West Lake is the scenic heart and symbol of Hangzhou. Surrounded on three sides by gentle hills, its shores present countless scenes of bridges, pavilions, gardens and pagodas, while its ancient causeways with their arched bridges serve both as scenic delights and as vantage points for admiring the surrounding landscape.
Originally, the lake was a lagoon adjoining the Qiantang River. During the 8th century, the water level of the lagoon fell and the lack of water threatened the productivity of farmland in the area. The poet-governor Bai Juyi ordered the dredging of the lagoon, using the silt to build a causeway. (This was the Bai causeway, which still bears Bai Juyi's name in honor of his achievements.) The old dyke was also strengthened and a dam built to control the water flow. By tradition, the most striking sights on the lake are the Ten Scenes of West Lake, each of which bears a poetic four-character name. Modern beautification efforts have prompted the Hangzhou authorities to identify ten more attractions, which are known as the Ten New Scenes of West Lake. Apart from the traditional and modern lists, other attractions on and around the lake include Solitary Island, on which stands the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, and the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei.
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