View source for West Lake

{{short description|Lake in Hangzhou, China}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = West Lake
| native_name        = {{lang|zh|西湖}}
| image              = 西湖平湖秋月.JPG
| location           = [[Xihu, Hangzhou]], Zhejiang
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|14|49|N|120|08|39|E|type:waterbody_region:CN-33|display=it}}
| type               = Freshwater lake
| outflow            = The [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]]
| catchment          = {{cvt|21.22|sqkm}}
| basin_countries    = China
| agency             = [[Management Committee of Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area]]
| length             = {{cvt|3.2|km}}
| width              = {{cvt|2.8|km}}
| area               = {{cvt|1580|acre|km2}}
| depth              = {{cvt|2.27|m}}
| volume             = {{cvt|14290000|m3}}
| residence_time     = [[China Standard Time]]
| shore              = {{cvt|15|km}}
| elevation          = {{cvt|10|m}}
| frozen             = Rarely
| islands            = The Gushan, the Little Yingzhou, the Lake-heart Pavilion, and the Ruan Gong islet
| sections           = Outer West Lake, Inner West Lake, West Inner Lake, Small South Lake, Yue Lake
| cities             = Hangzhou
| pushpin_map        = Zhejiang
| module             = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| child = yes
| official_name = West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
| location = {{CHN}}
| criteria = (ii)(iii)(vi)
| ID = 1334
| year = 2011
| area = {{cvt|3,322.88|ha}}
| buffer_zone = {{cvt|7,270.31|ha}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese|child=yes
|pic=Xihu (Chinese characters).svg
|piccap="West Lake" in Chinese characters
|picupright=0.4
|c=西湖
|l="West Lake"
|p=Xī Hú
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|x|i|1|-|h|u|2}}
|wuu=Si<sup>平</sup> wu<sup>去</sup>
|j=sai1 wu4
|y=Sāi wùh
|ci={{IPAc-yue|s|ai|1|-|w|u|4}}
|tl=Se ôo
}}
| mapframe           = yes
}}

The '''West Lake''' ({{zh|c=[[:zh:西湖|西湖]]|p=Xīhú}}; {{IPA-wuu|si ɦu}}) is a freshwater lake in [[Hangzhou]], China. Situated to the west of Hangzhou's former [[Hangzhou City Walls|walled city]], the lake has a surface area of {{cvt|6.39|sqkm}},<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2010-09-30 |title= |script-title=zh:浙江省测绘与地理信息局关于启用浙江省主要河流长度、流域面积、主要湖泊面积数据的公告 |url=http://www.sbsm.gov.cn/article//dlxxshgb/201107/20110700086263.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231114/http://www.sbsm.gov.cn/article//dlxxshgb/201107/20110700086263.shtml |archive-date=2013-12-02 |access-date=2011-09-05 |publisher=Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Surveying and Mapping}}</ref> stretching {{cvt|3.2|km}} from north to south and {{cvt|2.8|km|mi}} from east to west.<ref name=":26">{{cite book |last= |first= |url=http://www.hangzhou.gov.cn/main/zjhz/hzsz/citymark/349/T83052.shtml?catalogid=5391 |publisher=[[Zhonghua Book Company]] |isbn=7101017193 |location= |pages= |language=zh |script-title=zh:杭州市志 |trans-title=Hangzhou Chronicles |chapter= |script-chapter=zh:西湖概况 |trans-chapter=Overview of the West Lake |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319234418/http://www.hangzhou.gov.cn/main/zjhz/hzsz/citymark/349/T83052.shtml?catalogid=5391 |archive-date=2013-03-19}}</ref> In the lake are four [[causeway]]s, three [[artificial island]]s, and the Gushan, the only natural island.<ref name=":0" /> Gentle hills surround the lake on its north, west, and south sides,<ref name=":14">{{Citation |last=Zhang |first=Rouran |title=West Lake cultural landscape of Hangzhou |date=2023-01-04 |work=Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Practice |pages=362–368 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315203119/chapters/10.4324/9781315203119-41 |access-date=2024-11-05 |edition=1 |place=London |publisher=Routledge |language=en |doi=10.4324/9781315203119-41 |isbn=978-1-315-20311-9}}</ref> with the [[Leifeng Pagoda|Leifeng]] and [[Baochu Pagoda|Baochu]] pagodas standing in pair on the south and north banks.<ref name="monuments"/> Several famous temples are nestled in the mountains west of the lake, including the temples of [[Lingyin Temple|Lingying]] and [[Jingci Temple|Jingci]].<ref name="monuments">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.a-5 Historic Monuments and Sites}}</ref> 

A tourist attraction since the [[Tang dynasty]] (618-907),<ref name="intro">{{harvnb|Duan|2020|loc=Introduction}}</ref> the lake has influenced [[Chinese poetry|poets]] and [[Chinese painting|painters]] throughout [[History of China|Chinese history]] for its natural beauty and historic relics.<ref name=":27">{{cite book |author=Yang, Hongxun and Huimin Wang |url=https://archive.org/details/classicalgardens0000yang/page/111 |title=The classical gardens of China: history and design techniques |publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. |year=1982 |isbn=0-442-23209-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/classicalgardens0000yang/page/111 111]}}</ref> By the [[Song dynasty]] (960-1279), during which the [[Historical capitals of China|dynastic capital]] moved to Hangzhou, it had became a cultural landmark and one of the most visited tourist destinations of China.<ref name="intro"/> Introduced to Europeans by [[Marco Polo]], the lake was once a symbol of Chinese urban culture.<ref name="intro"/> It has been featured on [[Renminbi|Chinese currency]], including the one-yuan [[banknote]] in the 1979 [[Bank of China]] [[Foreign exchange certificate|Foreign Exchange Certificate]]<ref name=":28">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-14 |script-title=zh:1979年中國銀行發行外匯兌換券壹圓紙鈔 |url=https://collections.nmth.gov.tw/CollectionContent.aspx?a=132&RNO=2009.012.0047# |website=[[National Museum of Taiwan History]]}}</ref> and the [[Fifth series of the renminbi|2005 Renminbi]],<ref name=":29">{{Cite web |last=Martín |first=Blanca Marabini San |date=2022-10-10 |title=The Scenery on Chinese Bills |url=https://www.europeanguanxi.com/post/the-scenery-on-chinese-bills |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=European Guanxi |language=en}}</ref> as well as in the [[Chinese passport]].<ref name=":30">{{Cite web |last=Fang |first=Jianfeng |date=2012-05-15 |title= |script-title=zh:浙江今起签发电子普通护照 里面可以找到三潭映月 |url=https://ori.hangzhou.com.cn/ornews/content/2012-05/15/content_4198680.htm |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Hangzhou Net}}</ref> A [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] since 2011, the lake is recognised to have influenced garden designs in China, [[Japan]] and [[Korea]] over the centuries, as "an idealised fusion between humans and nature."<ref name="whc">{{cite web |title=Ancient Chinese cultural landscape, the West Lake of Hangzhou, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/767 |access-date=2011-06-24 |publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref>

The lake, along with the surrounding hills, constitutes the '''West Lake Scenic Area''', which is governed by the [[Management Committee of Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area]], a special administration dedicated to cultural preservation and gardening under the Hangzhou municipal government since 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-27 |title=Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area Administration Commission |url=https://eng.hangzhou.gov.cn/art/2015/8/27/art_812286_99966.html |website=CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee and Hangzhou Municipal People's Government}}</ref> The first major Chinese tourist attraction to cancel admission fees,<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=You |first=Xudong |date=2022-11-03 |title=How Hangzhou Freed West Lake and Upended Chinese Tourism |url=https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1011560 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=SixthTone}}</ref> the scenic area is crowded during public holidays.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Lake |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/zhejiang/hangzhou/attractions/west-lake/a/poi-sig/473520/356175 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Lonely Planet}}</ref> In the 2024 [[National Day of the People's Republic of China|National Day]] holiday, the area received 4.426 million visitors in seven days, a 30.92% rise from the previous year.<ref name=":21">{{Cite news |date=2024-10-08 |script-title=zh:442.6万人次 同比增长30.92% 国庆假期西湖景区又一次成为“顶流” |trans-title=4.426 million visitors, up 30.92% year-on-year: West Lake Scenic Area made top attraction again during National Day Holiday |url=https://www.hangzhou.gov.cn/art/2024/10/8/art_812268_59103310.html |newspaper=Hangzhou Daily |via=CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee and Hangzhou Municipal People's Government}}</ref>

== Names ==
Historically, the lake has been referred to by various names, including the Qiantang Lake.<ref name="names">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Table 2-1. Development of the names of the West Lake. In: Annex A. The Exposition of the West Lake Cultural Landscape.}}</ref> The first description of the waters near Hangzhou was made in the ''[[Book of Han]]'' finished in 111, which states,<ref name=":7" />
{{Quote|text=The Western Commandery Captain of Qiantang was stationed at the Wulin Hills, where the Wulin River originates. The river flows eastward into the sea, covering a distance of 830 li [350 km; 220 mi].}}
This statement about the Wulin River (武林水) is widely interpreted as the first mention of the West Lake, while the Wulin Hills (武林山) were believed to be the hills near the [[Lingyin Temple]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-26 |language=zh |script-title=zh:史话杭州·追寻历史：武林水 |url=https://hangchow.org/index.php/base/news_show/cid/12392 |website=杭州党史方志微信公众号}}</ref> 

[[Bai Juyi]] was among the first to refer to the lake as "West Lake", due to its location to the west of the city.<ref name="intro"/> [[Su Shi]] was the first to use the name in official documents, in his request to the [[Song dynasty|Imperial Court]] for the dredging of the lake in 1090.<ref>{{harvnb|Duan|2014|p=5}}</ref> The 16th century Chinese scholars considered the West Lake of Hangzhou to be the most famous among the 35 other lakes with the same name in China.<ref name=":5" /> In English, the name is also romanised as Xi Hu,<ref name=":27" /> or the Xi Lake.<ref name=":26" /> Due to Su Shi's famous comparison with [[Xi Shi|Xizi]], the lake is also called Xizi Lake.<ref name="intro" />

