Xihu(West Lake) is a famous fresh water lake located in the historic center of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. The lake is divided by the causeways of Suti、Baiti, and Yanggongti . There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands within the lake.
The West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout the ages for its natural beauty and historical relics, and it has been among the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers, as evidenced by the impact it had on various Chinese classical gardens.It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, and was described to have "influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries."
Traditionally, there are ten best-known scenic spots on the Xihu, each remembered by a four-character epithet. Collectively, they are known as the "Ten Scenes of Xihu" . Each is marked by a stela with the epithet written in the calligraphy of the Qianlong Emperor. They are:
Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn
Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds
Orioles Singing in the Willows
Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill
