West Lake

For other uses, see West Lake (disambiguation).

West Lake
西湖 (Chinese)
Pagoda on Lake
West Lake
Location	Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Coordinates	30°14′49″N 120°08′39″E
Type	Natural freshwater lake
Part of	Qiantang River Basin
Primary outflows	Grand Canal
Basin countries	China
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 (7.4 ft)
Shore length1	15 km (9.3 mi)
Surface elevation	10 metres (33 ft)
Settlements	Hangzhou
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iii, vi
Reference	1334
Inscription	2011 (35th Session)
Area	3,322.88 ha
Buffer zone	7,270.31 ha
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 si ɦu Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sāi wùh Jyutping sai1wu4 IPA [sɐj˥ wu˩] Southern Min Tâi-lô Se ôo

West Lake (Chinese: 西湖; 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 square kilometres (2.47 sq mi), stretching 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) from north to south and 2.8 kilometres (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, primarily Buddhist, 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 . The lake was introduced to Europeans by Marco Polo, making it once a symbol of Chinese urban culture in the West. The lake is featured on Chinese currency, including the one-yuan note 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, 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. 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.

Map of the West Lake in Hangzhou, China

Names

The lake was first mentioned in the Book of Han as Wulin Waters. Since then, the lake has been referred to by various names, but only two have gained widespread acceptance. The first is "Qiantang Lake," named after Qiantang, the ancient name of Hangzhou. The second is "West Lake," due to its location to the west of the city.

Bai Juyi, the mayor of Hangzhou from 822 to 824 and a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty, was one of the first to refer to the lake as "West Lake," mentioning it in two of his poems. During the Song Dynasty, the name "Qiantang Lake" gradually fell out of favour, as most poems and writings by scholars began to use "West Lake."

Su Shi, who served as mayor of Hangzhou from 1071 to 1073, was the first to use the name in official documents, in his request to the Imperial Court for the dredging of the lake.

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) 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 the Records of the Grand Historian, during his visit in 210 BC, the emperor was halted by the strong tide of the Qiantang River and had to take a detour westward to reach Shaoxing.

As the earliest historical record to mention the lake, the Treatise on Geography in the Book of Han, describes the water body as originating in the Wulin Hills and flowing eastward into the sea for 350 km (220 mi). During the Eastern Han era (25–220), a seawall was constructed to protect the emerging land east to the lake from the strong tide of the Qiantang River. 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.

Early development

Leifeng Pagoda

Before the Tang dynasty (618-907), the West Lake was a small and shallow body of water, but continuous hydraulic engineering efforts gradually transformed it. In 781, Li Mi, then mayor of Hangzhou, ordered the construction of six wells in densely populated areas, connecting them with underground pipes made of bamboo and clay. This system allowed water from the lake to be supplied to the city. The only remaining well from this project is the Xiangguo Well, located west of Jinting Bridge on Jiefang Road. Later, during his tenure as mayor from 822 to 824, Bai Juyi ordered the restoration and reinforcement of the lake's deteriorating old dykes, adding a dam and dredging the lake, to control water flow and support irrigation. This project led to the construction of the Baisha Causeway, later known as the Bai Causeway in his honour.

With the collapse of the Tang dynasty, Hangzhou became the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom (907–978). During this period, sediment accumulated rapidly in West Lake, making dredging a routine maintenance task. In 927, Qian Liu, the king of Wuyue, organised an army of 1,000 men to clear grasses and deepen the lake, thereby preserving the lake’s water body. As part of their devotion to Buddhism, the Wuyue rulers built numerous temples, pagodas, shrines, and grottoes around the lake. They expanded Lingyin Temple and built Zhaoqing, Jingci, Li’an, Liutong, and Taoguang temples, as well as the Baochu, Liuhe, Leifeng, and White pagodas. This extensive religious development earned Wuyue the title of the "Buddhist Kingdom." The successor to Wuyue, the Song dynasty (960 to 1279), continued the dredging work. Su Shi, a famous writer who served as mayor of Hangzhou from 1071 to 1073, ordered the lake to be dredged and used the dredged mud to create a wide, extended causeway, on noticing the drought caused by weed-clogged irrigation channels. The Su causeway, named after the mayor building it, was lined with willow trees and spanning 2.6 km (1.6 mi), which includes six bridges, each named for its distinct features.