==History==

=== Natural formation and dredging efforts ===
About 4,400 to 2,500 years ago, as sea levels fell, the [[Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou Plain|Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou plain]] began to emerge, while the West Lake was merely a shallow bay. Over time, the [[Qiantang River]] gradually deposited sand and rocks outside this bay. About 2,000 years ago, a lagoon was formed. Streams from the surrounding mountains transformed the water into freshwater, but ongoing silt deposits gradually reduced the lake to a swamp.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Introduction |url=https://www.westlakemuseum.com/index.php/bwggk/bwgjj-en |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=[[West Lake Museum]]}}</ref> In local [[folklore]], when [[Qin Shi Huang]] (259–210&nbsp;BC), the first [[emperor of China]], visited Hangzhou, the West Lake was still part of the Qiantang River. The giant rock on the north bank of the West Lake was said to be where the emperor anchored his fleet. According to ''[[Shiji|Records of the Grand Historian]]'', during his visit in 210 BC, the emperor was halted in Hangzhou by the strong tide of the Qiantang River and had to take a detour westward to reach Shaoxing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=(古迹拾遗） 你知道杭州有大佛寺吗？ |url=https://www.zjmj.org/article/1005 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Zhejiang Provincial Committee of [[China Association for Promoting Democracy]] |last=Tan |first=Qixiao |date=2004-08-31}}</ref> During the Eastern Han era (25–220), local official Hua Xin ordered the construction of a seawall to completely cut the lake off from the sea.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chen |first=Zhijian |date= |volume=9 |language=zh |script-title=zh:杭州文史 |script-chapter=zh:华信海塘与杭州城发展关系再探 |chapter-url=https://hangchow.org/index.php/base/news_show/cid/3269}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.b-2-1 Evolution of the natural components}}</ref> In 591, the government seat of Hangzhou, originally on the west shore, was relocated to the newly built walled city east to the lake. With the completion of the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]], Hangzhou, as its destination, became a transport hub of China.<ref>
{{cite journal |last=Guo |first=Yemin |date=2023-09-15 |title= |script-title=zh:从山中小县到江南第一州 大运河与杭州的崛起 |trans-title=From a small county in the mountains to the prime state of Jiangnan: The Grand Canal and the rise of Hangzhou |url=https://thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_24612351 |journal=National Humanity History |language=zh-hans |volume= |issue= |pages= |doi= |issn=2095-5189 |access-date= |via=The Paper}}</ref> 

Before the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), the West Lake was a small and shallow body of water,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lin |first=Huadong |title= |last2=Lin |first2=Yingying |publisher=Hangzhou Publishing House |year=2011 |isbn=9787807585138 |location=Hangzhou |language=zh |script-title=zh:秦汉以前古杭州 |trans-title=Ancient Hangzhou before Qin and Han dynasties |script-chapter=zh:大自然的赐予一一西湖的形成 |trans-chapter=Providence of nature: the formation of the West Lake |chapter-url=https://hangchow.org/index.php/base/news_show/cid/7290}}</ref> but continuous dredging efforts prevented it from becoming a swamp.<ref>{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Criteria under which property is nominated. In: Executive Summary.}}</ref> During the Jianzhong period (780–783) of the [[Tang dynasty]], local official [[Li Bi|Li Mi]] diverted water from the  into Hangzhou via an underground pipes, creating six ponds to secure the city’s water supply. In 822, [[Bai Juyi]] dredged the West Lake and used the silt to build a long causeway between Qiantang and Yuhang Gates, which was named in his memory. Under the [[Wuyue|Wuyue Kingdom]] (907–932), with Hangzhou being the capital, King Qian Liu ordered annual dredging of the West Lake with soldiers to maintain water quality for water supply. In the Song dynasty, [[Su Shi]] (1037–1101) ordered the construction of the Su Causeway from dredged silt in 1089. He designated an area of the lake with three stone pagodas to prevent water chestnut planting and reduce silting, which may mark the origin of the "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon."<ref name=":1">{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.2 Development of the layout of the landscape. In: Annex A. The Exposition of the West Lake Cultural Landscape}}</ref> By 1275, military patrols were appointed to maintain and police the lake, where littering of any rubbish or planting additional lotuses or water-chestnuts were forbidden.<ref name=":8">{{cite book |author=Gernet |first=Jacques |author-link=Jacques Gernet |url=https://archive.org/details/dailylifeinchina00gern/page/23 |title=Daily life in China, on the eve of the Mongol invasion, 1250–1276 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |year=1962 |isbn=0-8047-0720-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/dailylifeinchina00gern/page/23 23] |url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== From literary tradition to tourism ===
[[File:元趙孟頫書蘇軾西湖詩PAD.jpg|thumb|''Su Shi's Verse on West Lake'' by Zhao Mengfu in 1320]]
Literary works by renowned literati contributed to the fame of the West Lake among Chinese intellectuals.<ref name="intro" /> Especially, the lake became associated with the two greatest poets of Middle-Period China, Bai Juyi and Su Shi.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=51-52}} [[Su Xiaoxiao]], a famous courtesan and poet of [[Southern Qi]] (479–502), was buried upon the West Lake. Her life and poetry have inspired later poets, including [[Li He]] and [[Wen Tingyun]]. Over time, local history became intertwined with the natural beauty. For example, [[Bai Juyi]] celebrates Su Xiaoxiao’s beauty and her connection to the enchanting scenery of the lake in one of his poem. When [[Su Shi]] (1037–1101) famously compared the West Lake to [[Xi Shi|Xizi]], one of the [[Four Beauties|Four Beauties of ancient China]], the lake became known as the Xizi Lake:<ref name="intro" /> 

{{Verse translation|水光瀲灧睛方好，
山色空濛雨亦奇。
欲把西湖比西子，
淡妝濃抹總相宜。|The shimmering water shines in clear light,
While misty mountains bring rain's charm to sight.
If West Lake I liken to Xizi fair,
Both light and heavy makeup suits her well.}}[[File:West Lake by Tomita Keisen, 1909, six-panel screen, Honolulu Museum of Art.jpg|thumb|''West Lake'' by Japanese painter [[Tomita Keisen]] (1909), with a tribute to [[Bai Juyi]] in the writing]]
During the period of [[Wuyue Kingdom]] (907–978), numerous temples, pagodas, shrines, and grottoes were built or expanded around the lake, including Lingyin, Zhaoqing, Jingci, Li’an, Liutong, and Taoguang temples, as well as the Baochu, Liuhe, Leifeng, and White pagodas, due to the devotion of its rulers to Buddhism.<ref name=":10" /> Since the 12th and 13th centuries, these temples, frequently visited by Japanese monks, played a significant role in circulating cultural images of the lake across East Asia, as these visitors returned to their home countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |date=2023-12-26 |title=Japanese Gozan Monks and Hangzhou’s West Lake: Visualising Cultural Appropriation in Middle Period East Asia |url=https://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/jeacs/article/view/8471 |journal=The Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies |language=en |volume=4 |pages=169–197 |doi=10.25365/jeacs.2023.4.duan |issn=2709-9946}}</ref> 

Wars and conflicts in northern China during the Song dynasty—including invasions by the [[Khitan people|Khitan]], [[Jurchen people|Jurchen]], and [[Mongols]]—triggered significant migration southward to the new capital, leading to urbanisation and economic prosperity. With city walls blocking much of the natural scenery, the West Lake became a favoured destination for urban residents seeking respite from the demands of city life and political turmoil.<ref name="intro" /> Since 1129,  the capital of the Song dynasty was relocated to Hangzhou, after the country lost its northern territories to the Jurchen. The [[imperial examination]] held every three years filled Hangzhou with educated individuals, who often enjoyed the lake's beauty and consulted fortune-tellers at lakeside temples. Visiting the West Lake inspired poems that reflected on their experiences and memories of the scenery.<ref name="writing">{{harvnb|Duan|2020|loc=Chapter 3. Seeking Identity in Place: Writing and Reading West Lake}}</ref>[[File:Scenic Attractions of West Lake 西湖清趣圖 (11).jpg|thumb|''Scenic Attractions of West Lake'' (c. 14th century)]]
By the late Song dynasty, the West Lake had evolved into a significant hub where tourism emerged. While [[pilgrimage]] and contemplative retreat had previously been the main motives for travel, sightseeing gained wide acceptance as an activity focused on enjoyment and the appreciation of natural beauty, roughly at the same time as in western Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pack |first=Sasha D. |date=2022-01-02 |title=Tourism and the history of travel |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1755182X.2022.2092222 |journal=Journal of Tourism History |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=103–117 |doi=10.1080/1755182X.2022.2092222 |issn=1755-182X}}</ref> Aesthetic appreciation of landscapes became a popular business, with diverse entertainment options which involved standardised routes and viewing orders made available to cater to various preferences and budgets. Tour guides, seasonal markets and specialty shops emerged.<ref name="intro" /> The notion of [[Ten Scenes of West Lake]] was invented.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Barmé |first=Geremie R. |year=2011 |title=A Chronology of West Lake and Hangzhou |url=http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=028_chrono.inc&issue=028 |journal=China Heritage Quarterly |issue=28 |issn=1833-8461}}</ref> Boating on the lake was a popular pastime, with records noting hundreds of intricately carved, elegantly decorated boats gliding gracefully over the water.<ref name="intro" />[[File:China Hangzhou Westlake-2.jpg|thumb|Decorated boats on the lake]]

Shortly after the [[Mongol conquest of China]], the West Lake remained socially vibrant. The official records show that in 1309, the city received more than 1,200 foreign visitors within half a year, many from Turkestan and Europe. The West Lake was dredged and renamed the “Pond of Freeing Captive Animals” under [[Kublai Khan]], while parts of the lake area were gradually cultivated into farmland. Among the visitors was [[Marco Polo]], who describes the lake in his book,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Polo |first=Marco |url=https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/12410 |title=The Travels of Marco Polo |last2=da Pisa |first2=Rustichello |publisher=[[Project Gutenberg]] |editor-last=Cordier |editor-first=Henri |volume=2 |publication-date=2022 |language=en |translator-last=Yule |translator-first=Henry |chapter=Chapter LXXVI. Description of the Great City of Kinsay, which is the capital of the whole country of Manzi}}</ref>{{Quote|text=Inside the city there is a Lake which has a compass of some 30 miles: and all round it are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the richest and most exquisite structure that you can imagine, belonging to the nobles of the city. There are also on its shores many abbeys and churches of the Idolaters. In the middle of the Lake are two Islands, on each of which stands a rich, beautiful and spacious edifice, furnished in such style as to seem fit for the palace of an Emperor.|author=|title=}}[[File:岳王庙 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Yue Fei Temple]] (est. 1221)]]

