Hangzhou, located south of the Yangtze River Delta on China's east coast, has long been considered a paradise in China. It has been praised for its myriad canals and waterways, lush rolling hills, fragrant fields of Longjing tea, spectacular pagodas, temples, pavilions, and most importantly, the West Lake.

When Marco Polo visited the city during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), he was so impressed by the city's stunning view of the lake that he wrote in his journal the city was "without doubt the finest and most splendid in the world".

Since antiquity, the magnificence of the West Lake has been likened to a dazzling pearl - a gift that fell from the heavens to create a paradise on earth.

Today, the West Lake remains the source of Hangzhou's fame and the most important piece of its supernatural beauty.

The picturesque lake's place in both legend and history contributes to the city's reputation and cultural significance. Classical tales of love and woe set at the West Lake have been rendered immortal throughout the ages.

It is not surprising that for many Chinese lovers, the prospect of a stroll across the famed broken bridge of the lake has as many as romantic connotations that a serenade from a Verona balcony does for their Western counterparts.

Art and history

The West Lake is notable not just for its privileged place in myth and legend, but also for the history that has transpired around it.

Historical figures such as national heroes and martyrs of the revolution have been laid to rest on its shores, and are commemorated with various temples and monuments. The most significant of those honored with a perch on the edge of the lake, to gaze upon its beauty for eternity, is the ancient hero, General Yue Fei.

The general was executed on false charges of treason while resisting the conquest of the Golden Horde of the Tartars. His tomb sits at the lake's northwestern corner.

Some of the other interesting figures buried around the lake include Qiu Jin, honored for her heroism in opposing the decadence of the authorities of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Besides the lake's connections with history, legend and poetry, countless prominent artists have also immortalized the West Lake. Modern master painters Wu Changshuo, Huang Binhong, and Pan Tianshou all captured Hangzhou's beauty in the traditional style, and the Hangzhou Academy of Art, on the lake's eastern shore, continues to produce accomplished artists today.

Ten scenes

Ten of the finest examples of the art were selected to represent the official scenes of the West Lake. The first version of the "Ten Scenes of West Lake" was: Spring Dawn at Su Causeway, Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge, Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at Flower Pond, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill and Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow.

The 10 scenes were changed twice officially afterwards, and the latest version came out last July, with more sightseeing resorts recommended, including Temple of Soul's Retreat, Six Harmonies Pagoda, Yanggong Causeway, Wansong Academy of Classical Learning, Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, Meijiawu Tea Village, Hubin Road, Beishan Road, Santai Mountain, as well as Qianwang Temple.

Although all 10 scenes, whether old or new version, ring poetic, some of these sights are more splendid than others.

Su Causeway attracts visitors all year round, not just in spring or at dawn. The causeway, surrounded by the lake on either side, gives the illusion of walking on the very water itself. In spring and summer, the surface of the lake shimmers with reflected light, and the flowers that line the paths of the causeway bloom large and vivid.

The Broken Bridge also shines in spring and autumn, but is utterly magical when covered with a thin blanket of snow during Hangzhou's pretty winter.

In the park known as Orioles Singing in the Willows, birds flutter from branch to branch above the bike paths, benches, and boats.

The scene described as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is the chief attraction on Lesser Yingzhou Island, or Fairy Island, in the center of the lake. On certain festivals, people flock to see the lighting of three lanterns in the water off its southern shore, which align with the reflection of the moon in a particularly stunning way.

Leifeng Pagoda dominates the southeast shore of the lake, and both the view of and from it are said to be incredible as the sun sinks below the horizon. From the park known as Orioles Singing in the Willows and the path that extends to its south, the pagoda stands out in picturesque silhouette at the end of the day.

Conserving beauty

The fame of the West Lake draws 30 million Chinese visitors to the shores every year, and Hangzhou's long-standing rank as one of the top tourism hotspots in China has been a great incentive for the local government to actively protect, restore, and decorate the city and its facilities.

The local government started a comprehensive protection project for the West Lake since 2002, and opened the parks and other scenery resorts around the lake to the public for free at the same time.

From 2002 to 2005, projects including the integrated engineering of the scenic South Line of the West Lake, comprehensive protection of the West Line, development of the New Lakeside District and Longjing Village, as well as construction of the Hangzhou West Lake Museum, took place.

Another two resorts, Wushan District and Lingyin Temple, were fully completed in 2006,

There has an abundance of lesser-known, yet equally interesting, attractions around the lake. A lake sightseeing bus departs from the Yellow Dragon Sports Center and stops at all the major scenic spots around the lake. Operating hours are from 8 am to 5:15 pm.

Once there, the best way to see the West Lake is by bike or boat. Bikes can be hired from numerous points around the lake. Gondolas and paddleboats can be rented, and the inner islands of the lake can be reached by ferry.

Night sightseeing around the West Lake also opens from May to October.

Impression West Lake, an outdoor performance directed by Zhang Yimou, is held at a manmade stage in a pond annually since last March, to add color to Hangzhou's night entertainment.

Hangzhou China Travel Service: (24h)86-571-88398499; 13588476467