Tourist attraction

"The lovely Spring breeze has come Back to the Lake of the West. The Spring waters are so clear and Green they might be freshly painted. The clouds of perfume are sweeter Than can be imagined. In the Gentle East wind the petals Fall like grains of rice."

—Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072), excerpts from Spring Day on West Lake

Since the Tang-Song transition, 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.

Aesthetic appreciation of landscapes was made a popular business. Diverse entertainment options, with standardised routes and viewing orders, became available to cater to various preferences and budgets. Tour guides, seasonal markets and specialty shops emerged. Boating on the lake was a popular pastime, with records noting hundreds of intricately carved, elegantly decorated boats gliding gracefully over the water. For visitors, touring West Lake combined material enjoyment and sensory experience of the landscape. The life upon the lake was often described as extravagant and luxurious by writers and poets, such as Wu Zimu and Lin Sheng.

In 1215, the renowned painter Muqi Fachang revitalised the abandoned Liutong Temple, further contributing to the cultural and artistic vibrancy of the area. In the Yuan dynasty, West Lake remained socially vibrant, with a lively population enthusiastic about singing and dancing. The Book of Yuan records that in 1309, “more than 1,200 foreign visitors came to Hangzhou [...] within half a year.” An increasing number of merchants and travellers from Turkestan and western Europe also visited Hangzhou, including the Venetian explorer Marco Polo, who praised it as “the most splendid heavenly city in the world.” Under Kublai Khan, the lake was dredged and renamed the “Pond of Freeing Captive Animals”, while parts of the lake area were gradually cultivated into farmland.

"Green mountains surround on all sides the still waters of the lake. Pavilions and towers in hues of gold and azure rise here and there. One would say a landscape composed by a painter. Only towards the east, where there are no hills, does the land open out, and there sparkle, like fishes' scales, the bright coloured tiles of a thousand roofs."

—From Daily life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250–1276

In the late Yuan dynasty, West Lake suffered from neglect, with affluent families and nobility enclosing sections of the lake for private use. As a result, the lake deteriorated significantly, much of it silting up and transforming into swampland. Local people attributed the fall of the Song dynasty to the West Lake, believing that the indulgent lifestyles of the upper class, who were often absorbed in the lake’s entertainments, contributed to the dynasty’s decline. This association of the lake with luxury and excess made local authorities and residents reluctant to invest in its restoration.

Ming dynasty

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon in West Lake, Hangzhou, China

But later in the Ming dynasty, Hangzhou began to restore its prosperity in the Xuande and Zhengtong eras (1426–1449). Then, the local government kept a close watch on West Lake. In the 16th year of the Hongzhi era (one source suggests it was the 3rd year of the Zhengde era) the then governor Yang Mengying (楊孟瑛), with the support of special envoy Ju Liang (車粱), obtained approval to dredge the lake, despite much resistance from local magnates. This project was funded by the Engineering Department. The West Lake Visit Guide (西湖游覽志) recorded, "The work commenced in February... It took 152 days, and 6,700,000 men at a cost of 23,607 silver taels, and the removal of 3,481 acres of illegal fields... Thus, West Lake was restored to its image in the Tang and Song dynasties." The dredging project extended the water surface from west of Su Causeway to Hongchun Bridge and Mao Jia Bu. The excavated silt was used to broaden Su Causeway, and also used to build a long causeway in western Inside Lake, called "Yanggong Causeway" (楊公堤).

Both in the Ming and Qing dynasties, West Lake was dredged several times. The silt dug up was heaped to form two islands in the lake, "Huxin Island" and "Xiao Ying Zhou".

In 1607, the governor of Qiantang County, Nie Xintang (聶心湯), constructed a circular causeway from south to west outside the Fangsheng Pond of the island "Xiao Ying Zhou", which resulted in a unique view of "Island in Lake, Lake in Island". In 1611, Yang Wanli subsequently built the outer bank, and the whole plot was realized by 1620. Outside the pond were erect three small stony pagodas, called "Three Ponds (or Pools) Mirroring the Moon" (三潭印月; sān tán yìn yuè), which often give also their name to the Xiao Ying island.

