West lake in hangzhou China,an amazing place to visit
West Lake in Hangzhou China Overview
Surrounded by mountains on the west, south, and north, and adjacent to the urban area on the east, West Lake is separated from the Qiantang River to the south by hills. The lake is divided into several water surfaces by the Bai Causeway, Su Causeway, Yang Gong Causeway, and Zhao Gong Causeway, with three islands within. The landscape surrounding West Lake features a four-tiered arrangement of mountains, with elevations rising from near to far, ranging from 50 to 400 meters.
West Lake in Hangzhou China, also known as Qiantang Lake, is located at 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, it covers a drainage area of 21.22 square kilometers, with a surface area of 6.38 square kilometers, making it one of the three famous lakes in Jiangnan.
*Autumn at West Lake in Hangzhou China.
*Calm Surface of West Lake in Hangzhou China.
The annual runoff in the West Lake basin is approximately 14 million cubic meters, with a storage capacity of nearly 14 million cubic meters. It serves as a well-equipped and well-managed irrigation reservoir, supplying ample water to the urban area and surrounding farmlands through channels and gates. Additionally, West Lake helps regulate the water level of the Qiantang River, preventing urban flooding.
In 2007, the West Lake In Hangzhou China scenic area was rated as a “National 5A Tourist Attraction.” On June 24, 2011, the cultural landscape of West Lake was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous poem “Caisangzi: Four Poems of West Lake” by Li Shengjiao captures the beauty of West Lake through the seasons.
Formation Theories
Lagoon Formation Theory💧
In 1921, Chinese scientist Zhu Kezhen, through detailed field research, proposed that West Lake is a lagoon. He explained its formation scientifically, suggesting that West Lake was originally a bay that became isolated from the sea due to sediment deposition from the rivers and lakes at its northern and southern capes (present-day Wushan and Baoshi Mountain).
This sediment gradually accumulated, eventually connecting the two points and transforming the bay into a lagoon. Geological surveys in Hangzhou revealed the presence of foraminiferal fossils in gray clay layers underground, indicating the area was once submerged in seawater.
Geographically, West Lake in Hangzhou China is surrounded by mountains to the south, west, and north, with only an alluvial plain to the east. The sediments in the plain were deposited by the Qiantang River. When river sediment reaches the river mouth, some of it settles due to reduced water velocity and the salinity of seawater, which decreases the cohesive force of water molecules. This phenomenon explains the formation of deltas at river mouths, such as those of the Nile, Ganges, Yellow River, and Yangtze River.
Thus, the alluvial plain near Hangzhou is effectively a delta of the Qiantang River. Closer geological examination shows that both the eastern and western sides of West Lake have alluvial soil. Initially, the area that is now West Lake in Hangzhou China was a shallow bay near the mouth of the Qiantang River. Over time, sediment from the river gradually filled the bay, turning it into a lagoon.
*The Beauty of West Lake in Autumn is Unmatched.
Dike Construction Theory📖
There is a consensus, both historically and contemporarily, that West Lake inHangzhou China was once connected to the sea. This view is supported by accounts from Liu Daozhen, the magistrate of Qiantang County during the Song Dynasty, who recorded in “Qiantang Ji” that during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Huaxin advocated for the construction of a “Great Dike” to prevent seawater intrusion, benefiting the county.
This construction is believed to have led to the migration of the county seat to the area, which later became Hangzhou. Some scholars argue that the purpose of the “Great Dike” was primarily to defend against tidal surges, rather than to directly promote the formation of West Lake by creating a water-retaining dam between Wushan and Baoshi Mountain.
Volcanic Eruption Theory🌋
Another theory suggests that West Lake in Hangzhou China formed as a result of volcanic eruptions that blocked a bay. The mountains surrounding West Lake on the south, west, and north are composed of volcanic rock, including rhyolite and tuff. There is an ancient volcanic vent on Baoshi Mountain, which has been scientifically tested and found to extend southward toward West Lake, covering an area of approximately 2,000 square meters.
Geological experts suggest that a significant volcanic eruption occurred in the area around 130 million years ago during the late Jurassic period. The outflow of lava left the crust unstable, ultimately leading to the collapse of the volcanic vent and creating a depression that formed the basis for West Lake in Hangzhou China.
Hydrological Features🥏
West Lake has a drainage area of 21.22 square kilometers, with an annual runoff of about 14 million cubic meters and a storage capacity of nearly 14 million cubic meters. The natural turnover rate of the water is once per year. The lake’s outline is roughly oval, with a relatively flat bottom. The primary surface water sources feeding the lake are four streams: Jinsha Stream, Longhong Stream, Chishan Stream (Huiyin Stream), and Changqiao Stream.
The water level of West Lake is maintained at an elevation of 7.15 meters above sea level, with a variation of ±0.05 meters, a maximum level of 7.70 meters, and a minimum level of 6.92 meters, resulting in a difference of 50 centimeters. The storage capacity is about 14.294 million cubic meters. The average depth of the lake is 2.27 meters, with a maximum depth of approximately 5 meters and a minimum of less than 1 meter.
The average annual precipitation over the lake is about 5.629 million cubic meters. The scour coefficient of the water system is 1.49; during the dry season, when the gates are closed, the flow rate is nearly zero, even during floods, the flow rate typically remains below 0.05 meters per second. West Lake in Hangzhou China receives about 120 million cubic meters of water annually from the Qiantang River.
*West Lake in Hangzhou China Night View.
*West Lake Sunset and Night Scenery.
Topography🍃
West Lake is surrounded by mountains to the south, west, and north, with urban areas to the east and the Qiantang River to the south. The lake is segmented into several water surfaces by Bai Causeway, Su Causeway, Yang Gong Causeway, and Zhao Gong Causeway, featuring three islands. The mountainous landscape around West Lake is tiered, rising from an elevation of 50 meters to 400 meters, creating a scenic view of “overlapping mountains.”
