West Lake

Hangzhou, and the city of Suzhou, are praied as the "Paradise on Earth". Located in the northern Zhejiang Province and on the lower reach of Qiantang River, it has been a flourishing since ancient times. Historically, Hangzhou was in turn the capital of the state of Wuyue during the Five Dynasties (907-960 AD), and of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The city's fame comes mainly from the picturesque West Lake on its western fringe. The lake covers 5.6 square kilometers is 15 kilometers in circumference. the whole West Lake area spreads over 49 square kilometers. Within and around the area, there are more than 40 scenic spots and 30 historical sites. Su Causeway and Bai Causeway divide West Lake into three parts: the outer lake, he inner lake and the back lake. In the lake are the four islets: Solitary Hill, Lesser Yingzhou, Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruangong Mound. Around the lake are wooded hills and garden buildings. The famous Ten Points of Interest are: Spring in Su Causeway, Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake, Watching Fish in the Huanggang Park, Listening to Orioles Singing amid the willows, Two peaks Reach the Clouds, Three Pools Reflec the Moon, Setting Sun over the Leifeng Pagoda, Evening Bell from the Jingci Temple, Dancing Lotus in Deep Yard and Melting Snow on Broken Bridge. In the past, There were also said to be Eighteen Points of Interest and even Twenty-Four Points of Interests. Besides beauty in nature, the historical sites, linked with ancient celebrities and talented scholars, add to attraction of West Lake. E.g. when Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi served as a governoe of Hangzhou, he drafted local laborers to dredge West Lake and build a causeway. Bai earned th local people's gratitude so that they named the causeway after him. Su Causeway was built when Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo was prefect of Hangzhou. Like Bai Juyi, he won th local people's approval and they named the causeway after him. There are also many beautiful fairy tales and legends about West Lake.

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