Hangzhou West Lake

Introduction to the Beauty of Hangzhou West Lake Hangzhou West Lake, known as "Paradise on Earth", is a famous scenic spot in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, renowned for its unique natural landscape and profound cultural heritage. Here's an introduction to the main scenic spots of West Lake: Su Causeway Spring Dawn Su Causeway Spring Dawn, one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, is located at the foot of Nanping Mountain to the bottom of Qixia Peak. It is the best place to enjoy the whole lake view. Since its construction in the Northern Song Dynasty, the Su Causeway has maintained the landscape characteristic of planting peach trees and weeping willows alternately on both sides of the causeway. In spring, the peach blossoms and willows on both sides of the Su Causeway are vibrant, the fragrance of flowers fills the air, the morning light shines, and the lake shimmers. Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard is located in the northwest corner of West Lake. It was originally a winery in the Southern Song Dynasty. In summer, the lotus flowers are in full bloom, the lake is vast, the lotus leaves are lush, small bridges flow with water, and ancient pavilions dot the scene, forming a vivid natural picture. Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake The viewing spot for Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake is located at the west end of Bai Causeway, backed by Gushan Mountain and facing the outer lake. In the clear autumn weather, the lake is as calm as a mirror, and the bright autumn moon hangs high in the sky. The moonlight and the lake water complement each other, giving a sense of "one color of lake light, thousands of acres of autumn". Broken Bridge Residual Snow Broken Bridge Residual Snow generally refers to the scene after a winter snowfall, where the sunny side of the bridge's ice and snow melts, but the shady side still has residual snow like silver. Looking from a high place, the bridge seems broken but not broken. Standing on the bridge and looking around, the distant mountains and nearby waters are all in sight, making it an excellent place to appreciate the snow scenery of West Lake. Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds refers to the two peaks, Nan Peak and North Peak, located in the southwest and northwest of West Lake, respectively. The two peaks face each other from a distance, stretching for 5 kilometers. When the mountains are shrouded in clouds and mist, the two peaks occasionally reveal their twin tips, as if piercing the clouds, with a majestic and lofty momentum. Orioles Singing in the Willows Orioles Singing in the Willows is located on the southeast bank of West Lake, at Qingbo Gate. It is a large park covering 17 hectares. It was the imperial garden during the Southern Song Dynasty, called Jujing Garden, and the old scenery of Orioles Singing in the Willows was restored in the Qing Dynasty. The whole park is divided into four scenic areas: Friendship, Orioles Singing, Jujing, and South Garden. Willow groves are set against precious trees and flowers such as Phoebe zhennan, cedar, magnolia grandiflora, as well as flowering peach, begonia, and Chinese rose. Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Mountain Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Mountain is one of the earliest scenes among the Ten Scenes of West Lake. As early as the late Northern Song Dynasty, the painter Zhang Zeduan painted "Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Mountain". Nanping Mountain stretches across the southern bank of West Lake. The mountain is no more than 100 meters high, but it extends for more than 1,000 meters. The mountain is dotted with strange rocks and lush green trees. On a sunny day, the green hills under the blue sky and white clouds are a feast for the eyes. On a foggy day, the clouds and mist cover the mountains, making them seem to dance gracefully, ethereal and elusive. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Island, together with Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruan Gongdun Island, are known as the "Three Islands in the Lake", resembling the legendary Penglai Three Islands in ancient China, hence also known as Little Yingzhou. Covering an area of about 7.67 hectares, it is the most iconic landscape of Hangzhou West Lake. Overlooking Little Yingzhou, it looks like a huge character "田" (field). Little Yingzhou is dotted with garden buildings such as Kaiwang Pavilion, Three Pavilions, Nine Lions Stone, Leisure Platform, Yingcui Pavilion, and My Heart to Yours Pavilion. These scenic spots not only showcase the natural beauty of West Lake but also embody profound cultural significance and historical stories, making them a significant reason for tourists to linger.