The distance from West Lake to the first tier of mountains is 1,650 meters, while the distances to the second, third, and fourth tiers are 3,450 meters and 5,600 meters, respectively. The view from the lake to the mountains generally maintains an elevation angle of less than 5 degrees.
Climate Characteristics🌦️
West Lake in Hangzhou China is situated on the edge of the southeastern hilly area of China and the northern edge of the subtropics. The average annual solar radiation is between 100-110 kilocalories per square centimeter, with sunshine duration ranging from 1,800 to 2,100 hours. The area enjoys ample sunlight, with an average annual temperature of 16.2°C and a frost-free period of 245 days.
The region experiences distinct seasons, with alternating sunny and rainy days, marked seasonal winds, and abundant rainfall, with annual precipitation averaging around 1,500 millimeters. The air is humid. The ecological system of West Lake can be divided into three subsystems: forest ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, and wetland ecosystems, with the forest ecosystem being the predominant one.
*Leifeng Pagoda at West Lake, Hangzhou.
*Autumn Scenery of the Big Windmill at West Lake, Hangzhou.
Water Conservancy Project🌊
Historically, West Lake has served as a well-equipped and well-managed irrigation reservoir, closely related to the efforts of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi. When Bai Juyi served as the magistrate of Hangzhou, he learned that over 1,000 mu of farmland relied on West Lake for irrigation. However, due to a collapse of the lake embankment, water storage was compromised, leading to drought conditions in the fields.
In the third year of the Tang Dynasty’s Changqing era (823), he oversaw the reconstruction of the lake embankment, the construction of sluices, and the repair of channels and spillways to increase water storage and improve water supply and flood control. He transformed West Lake into an artificial reservoir and established an irrigation canal with the Jiangnan Canal to facilitate water distribution to over a thousand mu of land in Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou) and Yanguan (present-day Haining).
To maximize the irrigation benefits of West Lake, Bai Juyi implemented strict management protocols, such as closely monitoring potential dam breaches during heavy rainfall and using designated “water outlets” to release excess water, along with the opening of sluices and water gates as needed.
*Willows Swaying at West Lake, Hangzhou.
*A Scene from West Lake, Hangzhou.
During the Five Dynasties and Northern Song periods, West Lake underwent several renovations, notably the one overseen by Su Shi. When Su Shi became the governor of Hangzhou, he found the lake overgrown with reeds and significantly silted. He ordered military personnel to dredge the lake and used the dredged reeds and soil to build the scenic Su Causeway.
This causeway is now a celebrated attraction known as “Su Causeway in Spring.” During the Southern Song period, Hangzhou served as the capital, with a population exceeding 500,000. Residents sourced their water from West Lake, which had dedicated facilities for sedimentation and purification. The canals within the city served as both water supply routes and extensions of the Grand Canal.
After the Yuan Dynasty, there were multiple renovations, among which the most notable was led by Yang Mengying during the Ming Dynasty. Due to sediment accumulation, the land continued to advance toward the sea, resulting in a gradual deterioration of groundwater quality in Hangzhou, which diminished West Lake’s role as a water source for the city.
Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, significant efforts were made to repair and develop West Lake. In the 1980s, water from the Qiantang River was introduced as a source for West Lake and the urban waterways, creating conditions for further development and utilization of the lake.
Resource Status
Animal Resources🦜
There are a total of 119 bird species and over 20 species of mammals in the West Lake scenic area. The water surface of West Lake is home to 38 species of waterfowl. Dingjia Mountain and Turtle Mountain serve as habitats for herons, with a population exceeding 20,000.
Plant Resources🌵
West Lake is situated in a limestone area, hosting several deciduous broadleaf tree species. The surrounding mountainous forest ecosystem is primarily composed of mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forests, with subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests and mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests interspersed. The scenic area contains 1,369 species of seed plants, classified into 184 families and 739 genera.
This includes 28 species of gymnosperms from 7 families, 1,273 species of angiosperms from 150 families, and 68 species of ferns from 27 families. There are 21 species of nationally protected rare plants, such as Zhejiang Nan and Short-stem Bamboo, and 63 species of nationally protected plants, like Wild Soybean.
Additionally, there are five species on the national or provincial list of protected rare plants, including Zhejiang Runnan and Jinyi Purple Gold Cow. Within the scenic area, there are a total of 620 ancient trees over 100 years old, belonging to 38 families and 65 genera, among which 138 are first-class protected ancient trees over 300 years old.
*West Lake Night View at Sunset.
*Experience Boating on West Lake.
Legends and Myths
West Lake has been associated with various folk legends and mythological stories since ancient times, including “The Legend of the White Snake,” “The Butterfly Lovers,” and “Su Xiaoxiao.” Notable events from “The Legend of the White Snake,” such as the “Broken Bridge Reunion” and “Madam White Snake’s Imprisonment under Leifeng Pagoda,” are linked to the Ten Scenic Views of West Lake.
According to legend, a dragon and a phoenix from the heavens found a piece of white jade on a celestial island by the Milky Way. After years of polishing, the jade transformed into a dazzling pearl, which bestowed eternal greenery and blossoming flowers wherever its light shone. However, the Queen Mother of the West discovered this pearl and sent celestial soldiers to seize it.
The dragon and the phoenix pursued the pearl, and during the struggle, the queen inadvertently dropped the pearl to the mortal realm, where it became the shimmering West Lake. The dragon and the phoenix then descended to earth, transforming into Yulong Mountain (also known as Yuhuang Mountain) and Phoenix Mountain.