Qing Dynasty

Qian King Temple, one of the major attractions of Xī Hú: Listening Orioles Singing in the Willows

The Kangxi and Qianlong emperors of the Qing dynasty toured South China and stopping by Hangzhou many times; which helped to expedite the revamping and rehabilitation of West Lake. The Kangxi Emperor visited Hangzhou five times, and wrote the names of "Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake" selected in the Southern Song dynasty. The local governor then inscribed the emperor's handwriting onto stelae and built pavilions over them. Thereafter those scenes such as "Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds" and "Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn" acquired fixed locations for appreciation. During the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor, "Eighteen Scenic Sites of West Lake" had developed into a new nomenclature together with enriched tourism resources. The Qianlong Emperor visited Hangzhou six times, composing poems as well as erecting stelae for the "Ten Scenic Spots". He also wrote names for "Eight Scenic Spots of Dragon Well", bringing renown to the mountainous scenery of remote the Dragon Well region (Longjing). In the Qianlong era, two Hangzhou natives, brothers Qu Hao and Qu Han, co-authored a book called "A Glance at Lakes and Hills", recording as many as 1,016 tourist spots around West Lake. This is the earliest known travel guide in Hangzhou.

During the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor, West Lake still preserved a water area of 7.54 square kilometers, but more than 20 acres (81,000 m²) were shoals. Due to extensive dredging projects, the lake area spread beyond the west of now Xishan Road to the neighborhood of Hongchun Bridge, Maojia Bu, Turtle Pond, and Chishan Bu. In the fifth year of the Yongzheng era, the governor of Zhejiang and Right Vice Director of the Court of Censors, Li Wei, spent 42,742 silver taels to dredge the lake. He built stone weirs in Jinsha Harbor, Chishan Bu, Jingjia Hill and Maojia Bu in order to store water and to flush out the lake silt. In 1800, Yan Jian (顏檢), the governor of Zhejiang, beseeched the imperial court to support a hydraulic project in West Lake. The project was supervised by the governor of Zhejiang, Ruan Yuan, who had the excavated silt piled into a mound, which was then named "Ruan Gong Dun" (阮公墩; 'Lord Ruan's Pier'). By then, the modern configuration of West Lake was determined. In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was founded, and a Qiantang native, Ding Bin, was appointed as director.

Republican era

The lake became open to the public, with the opening of several public parks, after the 1911 Revolution. The completion of the Shanghai-Hangzhou railway in 1916 has made commercial tourism to the lake became one of the pillar industries of Hangzhou. The special memorial edition of Hangzhou government 10th anniversary" says, from 1930 to 1936, the recorded tourists to Hangzhou were counted to 32,845.

Cloud-Sustained Path in a Bamboo Grove

Hangzhou's tourism resources became more abundant in the Republican era, as scenic spots and cultural relics were steadily added around West Lake. The government converted the imperial garden of the imperial palace remaining from the Qing dynasty into a park, on Solitary Hill. In 1927, the park was renamed "Zhongshan Park" or "Sun Yat-sen Park". On the left side of the park, the Zhejiang Martyrs' Memorial was built, honoring those deceased when the Zhejiang army captured Jinling. In addition, tombs for Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were constructed near Xiling Bridge. In 1917, the Dabei Pavilion in Lingyin Temple was erected, and the Yue Wang Temple and Yue Fei's tomb were renovated several times. From 1923 to 1931, the Huanglong Dong was built. From 1923 to 1924, the deserted Qian King Temple was renovated and converted to a garden. In 1933, the leaning Baochu Pagoda was revamped.

The construction of parks in Hangzhou started with Lakeside Park in the Republican era. In 1912, the military government of Zhejiang demolished the city walls from Qiantang Gate to Yongjin Gate as well as the fortress of banners, and built Hubing Rd along the lakeside. Hurdles were put up 20 meters from the lake and flowers and trees were planted. The area was called "Lakeside Park", covering around one Chinese mile and was divided into five parks, first to fifth. In the spring of 1930, the city government paved a land of around 21 mu with mud dredged out of the lake from north of Changsheng Rd to Qiantang Gate, and founded Sixth Park. From 1928 to 1933, Zhejiang's provincial government erected "Chen Yingshi Statue", "North Expedition Martyr Memorial Tower" and "Martyrs of 88 Division in Songhu Campaign Memorial Stela" at the piers of Third Park, Second Park and Fifth Park, respectively.

Due to continuous digging by stealth on its base, Leifeng Pagoda, after lasting nearly a thousand years, collapsed suddenly on September 25, 1924. It was shocking news in media. Lu Xun purposely wrote "Comment on the Collapse of Leifeng Pagoda" and "Second Comment on the Collapse of Leifeng Pagoda", making a remark on this incident. The fall of Leifeng Pagoda also put an end to one of "Ten Scenes of West Lake", "Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset" (雷峰夕照).

