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Why West Lake in
Hangzhou is special
West Lake's serene beauty has been extolled for over a thousand years.
Interesting insights
about West Lake
 The
lake's leading attraction is its Lesser Yingzhou island. This small island has the conversation piece distinction of having its own
lake, which in turn has its own island. There's much to enjoy, including scenic gardens, picturesque pagodas,
zigzag bridges, and willowed shorelines.
West Lake was an inlet until,
centuries ago, silting blocked the inlet's entrance. Today, the
enclosed body of water is 15 kilometers (9 miles) in circumference.
The average depth is only about two
meters (six feet).
West Lake tidbits
Tour boats take you around the lake
and to Lesser Yinzhou island. Two causeways take you to two of the other
islands in West Lake.
The lake has inspired writers and
painters through the centuries, including the renowned 11th century poet Sun Dongpo who concluded that West
Lake was "always alluring."
West
Lake is surrounded by hills
except on its east side, where stands the capital of Zhejiang province, Hangzhou.
West Lake's Chinese name is Xi Hu
(pronounced she-who).
China has dozens of West Lakes, but
Hangzhou's is widely considered the nicest.
Tips for your
vacation tour or trip
The most beautiful time to visit
West Lake is during the spring when the pink peach
blossoms bloom.
Choice periods of the day are early
morning and later afternoon when the sun's low angled rays accentuate the trees, bridges and pavilions.
Evenings are special, too, when the calm West Lake reflects the full moon.
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