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The West Lake
Ten great view to delight your eyes
If we say that Hangzhou features the West Lake, then West Lake features the Ten Views. "The Ten Views of West Lake" is the title of a series of landscape paintings produced by artists of the Southern Song Imperial Art Academy. They shone a spotlight on the essence of West Lake, and since then the lake has attracted artistic interest that can never be lost.
Spring Dawn by Su Causeway: This painting shows a long causeway in the middle of the lake, with willows and six picturesque bridges crossing intermittently and linking the causeway. Spring dawn is the best time to appreciate the charm of this scene. Then a variety of fresh flowers are in full bloom and birds of unfamiliar species sing and fly among the green twigs.
Lotus in a Breeze at Qu Courtyard: The courtyard used to be the imperial brewery of the Song dynasty. Qu in Chinese refers to the yeast used in making wine. When the lotus is in full bloom, the air is full of fragrance, a mixture of the smell of the yeast and the lotus flowers. The tranquil water of the lake, the red and green touches here and there, all shine under the sun.
Three Pools mirroring the Moon shows an excellent place to enjoy full moon. A few years ago, someone had a whim to confirm that moon shines through the stone pagodas standing in the middle of the lake. As it happens, in the bright moonlight- with the shaky shadows of the pagoda and the glistening reflection of the water - the dim surroundings themselves lead the visitor to associations with Buddhism.
Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake: Admiring the moon on the lake is a common enough esthetic experience in relation to any inland water, but here autumn is the unique attraction. When the pure water and the clear moon are put together during this season on a vast expanse of water, how relaxed and happy the scene makes the viewer.
Two Peaks piercing the Clouds: This is the only mountain scene in the Ten Views series. There are two hills by West Lake, North Hill and South Hill. On their tops two ancient pagodas were built in the Southern Song dynasty. They collapsed during the Qing dynasty. Of course, the peaks are still there, the clouds and the rain are still there, and it is still worth a visit.
Listening to Orioles singing in Willows: This is a spot by the lake with excellent views. There used to be an imperial garden named the JuJing Garden, which wound along-side the lake toward Qiantang Gate, with willows waving all the way. Just as a poet wrote, "Willows outside Yongjin Gate, in three days comes the green shade. Carry a twig to show, The Spring would never wait for you"
Viewing Fish at Flowery Harbour: At the time of the Southern Song dynasty, Lu Garden was an ideal place to appreciate unusual flowers and fish. In the past, there used to be a brook named Flowery Harbour here, flowing from the nearby Huajia Hill (Flower House Hill) into the lake. Now it's hard for us to find any trace of the brook.
Sunset at Thunder Peak Pagoda: This scene acquired its name from Xizhao Hill (Sunset Hill) on the southern bank of the lake, only a slight elevation of the land in reality. The Emperor Wu Yue built a pagoda for his favourite concubine here and bestowed on it the title of "Thunder Peak Pagoda." At sunset, the pagoda creates a silhouette against the dusk, adding a sense of desolation to the delicate lake scene.
Late Bell at Nanping Hill refers to the tolling of the bell and the poetic atmosphere of Jingsi Temple on the northern foot of Nanping Hill. The title first appeared in the paintings of Zhang Zeduan, a famous artist of the Song Dynasty. It was perhaps the earliest of the Ten Views, and therefore is a well-known title.
The series is not just concerned with the natural scenery. When you recite the Ten Views titles in a leisurely way, or take a walk along any of the settings for the Ten Views, you cannot but feel the culture. All the year round you touch and you feel, from deep down calmness, the poetic rhythm and elegance as well as the cultural beauty accumulated here, generation after generation.
Location
The geographical position is in the southeast of China, specifically the southern part of the Yangtze delta. The West Lake is west of Hangzhou.
Climate
This is a temperate and moist area. March, April, September, and October are the best seasons to visit.
Of Special Interest
The reputation of West Lake is that of “Paradise in the World.” It is the key tourist city and the most famous city of history and culture.
Main Attractions
Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, Lingyin Temple, and Hubin Walk. Also the scenes depicted in the Three Pools mirroring the Moon, Lotus in a Breeze at Qu Courtyard, Viewing Fish at Flowery Harbour, Sunset at Thunder Peak Pagoda, and Listening to Orioles singing in Willows.
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