Slender West Lake

Welcome to Slender West Lake, or Shou Xi Hu, the aesthetic jewel of Yangzhou. While Hangzhou's West Lake is famous for its vast, expansive beauty, Yangzhou's lake is celebrated for its 'slender,' linear elegance. …

We begin our exploration at the southern end of the lake, near the Rainbow Bridge (Hongqiao). This area serves as the formal gateway to the scenic area. …

Perhaps the most iconic structure in all of Yangzhou is the Five Pavilion Bridge (Wuting Qiao), also known as the Lotus Bridge. Built in 1757 to welcome Emperor Qianlong, this bridge is a unique architectural synthesis of…

Standing near the Five Pavilion Bridge is the striking White Pagoda (Baita). While it bears a strong resemblance to the White Dagoba in Beijing's Beihai Park, this pagoda has its own legendary origin. …

As we move further north, we come to the Twenty-Four Bridge (Ershisiqiao) area. This stunning marble structure is a modern reconstruction based on a famous Tang Dynasty poem by Du Mu, which asks, 'Where are you teaching the girl…

Another gem along the lake is the Fishing Terrace (Diaoyu Tai). This small, elegant pavilion sits at the end of a long, narrow stone dyke that juts out into the water. …

Our final stop is Xu Garden, a beautiful 'garden within a garden' located at the northern end of the lake. This was the former private residence of a prominent Yangzhou citizen and is an excellent example of the city's private…

As we conclude our tour of the Slender West Lake, I hope you carry with you a sense of the 'Yangzhou Spirit'—that rare combination of imperial grandeur and scholarly refinement. We have crossed the bridge of fifteen moons, stood…