=== Mongol rule and fall of tourism ===
The booming tourism led to different interpretations. The lake was regarded as a literary tradition, a symbol of the state and a part of local history and knowledge, but for some, a symbol of extravagance and luxury.<ref name="writing"/>One of the most famous portrayal comes from Lin Sheng, who penned a poem as a satirical commentary on how people were engrossed in their indulgence in Hangzhou's pleasures, rather than making efforts to reclaim the lost northern capital:<ref name="epilogue">{{harvnb|Duan|2020|loc=Epilogue}}</ref>{{Verse translation|山外青山樓外樓，
西湖歌舞幾時休？
暖風熏得遊人醉，
直把杭州作汴州。|Beyond the hills, more hills rise, beyond the pavilions, more pavilions stand.
When will the songs and dances on West Lake finally end?
The warm breeze intoxicates the travellers,
Making them mistake Hangzhou for Bianzhou.}}
In 1142, Yue Fei, a hawkish Chinese general known for his determined efforts to reclaim northern China, was executed by the dovish emperor and his chief councillor.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Lorge |first=Peter Allan |title=War, politics and society in early modern China, 900-1795 |date=2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-31691-0 |series=Warfare and history |location=New-York |chapter=Peace, and the death of Yue Fei}}</ref> Yue's death marked the end of attempts to recapture the north, as the emperor prioritised peace despite the Song army's successes.<ref name=":9" /> Yue Fei remained widely admired among Chinese people and was widely celebrated as a national hero.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Matten |first=Marc Andre |date=2011 |title=The Worship of General Yue Fei and His Problematic Creation as a National Hero in Twentieth Century China |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/fhic/6/1/article-p74_5.xml |journal=Frontiers of History in China |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=74–94 |doi=10.1007/s11462-011-0121-4 |issn=1673-3401}}</ref> In 1162, his wrongful execution was acknowledged, and his remains were moved to a tomb by the West Lake. Since 1221, a nearby temple has been repurposed in his memory.<ref name="monuments" />

The Mongol-led [[Yuan dynasty]] (1271-1368) saw the decline of tourism at the West Lake.<ref name="epilogue" /> Government support for maintaining the lake diminished, as Mongol rulers placed their political and economic focus on northern China rather than the south.<ref name="epilogue" /> The Mongol rulers, as well as local residents, blamed the lavish life upon the lake for the fall of Song. Therefore, the lake was abandoned.<ref name="epilogue" /><ref name="dredging">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=1.3 History of the dredging of West Lake. In: Annex A. The Exposition of the West Lake Cultural Landscape.}}</ref> When the Ming dynasty replaced Mongol rule, Hangzhou gradually regained its prosperity by the mid-15th century. However, the lake experienced droughts in 1442 and 1456, causing it to dry up temporarily.<ref name=":3" />

=== Revitalisation in Late Imperial China ===
[[File:西湖. 杨公堤 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Yanggong Causeway (est. 1508)]]

Since the mid-Ming era, renewed dredging projects rekindled public interest in West Lake. As Hangzhou developed as a publishing centre, the production of geographic texts stimulated tourism, which in turn further fuelled the publishing industry. <ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |date=2021-01-01 |title=REMEMBERING WEST LAKE: PLACE, MOBILITY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IN MING CHINA |url=https://www.academia.edu/99040691/REMEMBERING_WEST_LAKE_PLACE_MOBILITY_AND_GEOGRAPHICAL_KNOWLEDGE_IN_MING_CHINA |journal=Ming Qing Studies}}</ref> In 1508, Hangzhou governor Yang Mengying led a major dredging effort, repairing the Su and Bai Causeways and creating the Yanggong Causeway in his memory. This restoration returned the lake’s appearance to its Tang dynasty splendour. Further construction works in 1576, 1607-1611 and 1621 built the Mid-lake Pavilion and the Lesser Yingzhou Islet.<ref name=":15">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex C.1 Chronology of the West Lake Cultural Landscape}}</ref> The period of time saw the publication of a series of books on local history and culture which depicted the West Lake, inspiring Japanese gardens such as the [[Kyū Shiba Rikyū Garden]].<ref name=":15" />[[File:清董邦達西湖十景 卷4.png|thumb|''Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake'' (mid-18th century)]]

The [[Manchu people|Manchu]] conquered Hangzhou in 1645, which led to the construction of the Manchu city alongside the West Lake.<ref name=":3" /> During the [[High Qing era]] (1683–1799), emperors frequented southern China, to symbolise their control over China.<ref name=":3" /> Due to the visits by the Manchu emperors, the lake was fully dredged and renovated.<ref name=":10" /> In 1689, a temporary imperial palace was built on the Gushan.<ref name=":10" /> In 1722, Zhejiang governor Li Wei was ordered to dredge the lake.<ref name=":3" /> In 1809, the Ruangongdun Islet was built with silted soil, which was named after Ruan Yuan, then governor of Zhejiang.<ref name=":15" />  

The emperors revived and standardised the notion of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. The Kangxi Emperor inscribed titles for these scenes, which were later carved into stelae beneath ten pavilions. The Qianlong Emperor composed poems during his visits, which were then inscribed on the reverse side of Kangxi's stelae. He further inscribed the Eight Scenes of Dragon Well in the surrounding hills. In Beijing, imperial gardens, including the Garden of Delighted Spring and the [[Old Summer Palace]], were designed to imitate the landscape designs of West Lake.<ref name=":3" /> 

After the [[Taiping Rebellion]] (1850–1864) destroyed the buildings beside the lake, the West Lake revived, as major Qing military leaders, magnates and ranking officials, such as [[Peng Yulin]] built their villas upon the lake, which later became their memorial temples and shrines that were later maintained by a dedicated division of local government.<ref name=":16">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Eugene Y. |date=2000 |title=Perceptions of Change, Changes in Perception—West Lake as Contested Site/Sight in the Wake of the 1911 Revolution |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41490830 |journal=Modern Chinese Literature and Culture |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=73–122 |issn=1520-9857}}</ref> In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was established, to manage the dredging of the West Lake.<ref name=":10" />

===Modern era===
[[File:Hangzhou Wenlan Pavilion 20161002.jpg|thumb|[[Wenlan Pavilion]], an imperial library that became part of [[Zhejiang Provincial Museum]] in 1929]]
Following the [[1911 Revolution|1911 revolution]] that ended the Qing dynasty, the Manchu Banner Garrison was dismantled, and imperial properties around the West Lake were nationalised.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fu |first=Shulan |date=2016-07-02 |title=Shan-shui myth and history: the locally planned process of combining the ancient city and West Lake in Hangzhou, 1896–1927 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02665433.2015.1079795 |journal=Planning Perspectives |language=en |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=363–390 |doi=10.1080/02665433.2015.1079795 |issn=0266-5433}}</ref> A new business area was built at the former site of the Manchu  Banner Garrison, which integrated the West Lake into the city.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wang |first=Liping |title=Chapter 7. Tourism and Spatial Change in Hangzhou, 1911–1927 |date=2000-01-01 |work=Chapter 7. Tourism and Spatial Change in Hangzhou, 1911–1927 |pages=107–120 |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780824864125-009/html?lang=en |access-date=2024-11-06 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |language=en |doi=10.1515/9780824864125-009/html?lang=en |isbn=978-0-8248-6412-5}}</ref> The former imperial garden was converted into Zhongshan Park, named in honour of [[Sun Yat-sen]].<ref name=":3" /> The buildings associated with former Qing officials and generals were renamed to honour Ming loyalists, such as the Shrine of Former Martyrs.<ref name=":16" /> The railway link between Hangzhou and Shanghai, completed in 1909, stimulated local tourism.<ref name=":16" /> A great number of lakeside villas and garden were built, with the city walls torn down and tombs disallowed to be build around the lake.<ref name=":10" />[[File:Chenglu 7186.jpg|thumb|[[Chiang Kai-shek]]'s West Lake residence]]The visitors to the lake included notable literati, such as [[Rabindranath Tagore]] and [[Ryūnosuke Akutagawa]], as well as the couple of [[Chiang Kai-shek]] and [[Soong Mei-ling]] spent their honeymoon by the lake.<ref name=":3" /> In 1922, the [[Chinese Communist Party]] held the [[Hangzhou Plenum]] here, initiating the first collaboration with Nationalists.<ref name=":3" /> In 1928, the [[China Academy of Art|National Academy of Art]] was founded on Gushan Island.<ref name=":3" /> In March 1937, [[Zhou Enlai]] and Chiang Kai-shek held a secret meeting at Yanxia Cave near the lake to negotiate a coalition against [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].<ref name=":3" /> 

The Japanese seized Hangzhou in December 1937.<ref>{{Citation |last=Bright |first=Charles |title=War and Occupation in China: The Letters of an American Missionary from Hangzhou, 1937-1938. Companion Digital Repository. |date=2017 |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/136125 |access-date=2024-11-06 |language=en-US |isbn=978-1-61146-231-9 |last2=Ho |first2=Joseph W.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1937-12-28 |title=JAPANESE OCCUPY HANGCHOW |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68530970 |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=Advocate}}</ref> Under Japanese rule, deforestation of the mountains surrounding West Lake led to rapid silting of the lake from soil erosion, due to a lack of maintenance.<ref name=":16" /> A Japanese shrine was built by the lake in October 1939, where the Japanese autumn festival was held to familiarise the ordinary Chinese people with Japanese [[Shinto]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=稲宮康人 |date=2023 |title=中国各地の租界と日本の神社景観 : 租界・居留地班 第78回研究会 |url=http://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/032836290 |website= |publisher=Research Center for Nonwritten Materials, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, [[Kanagawa University]] |publication-place=[[Yokohama]], Japan}}</ref> With the Japanese surrender in 1945, tourism at West Lake flourished once again, although the city itself faced severe economic challenges due to hyperinflation.<ref name=":3" />