From June 6 to October 20, 1929, the government of Zhejiang hosted the first "West Lake Expo", and total participants numbered over 20 million. The location of West Lake Expo was set at areas around the lakeside, such as Broken Bridge, Solitary Hill, Yue-Wang Temple, and North Hill. The primary purpose of the expo was to promote national products and encourage enterprises. Besides over 1,000 delegate groups from nationwide, involved included delegates from America, Japan, Britain, Indonesia and other countries. It was the largest and longest pageant in Hangzhou during the Republican era.

People's Republic

Misty Trees by Nine Streams

During the Mao Zedong era (1949-1976), major hydrological works, along with other construction projects, took place, to exemplify socialist achievements.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Hangzhou was among the first places opened to tourism. The city government preserved the mountain area around the lake and planted a large number of trees. Meanwhile, West Lake was extensively dredged. Within West Lake scenery zone, a new botanical garden and flower garden was opened. Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港觀魚) park, and Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪聞鶯) park were constructed. Fish Viewing at the Jade Springs and Yongjin Park were rebuilt. Lingyin Temple, Jingci Temple, Yue-Wang Temple, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月), Lake-heart Pavilion and other spots were renovated. In addition, West Huanhu Rd (Xishan Rd), Longjin Rd and Jiuxi Rd were newly built. In 1959, West Lake of Hangzhou received over 1,400 foreign tourists, over 2,300 tourists from Hong Kong and Macao and over five million domestic visitors.

During the Cultural Revolution Liutong Temple and another temple were destroyed.

After the Cultural Revolution, the number of tourists to West Lake increased again. In 1978, it received 53,000 tourists from overseas and Hong Kong and Macao combined, in addition to about six million domestic travelers.

In May 1983, the state council named Hangzhou "Famed Historical and Cultural City" and "National Key Scenic Tourism City". In September 1984, the executive office of state council instructed that Hangzhou evolve to the tourism center of Southeast China and a first-class international scenic tourism city. Thereafter Hangzhou government refurbished Lingyin Temple, Tianzhu Temple, Jingci Temple, Yue-Wang Temple, Dacheng Hall, stela pavilions of "Ten Scenes" and other relics. Resorts such as Galloping Tiger Spring were expanded. Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer (曲院風荷) park was founded. New spot "Exploring Plum Blossoms at Ling Peak" (靈峰探梅) was opened. Archaizing carnivals were held in Huanglong Dong and Ruangong Dun. There were also night gardens and music night markets for amusement.

In 1949, West Lake silted up, with average depth of merely 0.55 meters and capacity only 4 million cubic meters. Marshy weeds blanketed the lake bed so that large boat could only make their ways through specific channels. In 1950, the government listed West Lake dredging as a national investment project. Hangzhou launched the West Lake Dredging Project in 1951 to excavate the silt thoroughly. By 1954, all the work had been mechanized. The project concluded in 1959. As a result, the achieved average depth was 1.808 meters with nadir of 2.6 meters. The capacity elevated to 10,271,900 cubic meters. The silt was used to fill 18 ponds or lacunae in surrounding areas including Zhaoqing Temple and Qingbo Park. However, because of the erosion and sediment on lake bed afterward, the depth of the water lessened to 1.47 meters. The government thus invested two million yuan in 1976 to dredge the lake again. By 1980, the depth increased to 1.5 meters. Besides dredging work, the city government substantially fortified the lake shore, resulting in a bank of total length of 29,800 meters. That was the largest bank enhancement project in the history of West Lake. Along with the project, more than 10 piers for mooring the boats were renovated or newly built in Lakeside Park, Zhongshan Park, Yue Fei's tomb and both sides of Su Causeway.

The West Lake Diversion Project was inaugurated on 1 February 1985. The project built a pump at Zhakou section of Qiantang River, and drew 300,000 cubic meters of water daily, equivalent to one thirty-third of total capacity of the lake. As a consequence, the lake's water body transparency was increased by 5 to 7 cm. Other the other hand, The lake-wide sewage interception project was launched in 1978, and was finished in 1981. It was divided into three branches, southern, western and northern, buried sewage tunnels of over 17 kilometers, and was equipped with 10 pumping stations.

The Back of the One Yuan note of RMB, 5th Version

In 1984, five organizations including Hangzhou Daily newspaper sponsored voting for the "New Ten Scenes in West Lake". The elected new scenes are Cloud-Sustained Path in a Bamboo Grove (雲棲竹徑), Misty Trees by Nine Streams (九溪煙樹), Dreams at Galloping Tiger Spring (虎跑夢泉), Yellow Dragon Cave Dressed in Green (黃龍吐翠), Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong Village (滿隴桂雨), Clouds Scurrying over Jade Emperor Hill (玉皇飛雲), Inquiring about Tea at Dragon Well (龍井問茶), Precious Stone Hill Floating in Rosy Clouds (寶石流霞), Heavenly Wind over Wushan Hill (吳山天風), and Ruan's Mound Encircled by Greenness (阮墩環碧). While embracing both exquisite natural beauty and abundant cultural deposits, West Lake of Hangzhou was among the first "National Key Scenic Tourist Resorts" in 1982, and elected one of "Ten Chinese Scenic Sites" in 1985.

After 71 years, the West Lake Expo was launched in Xi Hu in 2000. The new exhibition was held from October 20 to November 10, attracting 1,400,000 tourists domestic and overseas. The tourism industry brought in 1.12 billion RMB. The Expo greatly enhanced the reputation of West Lake domestically and internationally. Thereafter the West Lake Expo was made a conventional annual celebration.

Images of the West Lake have appeared various times on Chinese currency. The picture of "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon" was printed on the backs of both the foreign exchange certificate one yuan bill issued by the government in 1979 and the fifth version of RMB one yuan bill issued in 2004.

Entering the 21st century, West Lake witnessed several environmental renovation projects. First of them was "West Lake Southern Side Renovation Project". From February to October 2002, Hangzhou government incorporated four large parks on the southern side of the lake, and these four parks have been free to public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On October 25, 2002, on the old site of the Leifeng Pagoda which collapsed 78 years ago, a new pagoda with height of 71.7 meters was erected.

Literary works

Over the centuries, the beauty and culture of West Lake has attracted numerous literati, who left behind works of literature and poetry to describe the lake. For example, Dream in West Lake and The Enchiridion of Lake and Mountain recorded a lot about West Lake and ancient Hangzhou historic anecdotes. Poets such as Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Xu Zhimo and Hu Shih also wrote countless poems about West Lake. The Chinese legend Legend of the White Snake is also set in West Lake in Hangzhou and has been adapted into films and television series over the years.

Geography

About the formation of West Lake, there are few records in ancient documents. The "West Lake Sight-Seeing Record" (西湖游覽志) says, "West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Streams wander down the hills into the pond. There're hundreds of springs underneath. Accumulated water forms the lake." (西湖三面環山，溪谷縷注，下有淵泉百道，潴而為湖。) Modern scholars studied topography, geology, sediment and hydrodynamics, and generally held that West Lake was a lagoon formed gradually from a gulf. In 1920, scientist Zhu Kezhen published "The Cause of Formation of West Lake in Hangzhou" (杭州西湖生成的原因) after examining the topography around the lake. He claimed, "West Lake originally was a little bay on left side of Qiantang River. Later the earth in the river sedimented and slowly corked the mouth of the bay, hence a lagoon formed." Zhu postulated, based on the calculation of the rate of sedimentation, that West Lake was formed about 12,000 years ago, when the lake would have been significantly larger than now; and, that the lake's water area had gradually shrunk, due to its being filled by sediments carried down from the creeks in the hills which surround it on three sides. West Lake would no longer exist today without all the dredging work done in the historical period. In 1924, geologist Zhang Hongzhao (章鴻釗) published "One Explanation of the Formation of West Lake". While supporting Zhu's arguments, he supplemented that the formation of West Lake started with tidal force building the lake bank. Later, the alterations of the beach helped to maintain the water level. These were two prerequisites to the formation of the lake.

The outline of the lake body of the West Lake is nearly oval, and the bottom of the lake is relatively flat. The natural surface water source of the lake is four streams: Jinsha River, Longhong River, Chishangrun (Huiyingrun) and Changqiao River. West Lake is located in the southeastern edge of China's hills and the northern edge of the subtropical zone. The annual total solar radiation is between 100 and 110 kcal/cm2, and the sunshine hours are between 1800 and 2100 hours.

