HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsWest Lake (Xi Hu)
Zhejiang · China
Start with a 35-minute boat ride on tranquil West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site and perhaps Hangzhou's most famous attraction. Relax amid enchanting scenery as your guide points out historic pagodas, Chinese-style arched bridges, tree-lined walkways, green islands and lush gardens.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1West Lake (Xi Hu)
Welcome to the legendary West Lake, or Xi Hu, a site that serves as the spiritual and aesthetic heart of Hangzhou. As we stand here on the Hubin Pedestrian Street along the eastern shore, we are looking out at a landscape that…
Listen in the app2The Broken Bridge and the Legend of the White Snake
We arrive now at the northern edge of West Lake to stand before the Duan Qiao, or the Broken Bridge. Despite its name, you will notice the bridge is perfectly intact; the nomenclature originates from a poetic winter phenomenon. …
Listen in the app3Walking the Bai Causeway: A Legacy of Poetry
As we cross the bridge, we transition onto the Bai Causeway, named in honor of the great Tang Dynasty poet and Hangzhou governor, Bai Juyi. Bai Juyi was instrumental in the early development of the lake's infrastructure, and his…
Listen in the app4Yue Fei Temple: Honor and Resilience
We now approach the Yue Fei Temple, located at the northern end of the lake, a site dedicated to one of China's most revered national heroes. Yue Fei was a prominent general of the Southern Song Dynasty who fought valiantly…
Listen in the app5Su Causeway and the Vision of Su Dongpo
Our journey continues to the Su Causeway, a nearly three-kilometer-long path that bisects the western portion of the lake. This massive engineering feat is named after Su Dongpo, the legendary poet, artist, and official who…
Listen in the app6Three Pools Mirroring the Moon: A Currency of Beauty
To reach our next destination, we must board a ferry for 55 RMB, which will take us to the largest of the lake's three man-made islands: Xiao Ying Zhou, better known as 'Three Pools Mirroring the Moon'. This island is a…
Listen in the app7Leifeng Pagoda: From Ruin to Reconstruction
We now stand before the Leifeng Pagoda, perhaps the most recognizable landmark on the southern shore of West Lake. This structure has a long and somewhat tragic history. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As our journey around West Lake concludes, we return toward the eastern side of the city, near the Qinghefang Historical Area. This neighborhood, with its 800-year history dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, was once the…
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What is West Lake (Xi Hu)?
West Lake (Xi Hu) is a place in Zhejiang · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Zhejiang · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 30.2463, 120.1484 |
| Last updated |
