West Lake
The West Lake Scenic Area Covers an area of 60 square kilometers,out of which the West Lake occupies 5.6 square kilometers with 3.3 kilometers from north to south and 2.8 kilometers from west to east. The lake has a circumference of 15 kilometers. It is surrounded by hills on tree sides and faces the downtown area on one side. The charming lake is a pearl that lay by the city. There are two brocade-ribbon-like causeways inside the lake, namely Bai Causeway and Su causeway, and they divide the lake into five parts. Three man-make islands named Three Pools Mirroring the moon, Mid-lake Pavilion and Mr. Ruan TYuan's Mount stand elegantly in the outer lake. The 'Ten West Lake views' and the 'ten new West Lake view' add much more beauty to the West Lake.
The Best-Ten Views of theWest Lak
Viewing Fish in the Flowering Harbo
800 years ago, originally built as the private garden of a Song Dynasty Court attendant. A clean stream
leads from Huajia Hill to the West Lake through here, so it named as ‘Flowery Harbor.’ Viewing Fish at Flowery Harbor, now has been made into a 22 hectares park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.
Address: Nanshan Road, Hangzhou
The Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake
It locates on western end of Bai Causeway. This teahouse with its cement terrace bounded on three sides by water, become one of the traditional places to view the West Lake, especially on the mid-Autumn night when the moon is full and bright, so it was named as ‘Autumn Moon on Calm Lake’. The scenic spot covers an area of 6000m2. Various garden plants and flowers intermingle pavilions and platforms.
Address: Bai Causeway, Hangzhou.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Main scenic spot called ‘Three Pools Mirroring the Moon’. To the west of the isle stand three ball-shaped hollow stone pagodas with five round holes around. At the night of the Mid-Autumn festival, when the moon shines full and bright in the sky, a candle is lit inside each of the pagoda, the light and the moon cast their reflections through the holes on the water, hence the name.
Address: Within the West Lake
Two Peaks Piercing Through the Sky
Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple got it name from tranquil surroundings. Be sheltered by forested hills on three sides, the temple is really a quite sanctuary. It is the largest and most resplendent temple in Hangzhou. The temple was first built in 326 AD some 1,600 years ago by an Indian Monk Huili. It prospered and flourished during the Five Dynasties Period when there were 9 buildings, 18 towers, and 72 halls with 1,300 rooms and more than 3,000 monks. Over history, the temple has been ruined and undergone renovation several times. It has recently been rebuilt to its original style.
The temple consists of the Hall of the Heavenly King, Hall of the Great Hero, Hall of the Buddha of Medicine, the East and West Winding Corridors and some other buildings. In the center of the Hall of the Heavenly King, seats a statue of Maitreya, the fat-bare-bellied Buddha with a smiling face. In the hall of the Great Hero, the main hall in the temple, seated in the center is a magnificent statue of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism. The 19-meter-tall statue is seated on a 10.5-meter-high lotus flower amidst great red pillars and murals. Behind Sakyamuni is a colorful sculpture of 150 Buddhas.
As an important Buddhist temple in the region, the temple also houses a large collection of Buddhism treasure and relics which is of great significance to explore Buddhism development in that area. The temple now is very popular among tourists and pilgrims. It sees thousands of worshippers per day in peak season.
The Peak Flew From Afar
The Peak Flew From Afar is just opposite to the Lingyin Temple. On its slope and inside the caves are more than 300 stone Buddhas carved during the period of the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty (907-1368A. D.). They are national cultural heritages which are under the protection of the national government.
Six Harmonies Pagoda
Located on the north bank of the Qiantang River, the Six Harmonies Pagoda, was built in 970 A. D. in a way to press down the evil of the river tidal bore. The eight-sided seven-storeyed pagoda has thirteen upturned eaves, which get progressively narrower toward the top. a spiraling staircase leads to the top of the Pagoda, where visitors can get a nice bird-view of the Qaintang River and the bridge on it. The ceiling of each storey carved and painted with flowers, birds and animals which looks elegant and delicate.
It tourists are particularly lucky to visit the Pagoda on any of the three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival ( the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), they will have the opportunity to view the spectacular Qiantang River Bore, when its water surges with a deafening roar.
Tiger Pawing Spring Park
Tiger Pawing Spring Park locates at the White Crane Peak of Daci Hill on the West Lake, five kilometers away from the downtown. It has Tiger Pawing Temple, Tiger Spring, Dicui Rock, pagoda of Five Dynasties, Dreaming Tiger sculpture, pagoda of master Hong Yi, Hall of Jigong, compound of Jigong Bell Tower and five hundred disciples of Buddha. The Tiger Spring, sweet and pure, ranks third in the country. The famous Dragon Well Tea goes with the Tiger Spring enjoy high reputation.
The Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway
The Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway tops the list of the ten best known sights in Hangzhou. The causeway was built during the Northern Song Dynasty by Su Dongpo, a great scholar in ancient time. Stretching around 2.8 kilometers long, it is spanned by six bridges and heavily sheltered by green vegetation. When spring comes, the whole causeway is blanketed by peach blossoms and weeping willows, creating an especially charming scene.
Orioles Singing in Ripples of Willows
Leifeng Pagoda Standing in the Broken Bridge
The stone arched bridge is at the eastern end of the Bai Causeway. The legendary tale of†Lady White Snake’ took place here. After a snowfall, the snow on the sunny side melts first while snow on the shaded side still lingers. Looked from afar, the bridge appears to be broken, thus the name. This is a popular stop for many tourists.
Night Bell Rolling Along the Southern Bank
Lotus in the Breeze at the Winery Yard
