"Rippling waters shimmering on a sunny day, Misty mountains shrouded in rain; Plain or gaily dressed like Xizi (xī zǐ 西子); West Lake is always alluring." These are the words used by the celebrated Song Dynasty (sòng cháo 宋朝) poet Su Dongpo (sū dōng pō 苏东坡) to describe West Lake (xī hú 西湖) in Hangzhou (háng zhōu 杭州).
Regarded by many as China’s most beautiful lake, standing on its shores, it’s easy to understand Su’s allusion to Xizi, reputedly ancient China’s most beautiful woman. The subject of many of the country’s most famous literary and artistic works, and the inspiration for countless more, West Lake has for centuries been working its charm on all those who gaze upon it.
Located in Hangzhou, a medium-sized city three and a half hours’ drive from Shanghai (shàng hǎi 上海), the lake is a popular day trip included on many Shanghai travel itineraries. Visitors to the lake can plan to spend their time viewing the "Ten Scenes of the West Lake"(xī hú shí jǐng 西湖十景). A collection of ten scenic views formed during the Southern Song Dynasty(nán sòng 南宋), they are distributed around and within the 
lake, and serve to show the charms of the West Lake – through a use of varying locations, varying seasons, and varying times of day. Each scene is unique, and when taken together, are said to present the essence of West Lake scenery, and form the core of any West Lake tour.
First is the Spring Dawn at Su Causeway (sū dī chūn xiǎo 苏堤春晓), which is a thin strip of land nearly three kilometers long covered with peach and weeping willow trees. In spring, with the lakeside sparkling in the morning dew, birds cheerfully chirping among swaying willow branches, the scent of peach blossoms wafting through the air, you’ll question whether you’re in the midst of paradise.
Then comes the
Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard (qǔ yuàn fēng hé 曲院风荷). This typical West
Lake scene has earned its fame since the Southern Song Dynasty, when the
lakeside area with an abundant growth of lotus off its shores was known as Crooked Courtyard, and was the location of a brewery. People said the smell of lotus flowers and wine blended by the cool
lake breezes was intoxicating. Nowadays the brewery is gone, and the area has been turned into a big
park, but plenty of lotus plants still bloom off its shores. They stand gracefully erect in the
lake, as if they knew they had visitors coming to admire their beauty.
The next listed on the ten scenic itineraries is the
Autumn Moon on Calm Lake (píng hú qiū yuè 平湖秋月). At the western end of
Bai Causeway(bái dī 白堤) is located a
lakeside
park which houses a stone tablet bearing the etched calligraphy of
Emperor Kangxi (kāng xī 康熙) of the
Qing Dynasty (qīng cháo 清朝), which reads: "Autumn Moon on Calm
Lake". The
lake is a special place to appreciate the moon and the effect of moonlight on the land. The moon seems especially bright over the waters. The hills look purplish bathed in the moonlight. The best time for nighttime viewing is on Mid-Autumn Day.
The most romantic scene of the ten must-see around the West
Lake is the
Melting Snow on the Broken Bridge (duàn qiáo cán xuě 断桥残雪). The stone-arched Broken Bridge is where the characters of a famous Chinese folktale,
Xu Xian(xǔ xiān 许仙) and a beautiful girl, who is actually a white snake, first met and fell in love with each other.
After a snowfall, when the snow on the more exposed side has melted, with the shaded side remaining white, it looks as if a long white belt has been ripped apart on the bridge, thus earning the name "Melting Snow on the Broken Bridge".
Retreating from the legendary bridge, here we come to the
Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows (liǔ làng wén yīng 柳浪闻莺), an imperial garden built up in the Southern Song Dynasty. Now the once-imperial garden has been turned into a
park open to all. Featuring green willows and singing orioles, there are lawns, pavilions, and bridges that are very impressive, as well.
Another spot to check up the vivid life and catch up with birds chirping out of the ten charms of the West
Lake is the
Viewing Fish at Lotus Ponds (huā gǎng guān yú 花港观鱼). The Flower Pond
Park occupies an area of twenty-one hectares on a peninsula in the southwest corner of the
lake. In its heart is the Red Fish Pond, where people can relax to the sight of brightly colorful fish swimming around and to the brisk melody of chirpy birdsong. To stay with nature is a highly enjoyable experience.
Leifeng Pagoda (léi fēng tǎ 雷峰塔) is another renowned scenic spot in
Hangzhou (háng zhōu 杭州). Originally built in the 10th century, Leifeng Pagoda used to stand in front of
Jingci Temple(jìng cí sì 净慈寺) on
Nanping Mountain (nán píng shān 南屏山). Though failed to stand the test of time, the Pagoda collapsed in early 1900s. In 2002, Leifeng Pagoda was reconstructed; then comes back the typical
Sunset Glow over Leifeng Pagoda (léi fēng xī zhào 雷峰夕照), one of the
ten charms of West
Lake, as the Pagoda looks especially majestic when surrounded by the golden hues of the
setting sun. With combination of a traditional aesthetic style and modern architecture techniques, Leifeng Pagoda affords a view of West
Lake in its entirety.
While it‘s difficult to take your eyes off the tranquil waters, take time to gaze at the skies above West
Lake. You‘ll be rewarded with the sight of two limestone
mountains past the northern edge of the
lake, one to the northeast and one to the northwest, five kilometers apart. On a drizzling day in spring or autumn, the two peaks come and go amongst the drifting rain clouds. And here comes the name of
Twin Peaks Soaring through the Clouds (shuāng fēng chā yún 双峰插云), another scene you cannot miss around the West
Lake.
Personally I award the title of the Most Poetic to
the Evening Bell at Nanping Mountain (nán píng wǎn zhōng 南屏晚钟), out of the ten collections of the West
Lake views. Nanping
Mountain stretches along the southern bank of the
Lake. At dusk, with the sun slowly drifting into the
Lake on the west, a huge bell at Jingci
Temple, will ring its farewell to the last sunbeam of the day. With the prolonged bell sound reverberating
across the
Lake, the peaceful and sacred air offers you a perfect occasion for meditation.
If you can catch one of the tour coaches that leave after dusk, the
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (sān tán yìng yuè 三潭映月) should not to be missed. Just off the southern shore of the
Island of Little Oceans stand three small pagodas that seem to float on
the water. Each about 2 meters high, when candles are placed inside on moonlit nights, the effect is of 4 moons dancing on the shimmering night waters. The scene is especially magical when the giant glowing moon on the night of Mid-Autumn Day is overhead.
In recent years, the people of Hangzhou have selected "Ten New Scenes of the West
Lake," as well as built a few new
attractions – for example a tea museum, a silk museum, etc. The ten new scenes are beautiful, and the new
attractions will leave you with a greater appreciation for the area‘s famous
commodities. But if you only have a day, it‘s tough to argue with the tried and true.