The Communists took Hangzhou shortly after the Nationalist retreat from the city to preserve the cultural relics of the West Lake in 1949. In the 1950s, major hydrological works, along with other construction projects, took place, to exemplify socialist achievements.<ref name=":2">{{harvnb|He|2023|p=141}}</ref> [[Hangzhou Botanical Garden]] and a flower garden was opened on the lake's west shore. The parks of Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond and Orioles Singing in the Willows were constructed. [[Lingyin Temple]], [[Jingci Temple]], Yue-Wang Temple, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Mid-lake Pavilion and other spots were renovated. [[File:President Richard Nixon and Premier Chou En-Lai Greet a Young Girl While Visiting Hang Chou's (Hangzhou) West Lake Park in China.jpg|thumb|President [[Richard Nixon]] at the West Lake Park in 1972]]Since 1953, [[Mao Zedong]] stayed periodically at West Lake every year until his death in 1976.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Huai |year=2011 |title=Mao Zedong at West Lake: A Chronology (Part I: 1953-59) |url=http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=028_mao.inc&issue=028 |journal=China Heritage Quarterly |issue=28 |issn=1833-8461 |translator-first=Geremie R. |translator-last=Barmé}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Huai |year=2011 |title=Mao Zedong at West Lake: A Chronology (Part II: 1960-76) |url=http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/articles.php?searchterm=029_mao.inc&issue=029 |journal=China Heritage Quarterly |issue=29 |issn=1833-8461 |translator-first=Geremie R. |translator-last=Barmé}}</ref> To ensure his safety, the local government forcibly relocated residents suspected of connections with the [[Kuomintang|Nationalists]] to [[Labor camp|labour camps]]. Shops near the lake were acquired by the state, and undercover security personnel were stationed at over 100 shops in the area. The tombs of notable figures—including [[Wu Song]], [[Fang La]], [[Yu Qian]], [[Zhang Cangshui]], [[Su Manshu]], [[Su Xiaoxiao]], and the [[John Leighton Stuart|Stuart]] family—as well as the temples of [[Yue Fei]] and [[Wen Tianxiang]], were destroyed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ma |first=Jiaju |url=https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/gdcebookspublic.2021365347v1 |title=Historical Events of Urban Mass Exile in Hangzhou |year=2020 |volume=1 |script-chapter=zh:毛泽东与西湖 |lccn=2021365347}}</ref> During the [[Cultural Revolution]] (1966-1976), Liutong Temple and another temple were destroyed. [[Zhou Enlai]] ordered the closure of the [[Lingyin Temple]] to prevent it from being destroyed, but repairs were later made to many scenic sites, due to the visits by [[Norodom Sihanouk]] and [[Richard Nixon]] in 1972.<ref name=":3" />[[File:Barack Obama and Xi Jinping tea tour of the West Lake State House grounds in Hangzhou.jpg|thumb|[[Barack Obama]] and [[Xi Jinping]] at the [[West Lake State House]] in  2016]]After 1976, tourism to the lake revitalised. In 1983, the Hangzhou government refurbished temples and pavilions upon the lake. They also expanded Galloping Tiger Spring and established Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer Park. The new site Exploring Plum Blossoms at Ling Peak was introduced, complemented by cultural events at Huanglong Cave and Ruangongdun Islet. In 1984, local media and societies held public vote to select the new "Ten Scenes" of the lake. In 1985, a pump at Zhakou to draw 300,000 cubic meters of water daily, were built to refresh the water in the lake. A sewage interception project, completed in 1981, installed over 17 kilometres of buried tunnels and 10 pumping stations. In 2000, the [[Westlake exposition|West Lake exposition]] was relaunched, drawing 1.4 million visitors. In 2002, Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt where it collapsed in 1924.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dai Xiaoxiao and Pan Jiankai |date=2002-10-26 |title=The Building of New Leifeng Pagoda Completed |url=http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2002-10/26/10-2B3C70F85577500848256C5E000751D9.htm |access-date=2008-06-01 |work=Guangming Daily |language=zh}}</ref> During the [[2016 G20 Hangzhou summit]] and the [[2022 Asian Games|2023 Asian Games]], West Lake State Guest House was where Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]] met with foreign guests, such as [[Barack Obama]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-09-03 |title=After Rowdy Arrival, Obama, Xi Affirm Cooperation in Key Areas |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/after-rowdy-arrival-obama-chinese-president-affirm-cooperation-key-areas/3492609.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=Voice of America}}</ref> and [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-25 |title=India’s Modi and China's Xi agree to de-escalate border tensions |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/indias-modi-chinas-xi-agree-de-escalate-border-tensions-rcna101762 |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=NBC News}}</ref> 

==General layout==
[[File:West Lake Map.png|thumb|Map of the West Lake]]
The layout of the West Lake features "one hill, two pagodas, three islets, four causeways and five lakes." Among them, ten classic scenic places are collectively known as the "[[Ten Scenes of West Lake]]".

=== Solitary Hill ===
The Gushan (孤山), or the Solitary Hill, is the only natural island on the West Lake. Connected to the northern shore by Xiling Bridge and Bai Causeway, Solitary Hill and Bai Causeway separate the North Inner Lake from the Outer West Lake. In local folklore, the island is grouped with the Broken Bridge and the Long Bridge as the "Three Oddities of West Lake": the Broken Bridge is not broken, Solitary Hill is not solitary, and the Long Bridge is not long. During the Qing dynasty, Solitary Hill became part of a detached palace for emperors visiting Hangzhou. [[Wenlan Pavilion]], the royal library on the island, housed a valuable collection of literary works and rare texts. After the 1911 revolution, the palace grounds were transformed into Zhongshan Park to honor Sun Yat-sen, a key figure in the revolution. The Wenlan Pavilion and other former palace buildings were incorporated into the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, while a new building next to the Pavilion was completed in 1912 to host the Zhejiang Library.{{cn|date=November 2024}} 

=== Two pagodas ===
[[File:Baochu Pagoda in Hangzhou 2019-02 01.jpg|thumb|Baochu Pagoda and Beishan Road]]
Leifeng Pagoda ({{lang|zh|雷峰塔}}), originally built in 975, is located on Sunset Hill. According to local tales, it plays a central role in the [[legend of the White Snake]]. Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt in 2002 after the original structure collapsed in 1924, and it remains a popular tourist spot with stunning views of the lake.<ref name="monuments" />

Baochu Pagoda ({{lang|zh|保俶塔)}}, built in 963, stands on Precious Stone Hill. Unlike the more elaborate Leifeng Pagoda, Baochu is a slender, simple structure believed to have been built to pray for the safe return of a local official.<ref name="monuments" /> 

=== Three Islets ===
There are three artificial islets on the West: Lesser Yingzhou Islet, Mid-lake Pavilion, and Ruangong Islet. Each was constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties by dredging lake sediment. 

* Lesser Yingzhou Islet ({{lang|zh|小瀛洲)}}, also known as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, is especially famous for the small stone pagodas that rise from the water around it. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, these pagodas are lit, creating a  scene called "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon", which has become one of the "Ten Scenes of West Lake."
* Mid-lake Pavilion ({{lang|zh|湖心亭}}), the smallest of the three, is a pavilion surrounded by the Outer West Lake. It is renowned for [[Zhang Dai]]'s essay on watching the snow from the pavilion.
* Ruan Gong Islet ({{lang|zh|阮公墩}}), constructed in 1800, is named after [[Ruan Yuan]], who was the Governor of Zhejiang at the time. Currently, the islet is not open to visitors, as it serves as a natural reserve.

=== Four Causeways ===
Three major causeways divides the West Lake into five sections, which include:<ref name="elements">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.1.3 Landscape Elements. In: Annex D.1. Outline of the Conservation and Management Plan of the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou.}}</ref>
* Bai Causeway ({{lang|zh|白堤}}) – Originally called the White Sand Causeway, it was naturally formed before the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907) and reinforced between 766–779. The causeway collapsed during the [[Yuan dynasty]] (1271–1368) and was rebuilt in 1589. By the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the causeway became known as the Bai Causeway, in his memory.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Xiwen |date=2024-03-23 |title= |script-title=zh:白堤是谁修的？这个问题白居易也曾问过 |trans-title=Who build the Bai Causeway? Bai Juyi asked the same question |url=https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/chengshi/content/2024-03/23/content_8705401_0.htm |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Dushikuaibao |language=zh-hans}}</ref>
* Su Causeway ({{lang|zh|苏堤}}) – Built in 1089 under the direction of Su Shi during his term as mayor, this causeway, along with six bridges to allow ferry passages, connects Quyuan on the north shore to Huagang on the south shore. It separates the West Inner Lake from the Outer West Lake.
* Yanggong Causeway ({{lang|zh|杨公堤}}) – Constructed in 1508 by local official [[Yang Mengying]] to mitigate flooding, this causeway features six bridges that facilitate ferry access between the West Inner Lake and Outer West Lake.
Additionally, Zhaogong Causeway ({{lang|zh|赵公堤}}), also known as the Jinsha Causeway,<ref name=":17">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Table 2-2. Development of the names of the water area of the West Lake. In: Annex A. The Exposition of the West Lake Cultural Landscape.}}</ref> was built in 1242, connecting Quyuan to the Su Causeway. It was named after [[Zhao Yuchou]], then-mayor of Lin'an.

