2. Su Causeway in Spring Dawn Su Causeway became a tourist attraction as early as 1090. That year, Su Dongpo, a famous poet in the Song Dynasty and the governor of Hangzhou, had the lake dredged. The silt and debris were piled up and formed into a causeway. In order to honor the poet governor, local people named the Causeway after him. Today’s causeway is the result of many refurbishing projects over centuries. Romanticized as Spring Dawn by Su Causeway, the scenery has stayed on the top of the best ten resorts around the West Lake since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

5. Breeze-ruffled lotus at Quyuan garden Quyuan Park (Crooked Courtyard) is situated near the mouth of Jinshajian Stream, the biggest natural water supply into the West Lake. In the South Song Dynasty a royal wine workshop was set up here. In the lake next to the winery stood a large area of lotuses waggling and dancing a little bit intoxicatingly in summer breezes. Visitors felt wonderful with both the scenery and wine while aromas of lotus flowers and wine were wafting in the air. The spot got its fame as one of the top ten best attractions in that dynasty and has kept its charm in colors and odors since then.

6. Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake 平湖秋月 Though the Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake refers nowadays to a fixed location and one of the top ten attractions around the West Lake, it was in the South Song Dynasty a general reference to the autumn nights when people went boating on the lake appreciating the bright moon and enjoying the cool breeze.

7. Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge 断桥残雪 Once in a fine day after a snowfall, standing on the bridge and looking toward the northwest at the Solitary Hill and Ge Hill, one can see the hills and buildings covered with snow and the lake and hills look crystal clear. Although the snowy beauty of the scenery is a little bit chilly and lonely, many people regard it better than noisy greens and reds in other seasons and they believe the Broken Bridge fully deserves the top position it has enjoyed for hundreds of years as the best one of the Ten Westlake Scenic Spots.

8. Orioles Singing in the Willows 柳浪闻莺 Orioles Singing in the Willows was recognized as one of the Ten Views of the West Lake in the Southern Song Dynasty, but began to be neglected from the Yuan Dynasty (1271- 1368) on. The park came back to life again 1950s by a series of refurbishing projects. Today, the park covers an area of 21 hectares, with luxuriant trees surviving the past dynasties along the winding bank. Vast lawns stretch, flowers are bright, pavilions reveal their ancient romantic style, birds flap by and grasses show their best greens.

9. Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor 花港观鱼 Flower Harbor (Huagang) Park is adjacent to Su Causeway consisting of Red Fish Pool, Peony Garden, Flower Garden, widespread lawns and woods, occupying an area of 21 hectares. Initially, the park was a small private garden built and owned by Lu Yunsheng, an imperial official of the South Song Dynasty. The garden was located near the Flower Home Hill. Inside the park was a fishpond and a stream nearby was ushered into the pond for raising goldfish. Later the private garden began to gain a big fame in Hangzhou as Flower Harbor and became a recreation resort for viewing goldfishes.

10. Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow 雷峰夕照 Leifeng Pagoda, on the Evening Glow Hill situated on the south shore of the West Lake, was erected in celebration of the son his favorite concubine, Huang Fei, gave birth to. The 7 storied pagoda was a storied – pavilion – type structure, built of brick and wood. In the ancient time, Leifeng Pagoda and Baochu Pagoda stood far apart facing each other. Leifeng Pagoda appeared to be an old gentleman, but Baochu Pagoda appeared to be a beauty. When the sun was setting, the pagoda bathed in the evening glow looked radiantly beautiful. It was therefore named as “Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow”.

11. Twin Peaks Piercing the Cloud 双峰插云 Doubles Peaks Kissing the Sky Twin peaks are the Northern Peak and Southern Peak. One locates southwest to the West Lake and the other locates northwest west. Northern Peak is with an elevation of 256.9 meters, Southern Peak is with an elevation of 355 meters. The two peaks face each other at a distance of more than 5 kilometers. On a drizzly day in spring or autumn, visitors may find a spectacular view of the two peaks while they look up from the Hongchun Bridge. It seems as if an enchanting landscape painting was hanging before them with the peaks disappearing and appearing amidst drifting clouds.

12. Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill 南屏晚钟 Evening Bell Ringing at Nanpinjg Hill, it is one of the “Ten Views of West Lake” with the longest history. In 972 A.D. a famous temple, named as “Xingjiao Temple”was built on the Nanpin Hill. After that, a few more small temples were built around it. Therefore, Nanpin Hill was locally called as “Buddhism Kingdom Hill”. Formed of limestone, the Nanping Hill contains lots of caves and cavities. The shape of the hill is just like a painted screen. Therefore, when the bell was rung in the evening, its sonorous sound echoed through the caves and cavities, even reached as far as the other shore of the West Lake. And then the Ge Hill locating there sent back a big echo over the lake.

13. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon 三潭印月 The largest isle in the West Lake, It is also called the Lesser Yingzhou Isle, the namesake after a legendary Islet in the depth of the Eastern China Sea. The isle is elegant, harmonizing nature and man-made landscape. The isle is one of the top ten Westlake Scenic attractions for centuries. The beauty of the scenic spot is the moon in the sky, in the water and in the heart of onlookers. The three stone miniature pagodas standing in the lake off the isle are presumably the best place for moon viewing. These pagodas produce many magic views of the moon in the water, making people nostalgic and reminiscent of the woebegone days and happy moments in the past. On the night of the Autumn Moon Festival, the isle and its three miniature pagodas are the best attraction for moon spectators.