West Lake (Xi Hu)

'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.

West Lake at Dusk

 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. 

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

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

Our Guests at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Scene is located to the south of the Lesser Paradise Island. 'Three Pools' refer to the three stone towers and their surrounding water area. The three towers were erected during the Tianqi Period (1621-1627) in the Ming Dynasty. They stand at the vertexes of a regular triangle, 62 meters (68 yards) away from one another. They have a height of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), with 2 meters (6.6 feet) above the surface of the water in usual time. The towers are made up of a stone pedestal, an empty sphere, a round cover, a small hexagonal pavilion, and a pear-shaped top. There are six holes evenly distributed around the sphere. At full moon night, candles are lit in the sphere, and the holes are covered with thin paper. The holes, along with the full moon in the sky, are reflected in the water. It seems as if there were so many moons. That is quite unique! Additionally, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon can be found on the CNY 1 note.

Apart from the top ten scenes, the lake is surrounded by many attractions worth visiting, including the Tomb of General Yue Fei, Tomb of Su Xiaoxiao, the Six Harmonies Pagoda, the Baochu Pagoda, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, the Underwater World, and Hangzhou Zoo.

 China Sightseeing Tours to Top 6 Attractions on CNY Banknotes
 

The Music Fountain in the Third Park to the east of the lake is very amazing. It is a feast to both eyes and ears. It starts at 19:30 daily and normally lasts 20 minutes.
 

It is a large-scale performance in the Yuehu Lake Scenic Area. It focuses on the ancient folklore between Xu Xi'an and Bai Suzhen, and the sad love story between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. It consists of five acts: encounter, falling in love, farewell, memory, and impression. The wonderful dance, melodious music, and fabulous lighting all contribute to the great success of the performance. In May to October, the first performance lasts from 19:45 to 20:45, while the second one lasts from 21:15 to 22:15. In January, February, November and December, there is only one show from 19:30 to 20:30. 

 Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Ticket Booking
 

Class	Fare
Ordinary Seats	CNY 360; CNY 310 for children between 1.2-1.5m (3.9-4.9 ft).
VIP Seats (first five rows)	CNY 420; CNY 370 for children between 1.2-1.5m.
Distinguished Seats	CNY 980

 West Lake is a large open lake area which welcomes tourists for free. However, admission fees will be charged to visit some scenic spots around.

Attractions	Opening Hours	Ticket Price
West Lake	All day long	Free of Charge
Leifeng Pagoda	Mar. 16 - Apr.: 08:00 - 19:00 May - Oct.: 08:00 - 20:00 Nov. - Mar. 15: 08:00 - 17:30 Ticket selling stops half an hour before closing.	CNY 40; CNY 20 for minors aged 6-18 and seniors over 70 Free for children less than 1.2 meters or 6 years old.
Lingyin Temple	06:30 - 17:30	CNY 30 CNY 15 for minors aged 6-18 and seniors aged 60-69 Free for children less than 1.2 meters or 6 years old.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon	8:00- 17:00	CNY 55 (including the boat ticket)
Temple of General Yue Fei	07:30 - 17:30	CNY 25 CNY 12.5 for seniors aged  60-69. Free for minors under 18 and seniors over 70.

To visit Lingyin Temple, tourists also need to buy tickets for Leifeng Pagoda as the temple inside Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Area.
  How to get to West Lake:
By Metro:
Take metro line 1 to Longxiangqiao. Upon arrival, walk westward to reach the Lakeside Park (Music Fountain) or northward to Broken Bridge or Bai Causeway.
Or take the same metro to Ding'an Road. Upon arrival, walk westward to lakeside Nanshan Mountain area or southward to Wushan Mountain area.

By Bus:
1. Take bus 4, 315, 315, 1314, West Lake Metro Shuttle Bus Line 4, West Lake Inner Ring Loop Line to Jingsi, close to the south gate of Leifeng Pagoda.
2. Take bus 7, 27, 277, Wuling Square - Lingyin Special Line, West Lake Shuttle Bus Line 7, West Lake Outer Ring Loop Line to Yuefen, close the south gate of Temple of Yue Fei.
3. Take bus 7, 16, 26, 27, 78, 101, 277, WE 1314, West Lake Shuttle Bus Line 7, West Lake Outer Ring Loop Line to Shaoniangong (Children's Palace), close to the leisure boat wharf.
4. Take bus 4, 87, 510, 1314 to Sudi (Su Causeway).

Hangzhou Bus/ Metro Search 
 The battery car travels around the West Outer Lake and can stop at any place along the way for passengers to get on and off. 
 

Running Time	Jun. - Aug.: 8:30 to 18:00 Sep. - May: 9:00 to 17:00
Duration	70 minutes
Ticket Fare	CNY 40
Running Route	Yongjinmen- Park of Orioles Singing in the Willows- Roman Square- Tang Yun Gallery- Changqiao Park- Leifeng Pagoda- Su Causeway- Crossing Rainbow Bridge (Temple of General Yue Fei)- Tomb of Wu Song- Xiling Bridge- Moon over the Peaceful Lake Scenic Spot- Children’s Palace (Broken Bridge)- the New Lakeside Scenic Area- Yongjimen

 Tourists can visit the scenic spots in the lake by boat. Related information about the cruise is provided as follows:
West Lake Cruise

Gorgeous Old Style Cruise Boat

  Public Bike: Tourists can apply for a Z Card at the IC Card Service Center located at the nearby Longxiangqiao Subway Station (Entrance/ Exit C1) at CNY 300 (including CNY 200 deposit fee). Then, they can rent a public bike at any stop around the lake by swiping the card. Riding the bike for less than one hour is free of charge; riding it for more than one hour and less than two hours will be charged CNY 1; riding it for more than two hours and less than three hours will be charged CNY 2; riding it for more than three hours will be charged CNY 3 per hour. After sightseeing, return the bike to any of the bike stop and the Z Card at Longxiangqiao Subway Station to get the deposit and balance back.See details of Hangzhou Transportation Smart Card

 Note: Appreciating the lake by bike is one of the most enjoyable ways. The only inconvenience is that there may be no place to store it and that one always needs to keep an eye on it during sightseeing. 

Tourist Boat on West Lake at Dusk

Lakeside Boulevard

 

 On Foot:
1. To visit the Broken Bridge: Bai Causeway- Xiling Bridge (about 1 hour)
2. To enjoy the Su Causeway: Crossing Rainbow Bridge- Eastern Lakeside Bridge- Suppressing Dike Bridge- Viewing Hills Bridge-Locking Waves Bridge- Reflecting Ripples Bridge (about 2 hours)
3. To Wander the Beishan Street: Youth Activity Center- Beishan Street- Temple of General Yue Fei (about 1.5 hours)

 By Boat: Lesser Paradise Island (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon)- Inner West Lake- Yang Causeway- Winery Yard and Lotus Pool (1.5 to 3 hours)

 By Bike: Broken Bridge- Bai Causeway- Su Causeway- Leifeng Pagoda- Qingbo Gate (Orioles Singing in the Willows)- Broken Bridge (about one day)

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