=== Five Lakes ===
The current lake, roughly oval in shape, was dredged during past dynasties and spans 3.3 km from north to south, 2.8 km from east to west, with a shoreline circumference of 15 km and a total water area of 5.6 square kilometres. Divided by Gushan Hill, the Su Causeway, and the Bai Causeway, it consists of five distinct water bodies interconnected by bridge arches.<ref name="elements" /><ref name=":17" />
* The Main Lake is bordered by Hubin Road to the east, Su Causeway to the west, Nanshan Road to the south, and Bai Causeway to the north.<ref name=":17" />
* The West Inner Lake lies west of the Su Causeway.<ref name=":17" />
* The North Inner Lake, also known as the Back Lake or the Inner Lake, extends from Duanqiao Bridge in the east to Xiling Bridge in the west, Gushan Hill to the south, and Beishan Street to the north.<ref name=":17" />
* Yuehu Lake is located south of Yue Fei’s Temple, west of the Su Causeway, and south of the Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Winding Garden. Sources from the Republic of China era identify it as lying north of the Inner Lake, separated by the Zhaogong Causeway. This lake is likely named after Yue Fei’s Tomb, though earlier documentation is unavailable.<ref name=":17" />
* Lesser South Lake lies north of Nanshan Road, west of the Su Causeway, and south of the Viewing Fish at Flowery Pond sight. Republican-era records describe it as situated west of Yinbo Bridge and south of Guanyu Pavilion.<ref name=":17" />

=== Ten Scenes ===
{{Main|Ten Scenes of West Lake}}

Traditionally, there are ten classic scenic spots on the West Lake, each remembered by a four-character [[epithet]]. Collectively, they are known as the Ten Scenes of West Lake, of which the rating dates back to the Song dynasty. Each is marked by a [[stele]] with an epithet written in the calligraphy of the [[Qianlong Emperor]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Campbell |first=Duncan |date=2011 |title=The Ten Scenes of West Lake |url=http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=028_scenes.inc&issue=028 |journal=China Heritage Quarterly |issue=28 |issn=1833-8461}}</ref> The ten scenes include:<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title=West Lake Scenic Area |url=https://wgly.hangzhou.gov.cn/art/2013/7/5/art_1229490939_58930508.html |website=Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!English translation<ref name=":42" />
!Simplified Chinese name
!Traditional Chinese name
!Description
|-
|Spring Dawn at [[Su Causeway]]
|苏堤春晓 
|蘇堤春曉
|Views of the lake from the centre of the Su Causeway<ref name=":5">{{Cite report |url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/152404 |title=Advisory Body Evaluation |last=[[International Council on Monuments and Sites]] |date=2011 |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |location=Paris, France}}</ref>
|-
|[[Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|曲院风荷}}
|{{lang|zh-hant|曲院風荷}}
|Views of gardens with lotus at north end of the Su Causeway during the summer<ref name=":5" />
|-
|[[Moon over the Peaceful Lake|Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake]]<ref>{{Cite web |title="Autumn moon over calm lake" inkstick, Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign (1736-1795) |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04018094&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |language=en |publication-place=Taipei, Taiwan}}</ref>
| colspan="2" |{{lang|zh|平湖秋月}}
|Views from the northeast of the main lake toward the three islands, with hills to the west, south, and east sides of West Lake<ref name=":5" />
|-
|Lingering Snow on [[Broken Bridge]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04010866&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |location=Taipei}}</ref>
|{{lang|zh-hans|断桥残雪}}
|{{lang|zh-hant|斷橋殘雪}}
|View toward the Broken Bridge at the eastern end of Bai Causeway, extending westward beyond.<ref name=":5" />
|-
|[[Leifeng Pagoda]] in Evening Glow
| colspan="2" |{{lang|zh|雷峰夕照}}
|Leifeng Pagoda, or the Leifeng Hill where the pagoda stands,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunset Glow at Lei-feng Hill |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04026045&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |publication-place=Taipei}}</ref>in the sunset
|-
|[[Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon]]
| colspan="2" |{{lang|zh|三潭印月}}
|Three small stone pagodas near the artificial island of Lesser Yingzhou, with lanterns that reflect on the lake's surface alongside the moonlight
|-
|[[Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04010865&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |location=Taipei}}</ref>
|{{lang|zh-hans|柳浪闻莺}}
|{{lang|zh-hant|柳浪聞鶯}}
|Originally a royal garden of the Song dynasty, a park filled with willows swaying with the wind and singing birds
|-
|Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds<ref>{{Cite web |title="Twin peaks piercing the clouds" inkstick, Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign (1736-1795) |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04018096&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |location=Taipei}}</ref>
|{{lang|zh-hans|双峰插云}}
|{{lang|zh-hant|雙峰插雲}}
|On rainy or misty days, parts of the South and North Peaks seem to emerge and disappear within the clouds, with their tops still visible above the mist
|-
|[[Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond|Viewing Fish at Flower Pond]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viewing Fish at Flower Pond |url=https://wgly.hangzhou.gov.cn/art/2013/7/7/art_1229495371_58931734.html |website=Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio,TV and Tourism}}</ref>
|{{lang|zh-hans|花港观鱼}}
|{{lang|zh-hant|花港觀魚}}
|Views of ponds with [[goldfish]] in a floral garden between the Small South Lake and Inner West Lake in the west.<ref name=":5" />
|-
|Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill
|{{lang|zh-hans|南屏晚钟}} 
|{{lang|zh-hant|南屏晚鐘}} 
|The sound of bells at the [[Jingci Temple]] at the Nanping Hill.
|}
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:Su Causeway near West Lake, looking towards north 20120529 1.jpg|Spring Dawn at [[Su Causeway]]
File:Lotus in the Breeze at the Winding Courtyard 6.jpg|Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden
File:西湖平湖秋月.JPG|Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake
File:断桥秋色 - panoramio.jpg|Lingering Snow on [[Broken Bridge]]
File:Leifang Pagoda Sunset.jpg|[[Leifeng Pagoda]] in Evening Glow
File:Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon With Leifeng Pagoda.jpg|Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon
File:杭州. 西湖. 御码头.雷峰塔（摄影点-柳浪闻莺） - panoramio.jpg|Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves
File:杭州。西湖茶室-湖畔居（ 远景： 白堤- 北高峰美人峰烟云茫茫) - panoramio.jpg|Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds
File:Wei's Villa corridor and fish pool.jpg|Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
File:62925-Hangzhou (49152203953).jpg|Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill
</gallery>

== Architecture ==

=== Temples and monasteries ===
[[File:Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou 20161003.jpg|thumb|[[Lingyin Temple]]]]
Buddhism’s roots around the West Lake extend back to the 4th century with the establishment of [[Lingyin Temple]] and Tianzhu Temple. During the Five Dynasties period (907-960), the Wuyue rulers, who were devoted Buddhists, initiated extensive temple construction in the region. Notable temples from this period include Jingci Temple on Nanping Hill, Yunqi Temple in Fan Village, and Shangtianzhu Temple on Tianzhu Hill. In addition to these temples, pagodas such as Liuhe, Leifeng, and Baochu were erected, along with intricate stone Buddhist carvings in Yanxia Cave, Shiwu Cave, and on Feilaifeng Peak. During the Song Dynasty, Lingyin Temple and Jingci Temple gained recognition as two of the "Five Mountains and Ten Temples." Across the West Lake Scenic Area, there are 30 Buddhist sites officially designated as protected heritage sites.<ref name="monuments" /> The Baopu Taoist Monastery, rebuilt in the 17th century, enshrines Ge Hong, a prominent Taoist scholar, alchemist, and medical scientist, who conducted Taoist practices and alchemical experiments on Geling Ridge near the West Lake.<ref name="monuments" />

=== Tombs and memorial halls ===
[[File:20100326 Tombs of Yue Fei and Yue Yun.jpg|thumb|Tombs of Yue Fei and Yue Yun]]
Yue Fei's Tomb and Temple serve as a memorial to Yue Fei, a legendary figure in Chinese history known for his loyalty and filial piety. Built in 1163, the tomb honours Yue Fei as a national hero and epitomises the Confucian values that have deeply influenced Chinese society for centuries.<ref name="monuments" /> Tomb of [[Su Xiao Xiao]] is located near the Xiling Bridge on the north bank of the West Lake.

=== Pavilions and monuments ===
Wenlan Pavilion, built in 1784 and rebuilt in 1880, was the only one that exists library among the four libraries commissioned by the Qing imperial family for the collection of ''[[Siku Quanshu|The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries]]''.<ref name="monuments" />

=== Gardens and parks ===
[[File:West Lake Scenic Area 62824-Hangzhou (49154633138).jpg|thumb|[[Xizi Hotel]]]]
The northeastern shore of the West Lake features Hubin Park, a series of six connected parks along the lakefront, surrounded by upscale shopping centers and hotels. At Park No. 3, visitors can enjoy a musical fountain with free performances every evening. To the northwest, [[Hangzhou Flower Nursery]] and [[Hangzhou Botanical Garden]] showcase a diverse array of flowers and plants. In the southwest, Taiziwan Park and Huagang Park draw visitors in spring with colorful tulips and seasonal blossoms. On the southeastern shore, Liulangwenying Park and Changqiao Park offer scenic views and spaces for relaxation.
[[File:Hangzhou (15730606661).jpg|thumb|[[Changqiao Park]]]]
Around the West Lake, several historic private gardens have been preserved. Liu Villa, on the northwest shore, was originally a private Qing-dynasty garden reflecting classic Chinese landscape design. Today, it serves as the West Lake State Guest House, a luxury hotel known for hosting important events and guests. Wang Villa, on the southwestern corner of the West Lake, was also built during the Qing dynasty and has since been restored as part of Xizi Hotel. Jiang Villa, on the eastern shore near the Lakeside area, now operates as the Lakeside Tea House. Guo Villa, located on the northwestern shore at the foot of Solitary Hill near Qixia Ridge, is one of Hangzhou’s best-preserved Qing-dynasty gardens and is open to the public as a government-run park.

=== Modern architecture ===
[[File:西湖博物馆.jpg|thumb|[[West Lake Museum]]]]{{See also|Hangzhou historic houses}}
The West Lake is home to many Western-style residences constructed during the Republic of China era (1911-1949). On Gushan (Solitary Hill), notable sites include the Memorial Pavilion to Sun Yat-sen, the former residences of Du Yuesheng and Chiang Kai-shek, as well as Yiyunji Lu Villa. Along Beishan Road, significant landmarks feature the Former Residence of Chiang Ching-kuo and various villas such as Run Lu, Ru Lu, Xing Lu, and Baoqing, in addition to notable hotels like Hangzhou Hotel, Xinxin Hotel, and Qiushui Villa. The eastern shore also hosts historic structures including Shihan Jingshe Villa, Long Bridge Villa, Guo Villa, and the former residence of Huang Fu. Modern architecture complements these historical sites, with buildings such as the West Lake Museum and a range of luxury hotels like the Grand Hyatt Hangzhou, upscale shopping centers, such as the Hubin Yintai in77 complex.

