Last week, I went to Hangzhou with several of my friends for 2 days tour.It was a wonderful experience.As one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake (Xī Hú, 西湖) as the most well-known location.
We went to travel the West Lake as soon as we got to Hangzhou.In Hangzhou, the term “West Lake” represents an elegant beauty, a lieu of romance and a place of leisure for people who are living here and tourists outside the city. As Hangzhou becomes a big tourism city in the Yangtze Delta, the West Lake is also a brand name besides Shanghai’s Bund and the Suzhou classical gardens in China tours.
Lei Feng Pagoda
The Leifeng Pagoda is an octagonal, five-storeyed brick and wood structure that was originally constructed in 975. The Pagoda was built by the King of Wuyue Kingdom, Qian Hongchu, to commemorate the birth of his son by Huangfei, his favorite concubine.
The Leifeng Pagoda was a national icon for the Chinese. In 1999, reconstruction efforts began. The Pagoda was completed in October, 2002, and provides a picturesque backdrop for West Lake and the surrounding hills.
Bai Causeway
Due to the foresight of Hangzhou’s governor (and resident poet) Bai Juyi, a new dam was constructed, and West Lake returned to its glory.
Su Causeway
Due to its shallow depth, the lake once again suffered a silting up. In about 1090 AD Hangzhou governor Su Shi (aka Su Dongpo) oversaw the dredging of West Lake, with the waste being used to construct a new causeway. Much longer than the Bai Causeway at 2.6 kilometers, the “Su Causeway” is also lined with weeping willow, hibiscus and magnolia trees, and is interconnected by six stone bridges.
Lesser Yingzhou Island
The islet of Lesser Yingzhou or “Fairy Island,” is one of the three main artificial islands on West Lake, and is situated at the southern end of the lake. Lesser Yingzhou is known as one of the “best scenic spots on West Lake,” and is commemorated on the back side of the 1 Yuan note.
