West Lake — Cultural Landscape with Historic and Aesthetic Values
West Lake, also known as Xihu in Hangzhou, is a picturesque cultural landscape with invaluable historical and aesthetic significance, eulogized for thousands of years.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, it is a perfect blend of beautiful natural views and human design.
West Lake of Hangzhou, Photo by Dadaowuyan.
Importance of West Lake in Chinese Culture
White Snake: Famous Folklore of West Lake
West Lake in Hangzhou Facts and Important Data
Important Cultural Sites of West Lake in Hangzhou
Historic Bridge on West Lake, Photo by Zuiaihangzhou.
Importance of West Lake in Chinese Culture
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Qin Shi Huang (259 BC — 210 BC) visited there when the lake was first documented.
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Emperor Yang Guang (569 — 618) of the Sui Dynasty established The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal that connected West Lake.
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The lake is in the city of Hangzhou, the place that had been the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom (907 — 978) and Southern Song Dynasty (1127 — 1279).
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Many great poets of the Tang (618 907) and Song (960 1279) dynasties eulogized stunning views of the lake in their works.
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Great heroes like General Yue Fei and Chancellor Yu Qian were buried there, and their memorial temples are now famous tourist attractions.
Memorial Temple of Hero Yu Qian
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West Lake is also named Xizi, after the famously beautiful woman Xi Shi during the late Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC — 403 BC).
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Many famous folklore, such as White Snake, took place there.
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Causeways and ancient buildings in the area are exceptional representatives of traditional Chinese aesthetics and culture.
Sunrise of Causeway, Photo by Zuiaihangzhou.
White Snake: Famous Folklore of West Lake
In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 — 1279), two snakes, a white one and a cyan one were cultivated for over a thousand years and incarnated into two beautiful women.
They were powerful and kind-hearted and used their magic to cure many people.
One day, the Lady White Snake and a young man named Xu Xian met in Broken Bridge (or Duanqiao) on the West Lake, and they fell in love at first sight.
Broken Bridge or Duanqiao, Photo by C.WL.
They married, managed a clinic near the lake, and lived happily together.
Soon, a monk named Fa Hai knew about this marriage.
As a moralist, he believed that a human and a snake shouldn't be together.
After some intense fights, he suppressed White Snake under the Leifeng Pagoda, when the Cyan Snake escaped and kept practicing in deep mountains, hoping to save her sister in the future.
Leifeng Pagoda under Sunset, Photo by Shiguangmingji.
In one version, Lady Cyan Snake was accepted by a powerful master and finally saved her sister from the Pagoda.
In another version, Lady White Snake and Xu Xian's son was an incarnation of a deity who obtained impressive accomplishments and impressed Monk Fa Hai with his filial piety.
Either way, White Snake was released from the bottom of the Leifeng Pagoda, reunited with her family, and, together with her sister, the Cyan Snake, became immortal in the end.
Image of Lady White Snake from Film "White Snake"
West Lake in Hangzhou Facts and Important Data
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It is located in Hangzhou in Zhejiang province.
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The West Lake Scenic Area is over 49 square kilometers large, including a mountain, two pagodas, three islands, three causeways, and five lakes.
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The water area is 6.5 square kilometers large, with an average depth of 2.27 meters.
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There are over 100 historic sites in the West Lake Scenic Area.
Beautiful Sunset View, Photo by Changgepaodiaowang.
Important Cultural Sites of West Lake in Hangzhou
Su Causeway
Su Causeway, or Sudi, was constructed in 1089 to dredge the lake by the great scholar, poet, painter, and calligrapher Su Shi when he was the governor of Hangzhou city.
Connected by six bridges, the Su Causeway today is 2797 meters long and around 30 to 40 meters wide.
Part of Su Causeway or Sudi
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon or Santan Yingyue
During Su Shi's term of office, he also built three stone pagodas to mark the bounds of the lake.
The three pagodas would be ignited at night, and the light on the lake looks like mirroring of the moon.
Effect Picture of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon or Santan Yinyue, Draw by Li Qianfang.
Today's pagodas were rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644).
One of the Three Ancient Stone Pagodas
Jingci Temple
Jingci Temple locates on Nanping Mountain, on the bank of the West Lake.
This famous Buddhist place had been supported and visited by many emperors, such as Emperor Zhaogou, Kangxi, and Qianlong.
Constructed in 954, Jingci Temple had been repaired, expanded, and rebuilt several times.
Jingci Temple on Nanping Mountain, Photo from Official Site of Xihu Scenic Area.
Baochu Pagoda
Firstly constructed between 948 and 960, Baochu Pagoda has been repaired six times in history.
Today's Baochu was rebuilt in 1933, modeled on its original look.
Baochu Pagoda, Photo by Xinbao.
Lingyin Temple
Firstly constructed in 326, Lingyin Temple has been one of the holiest Buddhist places in this area.
It has been restored and rebuilt several times throughout history and preserved many invaluable relics.
Hall of Lingyin Temple, Photo by Modu Laowu.
Yue Fei Temple
Yue Fei Temple, also known as Yuewang Miao, was constructed in 1221 to memorialize the hero Yue Fei.
He made significant contributions to his country but was wrongly executed.
Tomb of General Yue Fei in the Memorial Temple, Photo by CJStin.
Impressive Natural Scenic Views of West Lake in Hangzhou
Gushan Mountain, Photo from Official Site of Xihu Scenic Area.
Lotus and Pavilion, Photo from Official Site of West Lake Hangzhou.
Nightview of West Lake, Photo from Official Site of West Lake China.
Longjing Tea Villiage Next to the Lake, Photo from Official Site of Xihu Scenic Area.
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