== Hydrology ==
[[Image:China Hangzhou Nine Greeks Meandering Through a Misty Forest.JPG|thumb|Misty Trees by Nine Streams]]With a catchment area spanning 21.22 square kilometers, the lake supports an annual runoff and storage volume of about 14 million cubic meters each. The lake draws around 120 million cubic meters of water annually from the Qiantang River. Natural inflows come from the Jinsha, Longhong, Qishan (also known as Huiyin), and Changqiao streams. The lake’s water level is maintained at a consistent Yellow Sea reference level of 7.15 meters, fluctuating by only ±0.05 meters. Seasonal water levels range from a high of 7.70 meters to a low of 6.92 meters, with a variation of approximately 50 centimeters. With a storage capacity of about 14.3 million cubic meters, the lake averages 2.27 meters in depth, reaching a maximum of 5 meters and a minimum of less than 1 meter. Average annual precipitation directly over the lake amounts to 5.63 million cubic meters, while the lake's water system has a scour coefficient of 1.49. During dry seasons, when the reservoir gate is closed, the flow rate drops to zero, and even during the flood season, it rarely exceeds 0.05 m/s.<ref>{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex E.3. Archive of protection and Monitoring of the water in West Lake (in Chinese)}}</ref>

Located on the southeastern edge of China’s hilly regions and the northern boundary of the subtropical zone, West Lake receives an annual solar radiation of 100–110 kcal/cm² and enjoys 1,800–2,100 sunshine hours per year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=杭州西湖 |url=http://www.eco.gov.cn/news_info/40315.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=eco.gov.cn}}</ref> Due to Hangzhou's mild climate, the West Lake seldom freezes during winter. The last complete freezing of the lake occurred in January 1977, when the city experienced extreme cold, with temperatures plunging to a record low of -8.6°C. Partial and temporary freezing, however, is observed almost annually, contingent on weather conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=那一年西湖可溜冰，结全冰为何难再现？西湖结冰的那些往事 |url=https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/chengshi/content/2023-12/24/content_8664676.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Hangzhou Net}}</ref>

== Flora ==
The West Lake is surrounded by rich and varied vegetation. Within the nominated area, there are 1,369 species of spermatophytes from 739 genera in 184 families, including 28 gymnosperm species from 19 genera in 7 families and 1,273 angiosperm species from 675 genera in 150 families. Additionally, there are 68 species of pteridophytes from 45 genera in 27 families.<ref name=":23">{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.a-1-3 The Ecological Environment}}</ref> 

=== Seasonal Flowers ===
[[File:西湖. 岳湖-玉带桥 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Lotus Flowers upon the Yuehu Lake]]
The four main seasonal flowers of the West Lake landscape—[[Peach blossom|peach blossoms]], [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus flowers]], [[osmanthus]], and [[Prunus mume|plum blossoms]]—are closely connected to Hangzhou’s cultural heritage such as the [[Ten Scenes of West Lake]]. These plants embody the concept of integrating seasonal beauty into the landscape design of these scenic areas.<ref name=":24">{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=2.a-6 Distinctive Flora}}</ref>

* Peach trees and willows line the shores and causeways, adding colour to the lake during spring and early summer. On the Su and Bai Causeways, one willow are typically intercropped with one peach, a pattern designed by Su Shi in the 11th century.<ref name=":24" />
* Lotus flowers are grown in 14 designated areas covering around 20 hectares, primarily found in the North Inner Lake and Yuehu Lake.<ref name=":24" />
* Osmanthus trees are widely planted throughout the gardens along the banks of the West Lake, with Manjuelong and the Hangzhou Botanical Garden being the most notable spots for their dense plantings and fragrant blooms in autumn.<ref name=":24" />
* The plum blossom, which represents steadfastness and purity in Chinese culture, are grown in Lingfeng Hill, Gushan Hill, and the Xixi Stream.<ref name=":24" />

=== Longjing Tea ===
[[File:龙井村茶园.jpg|thumb|Tea Plantation at Longjin]]The Longjing Tea Plantation is nestled in the hills to the west of the West Lake and is renowned for producing Longjing tea, a variety that thrives due to the unique geographical conditions of the area. The tea plants are cultivated on the slopes of these hills, arranged on curved or open terraces near brooks in neatly organised plots. This region benefits from a monsoonal humid climate typical of the northern subtropical zone, characterised by distinct seasons, adequate rainfall, and year-round moisture. The plantation's micro-climate, influenced by its location between the Qiantang River to the north and the Jiuxi Streams to the south, creates a foggy and misty environment ideal for tea growth, especially in spring. The surrounding hills, such as Tianzhu Hill and Beigao Peak, protect the area from cold winds, while the valley leading to the Qiantang River draws in humid air, maintaining a warm, wet climate.<ref name=":24" />

=== Ancient trees ===
The area around the West Lake also features numerous ancient and rare trees, many associated with historic temples and monasteries such as Lingyin Temple and Tianzhu Temple, as well as Wushan and Gushan Hills. Among these, 125 trees from 22 species are over 300 years old, serving as living records of the region’s ecological history.<ref name=":23" />

== Economy ==
According to the Hangzhou Statistical Bureau, in 2017, the West Lake Scenic Area recorded a [[gross regional product]] of 112.11 billion yuan (approximately 16.70 billion US dollars). The services sector contributed around 90% of this figure, while manufacturing accounted for roughly 10%, and agriculture contributed less than 0.1%. The GDP per capita for the region was 136,330 yuan (approximately 20,302 US dollars).<ref>{{Cite web |title=杭州西湖风景名胜区GDP_西湖风景名胜区GDP历年数据走势_聚汇数据 |url=https://m.gotohui.com/gdp-4292 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=m.gotohui.com}}</ref>[[File:Hochzeitspaar am Westsee.jpg|thumb|People taking wedding photos by the West Lake]]

=== Tourism ===
Recognised as a National Key Scenic Resort in 1982 and designated a [[AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China|national AAAAA tourist destination]] in 2006, the West Lake Scenic Area is one of China's most popular tourist attractions and a significant cultural landmark.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Capturing the elegance of West Lake over the centuries |url=https://www.shine.cn/feature/art-culture/2012151643/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=SHINE |language=en}}</ref> In 2002, the municipal government removed the park walls, allowing free access to most areas around the lake. This made the West Lake the first major tourist destination to eliminate admission fees, with the aim of boosting the sales of nearby restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.<ref name=":20" /> 

Despite most scenic spots around the lake being free, the non-free scenic spots within the scenic area include [[Hangzhou Zoo]], [[Hangzhou Botanical Garden]], Mulan Mountain Tea Garden, Feilai Peak Scenic Area (with [[Lingyin Temple]] inside), Guo Villa, [[Yue Fei Temple]], Yellow Dragon Cave, [[Liuhe Pagoda]] Park, [[Dreaming of the Tiger Spring|Galloping Tiger]] Park, Bamboo-Lined Path at Yunqi , [[City God Pavilion of Hangzhou|City God Pavilion]], [[Wansong Academy]], [[Children's Park (Hangzhou)|Children's Park]], the Former Residence of [[Hu Xueyan]] and the [[Leifeng Pagoda]]. 

Each year, the scenic area receive more than 30 million visitors.<ref name=":25">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Xin |last2=Wu |first2=Hong |last3=Gorenflo |first3=Larry J. |last4=Wu |first4=Chengzhao |date=2023-10-02 |title=Exploring 1800 years of ecosystem services from West Lake, Hangzhou, China |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14601176.2023.2267375 |journal=Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes |language=en |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=279–297 |doi=10.1080/14601176.2023.2267375 |issn=1460-1176}}</ref> During public holidays, the West Lake is one of the most crowded scenic spots in China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=彭琤琳 |date=2021-05-01 |title=五一勞動節｜內地假期首日湧現出遊潮 北京故宮杭州西湖逼滿遊客 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/619644/%E4%BA%94%E4%B8%80%E5%8B%9E%E5%8B%95%E7%AF%80-%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E5%81%87%E6%9C%9F%E9%A6%96%E6%97%A5%E6%B9%A7%E7%8F%BE%E5%87%BA%E9%81%8A%E6%BD%AE-%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E6%95%85%E5%AE%AE%E6%9D%AD%E5%B7%9E%E8%A5%BF%E6%B9%96%E9%80%BC%E6%BB%BF%E9%81%8A%E5%AE%A2 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=香港01 |language=zh-HK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=陳進安 |date=2020-10-02 |title=國慶中秋長假首日全國接待近億人次國內遊客 旅遊收入766.5億元 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/531083/%E5%9C%8B%E6%85%B6%E4%B8%AD%E7%A7%8B%E9%95%B7%E5%81%87%E9%A6%96%E6%97%A5%E5%85%A8%E5%9C%8B%E6%8E%A5%E5%BE%85%E8%BF%91%E5%84%84%E4%BA%BA%E6%AC%A1%E5%9C%8B%E5%85%A7%E9%81%8A%E5%AE%A2-%E6%97%85%E9%81%8A%E6%94%B6%E5%85%A5766-5%E5%84%84%E5%85%83 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=香港01 |language=zh-HK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=孫聖然 |date=2023-05-02 |title=五一·多圖｜內地十大遊人最多景區 北京佔三席 杭州西湖排第一 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/893862/%E4%BA%94%E4%B8%80-%E5%A4%9A%E5%9C%96-%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E5%8D%81%E5%A4%A7%E9%81%8A%E4%BA%BA%E6%9C%80%E5%A4%9A%E6%99%AF%E5%8D%80-%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E4%BD%94%E4%B8%89%E5%B8%AD-%E6%9D%AD%E5%B7%9E%E8%A5%BF%E6%B9%96%E6%8E%92%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=香港01 |language=zh-HK}}</ref> During the 2024 National Day holiday, the area recorded 4.426 million visitors over seven days, representing a 30.92% increase compared to the previous year.<ref name=":21" /> Following the free-access policy, the income of the scenic area increased substantially, from 29.4 billion yuan in 2002 to 400.5 billion yuan in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=西湖还湖于民后的“三笔账”，能被效仿吗？ |url=https://tidenews.com.cn/news.html?id=2505269 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=tidenews.com.cn}}</ref> This strategic move contributed to the area's economic resilience during the [[2007–2008 financial crisis|2008 financial crisis]] and the [[COVID-19 pandemic|Covid-19 pandemic]] by reducing dependence on admission fees as a primary source of income.<ref name=":20" />  
=== Agriculture ===
Historically, the lake needs to strike a balance between aquaculture and irrigation. By the 6th century, the West Lake became an irrigation source, supported by a network of canals aiding rice cultivation. From the 7th century, it provided local residents with fish, aquatic animals (e.g., snails, crabs), and both wild and cultivated plants (e.g., water chestnuts, wild rice shoots), which inspired local cuisine. Absence of intensive management from the government, as seen in the Yuan and Republican era, often led to extensive aquaculture of the lake, while periodic dredging to maintain its irrigation function also temporarily affected habitats and reduced plant food sources. In the 1980s, the annual fish yield peaked at approximately 400 tons but was later reduced to around 250 tons due to regulatory measures aimed at improving water quality.<ref name=":25" /> 

