West Lake in Hangzhou

candid China tips

 

Why West Lake
in Hangzhou is special

West Lake's serene beauty has been extolled for over a thousand years.

West Lake
tips & insights

Must see

The lake's leading attraction is its Lesser Yingzhou island. This small island has the conversation piece distinction of having its own lake, which in turn has its own island. There's much to enjoy, including scenic gardens, picturesque pagodas, zigzag bridges, and willowed shorelines.

Lake creation

West Lake was an inlet until, centuries ago, silting blocked the inlet's entrance. Today, the enclosed body of water is 15 kilometers (9 miles) in circumference. The average depth is only about two meters (six feet).

Tour boats

They take you around the lake and to Lesser Yinzhou island. Two causeways take you to two of the other islands in West Lake.

Artistic inspiration

The lake has inspired writers and painters through the centuries, including the renowned 11th century poet Sun Dongpo who concluded that West Lake was "always alluring."

Setting

West Lake is surrounded by hills except on its east side, where stands the capital of Zhejiang province, Hangzhou.

Name

West Lake's Chinese name is Xi Hu (pronounced she-who). China has dozens of West Lakes, but Hangzhou's is widely considered the nicest.

Best times to come

The most beautiful time to visit West Lake is during the spring when the pink peach blossoms bloom. Choice periods of the day are early morning and later afternoon when the sun's low angled rays accentuate the trees, bridges and pavilions. Evenings are special, too, when the calm West Lake reflects the full moon. 

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