"Ripping water shimmering on sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring."
In this poetry Su compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, one of the most beautiful woman in ancient China. The West Lake is beyond doubt breathtaking and inspiring.
The lake was originally a shallow sea inlet, due to the laying down of silt this six square kilometres of water became the famous West Lake later. Only 5 feet in depth, the lake is composed of five distinct sections. The largest section is named as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, West Inner Lake, Lesser South Lake as well as Yuehu Lake.
Encircled by hills on three sides, this water fairland has been an attraction and a favourite imperial retreat forever. The lake together with its graceful suburbs have all the reasons to make it a traditional Chinese garden but on a grand scale. With the natural surroundings of unique peaks, refreshing woodland and springs, wide-spreading plants and a myriad of flowers especially in springtime, a treasury of sculpture and architectural features, the West Lake is nothing but fabulous. No matter what season, the full shot is pleasing to the eye and the small difference of light shade together with the moods of the weather present an ever-changing picture that deserves to be described as "intoxicating".
A number of famous scenic spots are worthy of particular note. To name some of them, Ling Yin Temple can be found near the West Lake in the forest near to Feifeng pagoda while no visitor to the West Lake and Hangzhou ever fail to learn something of the city's most famous special local products, namely silk and Dragon Well Tea. Another natural spectacle worth visiting here is the tidal bore of the Qiantang River that has enthralled people for ages.
And also, travel to China do not miss the Yangtze River cruises.