The [[Longjing, Hangzhou|Longjing Tea Plantation]], situated in the hills west of the West Lake, has been a cornerstone of Chinese tea culture for centuries.<ref name=":24" /> Longjing tea, a renowned variety of Chinese green tea, is produced from fresh, non-fermented leaves native to the West Lake area.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wang |first=Jing’ai |title=Tourism Geography |date=2022 |work=The Geography of Contemporary China |pages=377–440 |editor-last=Wang |editor-first=Jing’ai |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04158-7_14 |access-date=2024-11-07 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-04158-7_14 |isbn=978-3-031-04158-7 |last2=Liang |first2=Shunlin |last3=Shi |first3=Peijun |editor2-last=Liang |editor2-first=Shunlin |editor3-last=Shi |editor3-first=Peijun}}</ref> Before the anti-corruption movement led by Xi Jinping in 2014, Longjing tea was highly valued and often gifted, at times even surpassing the price of gold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Shuan |title=China’s Luxury Tea Sales Dry Up Amid Anti-Graft Drive {{!}} Jing Daily |url=https://jingdaily.com/posts/chinas-luxury-tea-sales-dry-up-amid-anti-graft-drive |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=jingdaily.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, the core West Lake production area yielded 502.35 tons, generating a revenue of 3.22 billion yuan (approximately 465.57 million US dollars).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shen |first=Xuezheng |last2=Su |first2=Zhucheng |date=2022 |title=Expanded authenticity? Changing standards for identifying longjing tea |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S156848492200051X |journal=Asian Journal of Social Science |language=en |volume=50 |issue=3 |pages=214–221 |doi=10.1016/j.ajss.2022.08.009}}</ref>

=== Gastronomy ===
[[File:West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy.jpg|thumb|[[West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy]]]]
[[Zhejiang cuisine|Hangzhou cuisine]], one of the eight traditional cuisines of China,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Sangkyun |last2=Park |first2=Eerang |last3=Fu |first3=Yi |last4=Jiang |first4=Fan |date=2021-10-01 |title=The cognitive development of food taste perception in a food tourism destination: A gastrophysics approach |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666321002178 |journal=Appetite |volume=165 |pages=105310 |doi=10.1016/j.appet.2021.105310 |issn=0195-6663}}</ref> is renowned for its light, mild flavours with a hint of sweetness.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=Goh |first=Kenneth |date=2018-08-27 |title=Ask The Expert: What Is Hangzhou Cuisine? |url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/people/ask-the-expert-what-is-hangzhou-cuisine |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=MICHELIN Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> Thanks to its geographical location, which provides access to an abundance of seasonal ingredients, Hangzhou cuisine is divided into two main types: lake cuisine and city cuisine.<ref name=":19" /> Historically, these types catered to distinguished officials and the broader population, respectively. Lake cuisine emphasises fish, shrimp, and vegetables, while city cuisine uses more commonly available local meats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Menus |url=https://www.grandmashome.us/menus#:~:text=Hangzhou%20Cuisine%20has%20two%20branches,population,%20including%20chicken%20and%20pork. |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Grandma's Home |language=en-US}}</ref> Signature dishes made from West Lake's freshwater fish and lotus root include [[West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy]] and [[Beggar's chicken|Beggar’s Chicken]].<ref name=":19" /> However, despite its rich tradition, Hangzhou cuisine faces declining popularity among younger generations. This is attributed to limited options that effectively balance price and taste, earning the city a reputation as a "food desert."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=坐擁知名杭幫菜 杭州為何卻成了「美食荒漠」？ |url=https://www.ourchinastory.com/zh/6836/%E5%9D%90%E6%93%81%E7%9F%A5%E5%90%8D%E6%9D%AD%E5%B9%AB%E8%8F%9C%20%E6%9D%AD%E5%B7%9E%E7%82%BA%E4%BD%95%E5%8D%BB%E6%88%90%E4%BA%86%E3%80%8C%E7%BE%8E%E9%A3%9F%E8%8D%92%E6%BC%A0%E3%80%8D%EF%BC%9F |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Our China Story}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Quote box
| title = A Trip to Lake Abundant
| quote = I've never traveled to Hangzhou's West Lake<br>
But seem to have met it in my dreams someplace:<br>
A vague and indistinct expanse of water and clouds<br>
Where lotus leaves merge with weeping-willow branches.
| author = Huang Zunxian (1848–1905)
| source = Translation by Jerry Dean Schmidt<ref>{{cite book |title=Within the human realm: the poetry of Huang Zunxian, 1848–1905 |author=Jerry Dean Schmidt |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1994 |isbn=0-521-46271-1 |page=81}}</ref>
| align = right
}}

=== Garden designs ===
[[File:日中友好庭園 (岐阜市)Gifukoen014.jpg|thumb|Japan-China Friendship Garden, [[Gifu]]]]
A human-made landscape,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Han |first=Feng |date=2008 |title=The West Lake of Hangzhou: A National Cultural Icon of China and the Spirit of Place |url=http://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/127/ |journal=16th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Finding the spirit of place – between the tangible and the intangible’ |language=en |location=Quebec, Canada |pages=1–10}}</ref> the West Lake exemplifies Chinese landscape aesthetics, symbolising harmony between humans and nature as well as the projection of human emotions onto natural scenery. The poetic names create framed views of scenery to be seen from specific locations.<ref name=":18">{{Cite journal |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |date=2023-01-01 |title=Framed Views: West Lake Scenic Vistas and Garden Design in Late Imperial China |url=https://www.academia.edu/121873615/Framed_Views_West_Lake_Scenic_Vistas_and_Garden_Design_in_Late_Imperial_China |journal=American Review of China Studies, Volume 24, No. 2, Fall 2023}}</ref> The West Lake landscape embodies six key elements inspired by Chinese literature:<ref name=":14" />
* Natural hills and waters;
* A spatial arrangement with hills on three sides and the city on the fourth;
* A layout featuring two causeways and three isles;
* The tradition of poetic names for scenic spots;
* Historic monuments and sites;
* Distinctive flora.
Since the Song dynasty, people imitated the views of the West Lake in their private gardens, borrowing one or more features of the West Lake. Such examples include the [[Kunming Lake]] and the West Causeway at the [[Summer Palace]] in [[Beijing]], the Lower Lake at the [[Chengde Mountain Resort|Summer Retreat]] in [[Chengde|Rehe]], the poetic place names at the [[Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden]] and [[Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden]] in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]].<ref name=":18" /> [[Kintai Bridge|Kintaikyo Bridge]] in Iwakuni, Japan was inspired by bridges over the West Lake of Hangzhou.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview {{!}} 錦帯橋～世界遺産をめざして！～ |url=https://kintaikyo-bridge.jp/en/value/overview/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |language=ja}}</ref> In 1989, [[Japan-China Friendship Garden]], which involves a miniature replica of the West Lake, was built inside the [[Gifu Park]] in [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]], Japan, in memory of the city's friendly tie with Hangzhou since 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ナビ番号：204 日中友好庭園｜岐阜市公式ホームページ |url=https://www.city.gifu.lg.jp/kankoubunka/kankou/1013050/1005149/1017450/1017457/1020321.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=岐阜市公式ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>

