Introduction to the Ten Scenes of West Lake

Introduction to the Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake

West Lake is one of the first batch of national key scenic spots in mainland China and one of the top ten scenic spots in China. One of the main ornamental freshwater lakes in mainland China, it is also known as the "Three Famous Lakes in the South of the Yangtze River" together with Nanjing Xuanwu Lake and Jiaxing South Lake. The following is a detailed introduction to the ten scenic spots of West Lake.

Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway

The Su Causeway is three kilometers long. It was dredged by the West Lake when the poet Su Dongpo of the Northern Song Dynasty was the governor of Hangzhou. It is constructed using hollowed out mud. Hence the name "Su Causeway".

In early spring in April, I walked along the slender lake embankment in the faint morning light, but I felt a gentle breeze blowing and the weeping willows fluttering ten miles away. In the light mist, the scorching red peaches are open with dew, just like the spray of clouds. The scenery is really charming. And when the spring rain falls, looking at the West Lake through the graceful willow silk, you can see the thin mist filling the air, gradually fading away, and the scenery is even more magical. It is so tempting that it is called "Six Bridges of Smoked Willows". Su Causeway connects Nanshan and Beishan, adding a charming scenery to the West Lake. Moreover, the flowers and trees are in full bloom all year round. The picturesque and charming scenery has become a good place for people to visit all year round.

The Orioles Singing in the Willows

The Orioles Singing in the Willows was formerly the Jujing Garden, the royal garden of the Southern Song Dynasty. After liberation, it was renovated and expanded into a large park covering an area of ??more than 300 acres. With the green willow leaves and the melodious singing of warblers, this place has become a good place for people to relax. The garden in spring is shaded by willow trees, with graceful green branches and graceful willows. Some sway in the wind, and some are planted near the lake. The branches and leaves hang over the water, and the "Wansha Willow" looks like a girl's gauze from a distance. While walking, the willow trees in the deep shade give people a burst of thoughts, and the sweet chirping of orioles is even more stimulating. The Orioles Singing in the Willows is now divided into three groups of gardens, namely the Orioles Singing Pavilion, the Friendship Garden and the Jujing Garden. A batch of Japanese cherry blossoms and lawns have been introduced here to make the scenery in the garden more attractive, with the meaning of the scenery and the blending of scenes, giving it a unique interest.

Watching fish in Huagang

"Lu Garden" is the private garden of Lu Yunsheng, the chamberlain of the Southern Song Dynasty. Because there is a clear stream flowing down from Huajia Mountain, it is named "Huagang", Huagang Fish Viewing is connected to Su Causeway in front, and the Western Mountain protects it in the north. There are also the sparkling Xiaonan Lake and Xili Lake, which are like two mirrors with emerald frames on the left and right. The whole park is divided into fish ponds, historic sites, and red fish ponds. There are seven scenic spots including Peony Garden, Flower Harbor, Great Lawn, Jungle Area and Peony Garden. At the southern end of the central part of the park is the main attraction - Red Fish Pond. The pond is full of red carps with golden scales, and there are flowers and trees growing beside the pond. Tourists throw bait and fish compete for food, which is lively and pleasing to the eye. The main scenic area of ??the current park is the peony garden, which is composed of peonies, lake stones, etc. The paths are circuitous and the layout is compact. In mid-spring, when you look down from the towering Peony Pavilion, you can see red and green among the large and small flower beds. The brilliant peonies are in various shapes and forms, competing for beauty and beauty, which makes people forget to leave. A peony garden will soon be built to rival the Peony Pavilion.

Quyuan Fenghe

Quyuan Fenghe is located on the bank of Hongchun Bridge on Lingyin Road. It is said that there was an official brewing workshop in the Southern Song Dynasty. The pond connected by the stream is full of lotus. Every summer when the wind blows, the fragrance of lotus and wine overflows, which is intoxicating. People call it "Lotus Breeze in Quyuan". In the old days, Quyuan Fenghe only had one monument, one pavilion and half an acre of land. It was located in a corner of Xili Lake and was somewhat unworthy of its name. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, lotus flowers were planted in Yue Lake by the Hong Bridge across the Su Causeway, and a pavilion and monument were built, titled "Lotus in the Wind of Quyuan", and the scene was restored. Today's "Quyuan Fenghe" still features lotus as the main scene. There are five lotus ponds, and various varieties such as red lotus, pink lotus, white lotus and double-petaled "Chongtai" are planted respectively. The whole park is divided into five scenic spots: Yue Lake, Zhusu Garden, Fenghe, Quyuan, and Lakeside Forest. Every summer, the lotus blooms, and the eyes are covered with green and red makeup, and the fragrance floats for miles. Small bridges are built between the pools to connect the pools, so that tourists can linger and watch. You can appreciate the "infinite green of the lotus leaves touching the sky, and the unique red of the lotus reflecting the sun." of charming scenery.

