1,094 yards) long. The Jingci Temple at the foot of the Nanping Hill was constructed by the king of the Wuyue Kingdom in 954 during the Five Dynasties and Ten States Period. The famous Xingjiao Temple also at the hill foot was built in the fifth year (972) of the Kaibao Period in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The bells ring at dawn and drums beat at dust in the temples. The rocks and caves in the Nanping Hill vibrate in resonance with the incoming sound-waves. The beautiful sounds can be repeated again and again.



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