Hydrological characteristics

The outline of the lake body of the West Lake is almost oval, the bottom of the lake is relatively flat. The catchment area of the west lake is 21.22 square kilometers, with annual runoff of 14 million cubic meters and storage of nearly 14 million cubic meters. The west lake draws water from the Qiantang River, about 120 million cubic meters per year. The natural surface water sources of the lake are Jinsha stream (金沙涧), long hong stream (龙泓涧), Qishan stream (huiyin stream)(赤山涧（慧因涧）) and changqiao stream (长桥溪).

The storage capacity is about 14.294 million cubic meters. The average depth of the lake is 2.27 meters, with the deepest being about 5 meters and the shallowest being less than 1 meter. The average annual precipitation on the lake is 5.629 million cubic meters. The scour coefficient of the water system is 1.49. When the gate of the reservoir is closed in a dry season, the flow rate is equal to 0. Even in the flood period, the general flow rate is only below 0.05 m/s.

The water level of the lake is maintained at the yellow sea level of 7.15 meters, ±0.05 meters. The highest water level of 7.70 meters and the lowest water level of 6.92 meters, with a difference of 50 centimeters.

Ecology

Flora

Lotus in West Lake

Plum blossoms

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.

Peach Blossom: 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.

Lotus: 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.

Osmanthus: 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.

Plum blossom: 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.

Tulip: 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.

Fauna

View of Xī Hú from a row boat

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

Influences

"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), excerpts from A Trip to Lake Abundant (translation by Jerry Dean Schmidt)

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

West Lake is said to be the incarnation of Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Since ancient times, West Lake was associated with a large number of romantic poets, profound philosophers, national heroes and heroines. West Lake was also the retreat for many Chinese writers of the past. The Northern Song Dynasty poet Lin Bu, shunning the life of being an official, lived in seclusion by West Lake for twenty years, and dedicated himself to the cultivation of peach and plum blossoms. The great Ming dynasty essayist Zhang Dai, wrote a number of essays about West Lake in Reminiscence and Dream of Tao'an (陶庵夢憶), and a whole book: Search for West Lake in Dreams (西湖夢尋). West Lake has had a profound impact on Far Eastern landscape designs, and its features have often been imitated by other palaces and gardens, such as Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace in Beijing, the central ponds of the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden and Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden in Tokyo, Japan, among others.

Due to its prominent historical and cultural status, West Lake was selected as a National Key Scenic Resort in 1982, one of Ten Scenic Resorts in 1985 and a national 5A tourist resort in 2006.

Along with its cultural importance, West Lake historically was also of value for local commercial fishermen. 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).

Attractions

Yue Fei Memorial Hall

Other attractions include:

• Yue Fei Temple, the tomb and memorial hall to Yue Fei.
• Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist monastery and surrounding hills.
• Long Jing tea farms (龙井茶园), an area renowned for the quality of Tea.
• Jingci Temple
• Galloping Tiger Spring (虎跑梦泉), a spring famous for its mineral water
• Tomb of Su Xiao Xiao (苏小小墓)
• The West Lake Museum (located on the lake shore) is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the West Lake.
• Former Residence of Chiang Ching-kuo

Ten Scenes of West Lake

Traditionally, there are ten best-known scenic spots on the West Lake, each remembered by a four-character epithet. Collectively, they are known as the "Ten Scenes of West Lake" (10 Scenic Spots in West Lake 西湖十景). Each is marked by a stele with an epithet written in the calligraphy of the Qianlong Emperor. They are:

• Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer (曲院風荷)
• Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn (平湖秋月)
• Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter (斷橋殘雪)
• Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset (雷峰夕照)
• Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds (雙峰插雲)
• Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪聞鶯)
• Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港觀魚)
• Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月)
• Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill (南屏晚鐘)
• Spring Dawn at Su Causeway (苏堤春晓)

Gallery

• 
  Galloping Tiger Spring
• 
  A traditional Xī Hú entrance
• 
  The Guozhuang Garden, one of many historic gardens in the West Lake
• 
  Lotus in the Breeze at the Winding Courtyard
• 
  View of the Su Causeway
• 
  Statue of Qian Liu, the founder and first king of the Kingdom of Wuyue, near the West Lake
• 
  Statue of Yue Fei, a patriotic military general from the Southern Song dynasty, near the West Lake
• 
  Lotus at the West Lake during summer

See also

• Slender West Lake
• West Lake (Huizhou)

External links

• Hangzhou Government website
• TRAVELZHEJIANG
• Ten Classic Scenes of West Lake in History
• Official Travel Guide of West Lake – Hangzhou Tourism Commission
• Hangzhou West Lake: Too many places, too little time