Twin Peaks in the Clouds

By the Hongchun Bridge. The twin peaks are the South Peak and the North Peak, located in the southwest and northwest of the West Lake respectively. The south peak is 256.9 meters above sea level, and the north peak is 355 meters above sea level. The two peaks face each other at a distance, stretching more than ten miles apart. In the old days, people mostly visited the lake in spring and autumn. Whenever it was about to rain but not yet, they would look at the south and north peaks from the lake, and they would see clouds and mist lingering around them. The scenery is extremely beautiful, with tall and majestic peaks. It can be sunny or rainy in the morning or dusk, especially after rain or in overcast and cloudy weather. Colorful clouds and white clouds may be thick or light, sometimes entangled and sometimes covered, and the clouds and mountains are hazy. It is like a spectacular landscape painting with vivid ink and different shades displayed in front of you. It is full of atmosphere and very attractive, so it is designated as one of the "Ten Scenes of the West Lake" and is named Two Peaks in the Clouds. Later, "Two Peaks" was changed to "Two Peaks", and from then on the scenery in the lake became a scenery on land. The southern peak "holds the Yangtze River like a belt, and overlooks the flat lake like a cup." The northern peak is called the "Pillar of Qiantang". There are green trees in the mountains and hundreds of stone steps, winding up to the top of the mountain. Zhang Dai's "Ten Scenes of West Lake and Two (Double) Peaks in the Clouds": One peak and one tall man, two people talking to each other. There is a West Lake here, and I refuse to go there.

Three Pools Reflecting the Moon

The Three Pools Reflecting the Moon is located in the south of the middle part of the West Lake. Together with the Pavilion in the Center of the Lake and Ruan Gongdun, they are collectively known as the "Three Islands in the Lake". It is composed of three gourd-shaped stone towers and "Xiaoyingzhou" consists of two parts.

The island was formed by dredging lake mud during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. A surrounding embankment was built outside the island. The embankments and islands are connected by a curved bridge with nine turns and three turns and thirty turns, forming an island in the lake. Daozhong Lake is a famous tourist resort that is as beautiful as a fairyland, with weeping willows blowing in the waves on the lakeshore and reflections of pavilions on the water. The gardens are full of changes in spatial levels, creating the realm of "lake within a lake", "island within an island", and "garden within a garden". It is a model of my country's water landscape garden and a masterpiece of ancient garden art. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, candles are placed in the tower, the hole is covered with tissue paper, and the light shines through. Moonlight, light, lake light, moon shadow, tower shadow, and cloud shadow dissolve They are in a trance, blurred, and endlessly poetic and picturesque. On the way to Xiaoyingzhou, there are Jiuqu Bridge, Jiushi Stone, Kaiwang Pavilion, Tingting Pavilion, "Bamboo Path Leading to You", Muxiang Pavilion, Yingcuixuan, Flower and Bird Hall, etc. Finally, I am in love with each other. pavilion. These buildings are arranged in a staggered manner with great ingenuity, and it is endlessly interesting to admire them along the way.

Pinghu Qiuyue

Pinghu Qiuyue is located at the west end of Baidi, close to the Outer West Lake. Here, the business pavilion is surrounded by waves, with beautiful windows overlooking the water, a wide platform and a wide view. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is white, the wind is clear, and the lake is full of water. Sitting on the platform tea seat, looking up at the moon in the sky, looking down at the reflection of the moon in the lake, the two full moons in the sky and in the lake complement each other, making people feel like they have entered a cold palace. feel. That’s why the ancients wrote a couplet titled “The vast lake is flat and long like a mirror, and the moon is good in all seasons, so autumn is the most suitable.” Moreover, stacked rockeries and flowers and trees all year round form a poetic and interesting tourist attraction. What is even more fascinating to visit and appreciate is its rich historical monuments and cultural heritage, which reminds people of the Moon-Wang Pavilion in the Southern Song Dynasty, the Dragon King Temple in the Ming Dynasty, and the Imperial Library in the early Qing Dynasty.

Leifeng Pagoda at sunset

The Leifeng Pagoda located on the Xizhao Mountain on the south bank of West Lake was said to have been built by the King of Wuyue to celebrate the birth of Huang Fei’s son, so it was originally named “Huang Fei Pagoda”. But because the pagoda is located at Leifeng, people call it Leifeng Pagoda. The tower has seven floors, with double eaves and flying roofs, and wide windows, which is very spectacular. In the old days, Leifeng Pagoda and Baoshu Pagoda were facing each other across the lake, one in the south and the other in the north. They had the reputation of "Leifeng Pagoda is like Lao Na, and Baoshu Pagoda is like a beauty". Whenever the sun sets, the shadow of the tower stretches across the sky, creating a unique scenery, so it is called "Leifeng Sunset". During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the outer corridors of the tower were burned down by Japanese pirates. The bricks at the base of the tower were stolen by superstitious people, causing it to collapse on September 25, 1924. The government now approves the reconstruction. Xu Chengzu of the Qing Dynasty once wrote a poem: "The ancient Huangfei Pagoda is dome-shaped, with green vines and vines leaning against the sky. The wonderful scene is like knowing the fate of the calamity fire, and the arc peaks slantingly reflect the red of the setting sun." The confrontation between Leifeng Pagoda and Baoshu Pagoda across the lake will be recreated. landscape.

