 |
CHINA - Shanghai |
| |
West Lake |
West Lake, called
so because it lies in the west of the city, is what the beauty of
Hangzhou is all about. Skirted by mountains on three sides, and
with the fourth side bordering the urban district, West Lake
covers a water surface of 6 square km, yet it forms the centre of
a garden resort that sprawls on a land of 49 square km, where the
mountains, caves and vales are knitted together by a maze of
winding brooks and streams, studded with well sequestered ponds,
and graced with kiosks, chambers and pavilions.
Legend has it that
West Lake was originally a jewel fallen from heaven. Actually it
is a lagoon formed as a result of natural changes and human
efforts. Ten thousand years ago, the lake was much larger than
its present surface of 6 square km. Later, as silt accumulated
and weeds overgrew, the lake shrank in size. The present West
Lake consists of 5 sections, namely the Outer Lake, North Inner
Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake.
The beauty of the
West Lake lies in a lingering charm that survives the change of
seasons in a year, of hours in a day, and of different weathers.
All told, there are 50 major scenic spots and 30 or so sites of
key historical and cultural interest surrounding the West Lake.
Click
on the picture to have a larger version
| A
trip on the lake with a typical chinese boat was
interesting and the view as we passed were nice |
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| And
this is from the park surrounding the lake |
<- Back
to the index