=== Fine arts ===
[[Image:West Lake on RMB.jpg|thumb|Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon on the Chinese banknote]]For centuries, the West Lake has also been a prominent theme in [[East Asia|East Asian]] landscape painting,<ref name=":11" /> even though many painters may have never seen the lake in person.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=McKelway |first=Matthew P. |date=2002 |title=Autumn Moon and Lingering Snow: Kano Sansetsu's West Lake Screens |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3250281 |journal=Artibus Asiae |volume=62 |issue=1 |pages=33–80 |doi=10.2307/3250281 |issn=0004-3648}}</ref> The [[National Cultural Heritage Administration|State Administration of Cultural Heritage]] (2011) listed more than 500 paintings and calligraphic works that feature the West Lake since the Tang dynasty (618-907),<ref>{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex C.4-2 Catalog of Paintings and Calligraphic Works about West Lake}}</ref> while Japanese paintings of the lake may even outnumber the existing Chinese depictions.<ref name=":12" /> In 1928, the [[China Academy of Art|National Academy of Art]] was founded by the West Lake as the country's first higher education institution in art.<ref>{{Harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex C.1-3 Chronology of West Lake (Literature, Paintings, Calligraphic and Art Works)}}</ref> As a cultural icon of China, it has been featured on [[Renminbi|Chinese currency]], including the one-yuan [[banknote]] in the 1979 [[Bank of China]] [[Foreign exchange certificate|Foreign Exchange Certificate]]<ref name=":28" /> and the [[Fifth series of the renminbi|2005 Renminbi]],<ref name=":29" /> as well as in the [[Chinese passport]].<ref name=":30" />
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+Selected art works featuring the West Lake
!Country
!Location
!Name
!Type
!Age
!Author
|-
| rowspan="7" |[[Japan]]
|[[Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art]]
|''View of West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=西湖図、秋月等観（1496年）作｜検索詳細｜地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/R4-00011,html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース |language=ja}}</ref>''
|[[Japanese painting]]
|1496
|[[Shūgetsu Tōkan]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Tokyo National Museum]]
|''The Scholar Weng Songnian Collecting Water Shields''<ref>{{Cite web |title=翁嵩年先生採蓴図軸 文化遺産オンライン |url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/515376 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=bunka.nii.ac.jp |language=ja}}</ref>
|[[Chinese painting]]
|17th century
|[[Dou Cishan]], [[Weng Songnian]]
|-
|''Ten Views of West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Ten Views of West Lake |url=https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_exhibition/index.php?controller=item&id=7192&lang=en |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Tokyo National Museum |language=en}}</ref>''
|[[Japanese calligraphy]]
|1720
|[[Hosoi Kōtaku]]
|-
|''West Lake in Spring, High Tide at Qiantang<ref>{{Cite web |title=西湖春景銭塘観潮図屏風 文化遺産オンライン |url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/508539 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=bunka.nii.ac.jp |language=ja}}</ref>''
|Japanese painting
|18th century
|[[Ike no Taiga|Ike Taiga]]
|-
|[[Umi-Mori Art Museum]]
|''A fish selling woman and a hermit in the West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=買魚図 文化遺産オンライン |url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/255105 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=bunka.nii.ac.jp |language=ja}}</ref>''
|[[Woodblock printing|Woodblock prints]] 
|Qing dynasty
|N/A
|-
|[[Edo-Tokyo Museum]]
|''The Best Scenic Spot in China, Beautiful Views of West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best Scenic Spot in China, Beautiful Views of West Lake in Hangzhou {{!}} EDO-TOKYO MUSEIUM Digital Archives |url=https://www.edohakuarchives.jp/detail-26417.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.edohakuarchives.jp}}</ref>''
|[[Printed matter|Printed material]]
|20th century
|N/A
|-
|[[Museum of the Imperial Collections|The Museum of the Imperial Collections]]
|''Chinese Traditional Arch at West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Traditional Arch at West Lake (Xi Hu) |url=https://shozokan.nich.go.jp/en/collection/?at=detail&id=2923&rec_no=1&artpic_id=&ated=search |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Museum of the Imperial Collections}}</ref>''
|[[Oil painting]]
|20th century
|[[Kojima Torajiro]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Taiwan]]
| rowspan="3" |[[National Palace Museum]]
|''Ten Scenes Around West Lake<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-12-31 |title=Silent Poetry: Delicate Painting from the Southern Song Dynasty |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh111/SilentPoetry/en/page-4.html |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=National Palace Museum}}</ref>''
|[[Chinese painting]]
|13th century
|[[Ye Xiaoyan]]
|-
|''Ten Scenes from the West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Scenes from the West Lake |url=https://theme.npm.edu.tw/opendata/DigitImageSets.aspx?sNo=04025735&lang=2 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform |language=en}}</ref>''
|Chinese painting
|1750
|Dong Bangda
|-
|Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Sticks with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Sticks with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites {{!}} Cleveland Museum of Art |url=https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1942.215 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.clevelandart.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
|Studio implements
|18th century
|N/A
|-
|[[National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts]]
|''West Lake, in Hang Jou<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Lake,in Hang Jou |url=https://ntmofa-collections.ntmofa.gov.tw/en/GalData.aspx?RNO=M8MSMRMLMAM6MHMY&FROM=5T5J54KJM35BKK52 |website=National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts}}</ref>''
|[[Watercolor painting|Watercolour]]
|1948
|[[Ma Pai-sui]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Hong Kong]]
| rowspan="2" |[[M+|M+ Museum]]
|''West Lake''
| rowspan="2" |Photography
|1956
|Xue Zijiang
|-
|''Mao in a private meditation, West Lake''
|1954
|[[Hou Bo]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[China mainland]]
|10 sites around the West Lake
|The Imperial Stele of Ten Scenes of West Lake<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title= |script-title=zh:春游科普：西湖十景御碑的故事 |trans-title=About spring outing: the story of imperial steles of the Ten Scenes of West Lake |url=https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/wghz/content/2018-05/11/content_6868723_0.htm |website=[[Zhejiang Provincial Museum]]}}</ref>
|[[Chinese calligraphy]]
|1699-1784
|[[Kangxi Emperor|Kangxi]] and [[Qianlong Emperor|Qianlong]] emperors
|-
|[[Liaoning Provincial Museum|Liaoing Provincial Museum]]
|''Ten Scenes of West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-15 |title=王原祁：西湖十景图的误区 |url=https://www.huajia.cc/n/201708/1504473494.html |website=美术报}}</ref>''
|Chinese painting
|17th century
|[[Wang Yuanqi]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[United States]]
|[[Cleveland Museum of Art]]
|''West Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Lake {{!}} Cleveland Museum of Art |url=https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1970.69 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.clevelandart.org |language=en-US}}</ref>''
|Japense painting
|mid-1700s
|Ike Taiga
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Metropolitan Museum of Art|The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
|''West Lake, Hangzhou'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=Xie Zhiliu {{!}} West Lake, Hangzhou {{!}} China |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/75619 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |language=en}}</ref>
|Sketch
|20th century
|[[Xie Zhiliu]]
|-
|''[[Jinshan Island and West Lake]]''
|Japense painting
|1630
|[[Kanō Sanraku]]
|-
|[[National Museum of Asian Art]]
|''Scenic Attractions of West Lake''
|Chinese painting
|14th century
|Formerly attributed to [[Li Song (painter)|Li Song]]
|}

=== Popular culture ===
[[File:游湖 20231026.jpg|thumb|The scene of Yun opera ''[[Legend of the White Snake|The Legend of the White Snake]],'' where the hero and heroine first met over the West Lake]]The West Lake has deeply influenced Chinese literature, inspiring poets and writers for centuries. Works by poets such as [[Bai Juyi]], [[Su Shi]], [[Xu Zhimo]], and [[Hu Shih]] celebrate its historic sites and natural beauty. The Ming essayist Zhang Dai also honoured the lake in his writings, including ''[[Dream Memories of Tao’an|Reminiscence and Dream of Tao'an]]'' and ''[[Search for West Lake in Dreams]].'' In folklore, the West Lake serves as the setting for several popular tales, including ''[[Legend of the White Snake|The Legend of the White Snake]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legend of the White Snake |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/legend-of-the-white-snake/CgVhg_73SS0vJA?hl=en |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Ying |last2=Zheng |first2=Linxin |date=2008 |title=Development research of cultural creative industry based on the intangible cultural heritage in Hangzhou |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/caidcd.2008.4730802 |journal=2008 9th International Conference on Computer-Aided Industrial Design and Conceptual Design |publisher=IEEE |pages=1293–1297 |doi=10.1109/caidcd.2008.4730802}}</ref> the stories of [[Ji Gong]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matuszak |first=Sascha |date=2015-12-03 |title=Ji Gong: The Master Hidden Beneath Rags |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ji-gong-the-master-hidden-beneath-rags/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> and ''[[Butterfly Lovers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=〈三伯英臺遊西湖〉 |url=https://tcmb.culture.tw/zh-tw/detail?indexCode=Culture_Object&id=328072 |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=National Museum of Taiwan History |language=zh-Hant}}</ref><ref name=":13" />

During the 1920s and 1930s, the West Lake was a prominent theme in popular film music. The Cantonese songwriter [[Lü Wencheng]] composed the classic ''[[Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake]]'' and ''Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon'' during his 1930s visit, while Tan Peiyun contributed ''Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves''. These compositions are now considered staples of Cantonese music. The 1959 violin concerto ''Butterfly Lovers'', inspired by the Yue Opera adaptation, remains a celebrated piece in Chinese orchestral repertoire. Between 2004 and 2008, Wang Guoping compiled *The West Lake Series*, which includes the extensive ''Collection of Documents about the West Lake'' (30 volumes) and ''The Complete Library of the West Lake'' (50 volumes).

The influence of the West Lake extends to film and performance. The 2005 Hong Kong film ''[[A West Lake Moment]]'', directed by [[Yim Ho]] and Yang Zi. Since 2006, the Hangzhou Art Week has been rebranded as the Spring of West Lake Art Festival. In 2007, director [[Zhang Yimou]] launched ''Impression West Lake'', a popular and ongoing lakeside performance. Additionally, the West Lake International Documentary Festival, initiated in 2017, has become a significant event in China’s film scene.

=== Toponymy ===
The following places are named after or associated with the West Lake:

* Administrative division: Xihu Subdistrict, [[Xihu, Hangzhou|Xihu District]], Hubin Subdistrict
* Roads: Xihu Avenue, Hubin Road, [[Hubin Park]], West Lake Tunnel
* Schools: West Lake Primary School, Hangzhou West Lake Senior High School, Hangzhou West Lake Vocational High School, [[Westlake University]]
* Buildings: [[West Lake Cultural Square|West Lake Cultural Plaza]], [[West Lake Cinema]], [[West Lake Museum]], West Lake State Guest House, Xizi Hotel
* Lakes: [[Slender West Lake]] of Yangzhou, [[West Lake (Huizhou)|West Lake]] of [[Huizhou]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=浙江省旅台灣同鄉聯誼總會 |url=http://www.taiwan-zhejiang.com/megazine/062/main.php?lang=CN&f=f03#:~:text=%E6%8D%AE%E8%AF%B4%E8%8B%8F%E4%B8%9C%E5%9D%A1%E8%AC%AB%E8%B4%AC%E6%83%A0%E5%B7%9E,%EF%BC%8C%E8%A5%BF%E6%B9%96%E6%9C%AA%E5%8F%8A%E4%B9%9F%E3%80%82%E3%80%8D |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.taiwan-zhejiang.com}}</ref>
* Festivals: West Lake International Documentary Festival, West Lake Day

== See also ==

* [[Cultural landscape]]
* [[Timeline of Hangzhou]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
=== Sources ===
* {{Cite thesis |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |title=Scenic Beauty outside the City: Tourism around Hangzhou’s West Lake in the Southern Song (1127-1276) |date=2014 |degree=PhD |publisher=[[University of Washington]] |url=http://hdl.handle.net/1773/26017}}
* {{Cite book |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |title=The rise of West Lake: a cultural landmark in the Song Dynasty |year=2020 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=978-0-295-74711-8 |location=Seattle}}
* {{Cite book |last=He |first=Qiliang |title=The people's West Lake: propaganda, nature, and agency in Mao's China, 1949-1976 |publisher=University of Hawaiʻi Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-8248-9559-4 |location=Honolulu}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1334.pdf |title=West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou |last=[[State Administration of Cultural Heritage]]|date=2011 |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |location=Paris, France}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Lakes
}}
{{Commons category|West Lake}}
{{Wiktionary|West Lake|Xi Hu|Hsi Hu}}
{{Wikivoyage|Hangzhou|West Lake}}
*[http://www.mildchina.com/hangzhou-attractions/west-lake-ten-views.html Ten Classic Scenes of West Lake in History]
*[https://wldb.ilec.or.jp/Display/html/3570 XI-HU (THE WEST LAKE)], World Lake Database
*[https://gis.sinica.edu.tw/showwmts/index.php?s=hangzhou&l=Hangzhou_15K_1938 1936 Map of Hangzhou West Lake], [[Academia Sinica]]

{{World Heritage Sites in China}}
{{Lakes of China}}
{{Chinese garden styles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Hangzhou]]
[[Category:Lakes of China]]
[[Category:Lakes of Zhejiang]]
[[Category:Parks in Zhejiang]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in China]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hangzhou]]
[[Category:AAAAA-rated tourist attractions]]