West Lake Park was created during the Jin Dynasty (265-420) when Governor Yan Gao had water channeled here down from the mountainous regions to the northwest, in order to irrigate the fields. The large West Lake that was formed as a consequence has been a popular recreational destination ever since.
The still waters of West Lake are studded with islets, overlooked by pavilions and fringed with winding long corridors. A variety of small amusements are available for visitors, including the Xie Ping Children's Entertainment Park. A man-made dyke fringed with willow trees leads up to the pretty islet of Kaihua, on which visitors can find the Kaihua Temple, where exhibitions of flowers and plants are regularly shown. The Flying Rainbow Bridge and Stepping on Cloud Bridge lie nearby, the second of which leads to the Zoo. There are numerous pagodas on the water's edge, including one (the Lotus Pavilion) with a large square lotus pond at the base. Other pavilions include the Laurel Building which includes a pavilion commemorating the work of suppressing opium carried out by the Qing Dynasty official Lin Zexu.
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