Nanping Evening Bell

Nanping Mountain lies across the south bank of West Lake. The mountains are covered with green trees and beautiful rocks. There is a Jingci Temple on the mountain, located under the Huiri Peak of Nanping Mountain on the south bank of the West Lake. It was built by Wu Yue and is called "Yongming Zen Temple". It has gone through many vicissitudes of life. There are Zongjing Hall, Huiri Pavilion, Jizu Hall, Yunmu Well and other historic sites in the temple, and there is a life-releasing pond in front of the mountain gate. There was originally a bronze bell in the temple. Every evening, the deep and rich bell echoed in the mist and mist, and the mountains echoed in the valleys, evoking deep contemplation. Hence the name "Nanping Evening Bell". Another famous Buddhist temple at the foot of Nanping Mountain, Xingjiao Temple, was built in the fifth year of Kaibao in the Northern Song Dynasty. It was once the headquarters of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism. With morning bells and evening drums, cigarettes and candlelight, Nanping Mountain has since been nicknamed "Foguoshan"< /p>

The remaining snow on the broken bridge

The snow scene of West Lake has always been praised by people. The artistic conception of "broken bridge with remaining snow" is particularly popular. There are different views on the landscape connotation of the broken bridge with residual snow. It generally refers to the fact that after snowfall in winter, the ice and snow on the sunny side of the bridge melt away, but there is still residual snow on the shady side that looks like silver. Viewed from a high place, the bridge looks broken but not broken. Whenever after a heavy snowfall, the red sun first shines, the snow on the sunny side of the bridge begins to melt, while the shady side is still paved with jade. Viewed from a distance, the bridge is as crystal clear as a jade belt. Standing at the head of the bridge and looking around, you can have a panoramic view of mountains and rivers far away, giving people a strong and profound impression of vitality. It is a good place to appreciate the snowy scenery of West Lake. The famous Chinese folk legend "The Legend of the White Snake" adds to the scenery of the broken bridge. A romantic color. Hong Cheng's poem "Long View on the Broken Bridge" says: "Idlely walking up to the end of the Broken Bridge, you can see the endless scenery. It is easy to weave tobacco silk from thin willows, but it is difficult to leave the shadows of birds on the green screen. A skirt is dragged diagonally around the waist, crossing Qianxunjing. The investors have forgotten their customs recently and are nostalgic for the old customs.

Extended reading

The Ten Scenic Spots of the West Lake are located in the West Lake District of Hangzhou City, around the West Lake Scenic Area. The ten characteristic scenic spots built from the Southern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty include Spring Dawn on Su Causeway, Wind Lotuses in Quyuan, Autumn Moon on Pinghu, Remaining Snow on Broken Bridge, Watching Fish in Huagang, Singing Orioles in Willow Waves, Three Pools Reflecting the Moon, Twin Peaks in the Clouds, Leifeng Sunset, and Nanping Evening. bell.

The ten scenic spots of West Lake are basically distributed around the West Lake, and some are located on the West Lake. Each of the ten scenic spots is good at its own merits. When combined together, they can represent the essence of the ancient West Lake scenery. The West Lake Ten Scenes series covers the landscape characteristics of seasons, seasons, weather, animals and plants, such as spring, summer, autumn and winter, morning and evening, clear fog, wind and snow, flowers, birds, insects and fish, as well as embankments, islands, bridges, pavilions, platforms and buildings. There are relatively rich landscape elements such as buildings, pavilions, gardens, houses, temples and towers, and each of them focuses on expressing aesthetic conceptions such as vividness, tranquility, seclusion, leisure, silence, and Zen. [5] Ten Scenes of the West Lake are important landscape works created during the Southern Song Dynasty, the maturity and heyday of traditional Chinese culture and art. They reflect the organic combination of poetry, painting, and scenery in ancient Chinese culture and art at the aesthetic and philosophical levels. , to achieve the major characteristics of unity, reflecting the integration of man and nature.

On June 24, 2011, the "Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape", including the Ten Scenes of West Lake, was included in the "World Heritage List" and became China's 41st World Heritage. [1] On May 3, 2013, the Ten Scenes of West Lake were announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

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